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Hail Maryland
DateOctober 27, 2024
Kickoff time4:25 p.m. EDT (UTC-4)
StadiumNorthwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland
FavoriteCommanders by 1
RefereeClete Blakeman
Attendance64,704
TV in the United States
NetworkCBS
AnnouncersJim Nantz, Tony Romo, and Tracy Wolfson

The Hail Maryland,[1][2][3] also referred to as the Madhouse in Maryland,[4] and the Miracle in Maryland,[5][6] was an American football play that took place at the end of a National Football League (NFL) regular-season game between the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders on October 27, 2024. As time expired, Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels threw a 52-yard Hail Mary pass that landed amid a crowd of players at the goal line and was tipped by Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson to Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown in the end zone, scoring a walk-off touchdown to win 18–15.

The play was cited as among the best of the 2024 NFL season.[7][8][9][10][11] It was the first successful Hail Mary in the final ten seconds of an NFL game since the Hail Murray play in 2020. Daniels was the second rookie since 2006 to successfully throw one. The game was also the first meeting between quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Daniels, who respectively were the 2022 and 2023 Heisman Trophy winners and the first and second overall selections in the 2024 NFL draft.

Background

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Further information: 2024 Washington Commanders season and 2024 Chicago Bears season

Headed into the game, the Washington Commanders held a 5–2 record while the Chicago Bears were 4–2. Daniels entered the game with a rib injury he suffered the previous week against the Carolina Panthers, a game completed by backup quarterback Marcus Mariota.[12] His playing status for the Bears game was not established until a few hours before kickoff.[13]

The game opened with both teams trading punts. Washington kicker Austin Seibert then converted four field goals, including a 47-yarder in the third quarter to make the score 12–0.[14] Bears running back D'Andre Swift then ran for a 56-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to 12–7.[14]

The fourth quarter began with a 51-yard field goal attempt by Seibert; it was blocked by Gervon Dexter. The Bears reached the 1-yard line, where a fumbled handoff by Williams to backup offensive lineman Doug Kramer Jr. was recovered by Commanders defensive tackle Johnny Newton at the goal line.[14][15] With 23 seconds remaining, Bears running back Roschon Johnson scored a 1-yard touchdown. A two-point conversion gave Chicago its first lead of the game, 15–12.[14] According to ESPN, the Bears had a 97.9% chance to win following the score.[16]

The play

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With two seconds remaining, Daniels scrambled to avoid Bears defenders for nearly 13 seconds before throwing a 52-yard Hail Mary pass. The ball traveled into a crowd of players at the goal line and was tipped by Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown caught it behind Stevenson in the end zone, giving the Commanders an 18–15 victory.[7][14][17]

Stevenson was taunting the crowd before the play and had his back turned for a few seconds after it had started.[18] Some commentators said they saw holding by the offensive line that went uncalled by the officials.[19][20]

Game summary

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Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 0 7815
Commanders 6 3 3618

at Northwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland

Game information

Broadcast calls

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TV (CBS)

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Jim Nantz, who called the play for CBS:[1]

Comes down to one last play and it's gonna be—. Getting longer by the second. You're all the way back at the 30-yard-line. Now you can step into it. Here comes the Hail Mary with the game on the line. And the ball is caught! Caught! It's a miracle! It's Noah Brown! Oh my goodness! This town is going crazy! It's a madhouse in Landover, Maryland!

Radio

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Washington

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Commanders play-by-play announcer Bram Weinstein called the play for the Commanders' radio broadcast:[5]

They bring three. Daniels backing up — he's just going to have to let one fly. Goes to the right side, steps away from the defenders, gives himself some time. Now steps up, fires, heads toward the end zone, it is — Caught! Touchdown! Touchdown Washington!

Washington Post writer Scott Allen described the three's narration following the play as "Screaming and laughter and indecipherable commentary".[5]

Chicago

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Bears play-by-play announcer Jeff Joniak called the play for the Bears' radio broadcast:[21]

Jayden Daniels shifting back, being pressured, Jayden Daniels, being hemmed into the pocket, looking for blockers, looking for something. He's got plenty of time. Launches, deep pass, into the area, the end zone, tipped and it's caught by Noah Brown. He was the tip man, and now this place has gone into bedlam mode. Washington, with the miracle finish. The break-up pass, into the waiting arms of Noah Brown, nobody back there. Crushing loss.

Officials

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  • Referee: Clete Blakeman (34)
  • Umpire: Scott Campbell (127)
  • Down judge: Dana McKenzie (8)
  • Line judge: Julian Mapp (10)
  • Field judge: Karina Tovar (91)
  • Side judge: James Coleman (95)
  • Back judge: Jonah Monroe (120)
  • Replay official: Chad Adams (0)

Significance

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With the win, the Commanders improved to 6–2 while the Bears fell to 4–3 and into last place in the NFC North standings.[16][18] The game gave the Commanders their best start to a season since 2008, when they were known as the Washington Redskins.[22] Daniels became the second rookie to throw a successful Hail Mary since 2006, when ESPN began to track the play.[23] It was the first touchdown play longer than 10 seconds since first being tracked by Next Gen Stats in 2016.[7]

In the post-game interview, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus stated:

"We had those plays at the end, and it comes down to that last play. We've practiced that play a hundred times since we've been here," he said. "I have to look at what the execution was on that. We have a body on a body, boxing guys out like basketball at the very end. We have one guy that's the 'rim,' that knocks the ball down. We've got a back-tip guy that goes behind the pile. I've got to look at it, detail it out and make sure we're better next time."

Daniels, speaking after the game, stated that he did not see Brown catch the pass and found out only after the crowd's reaction and the Commanders' sideline rushing the field. Washington offensive lineman Sam Cosmi described the play as "like a movie", while Brown stated that he felt "blessed" to have Daniels as his quarterback and that he would not want to play with any other.[13] Several athletes and sports personalities reacted to the play, including Kevin Durant, J. J. Watt,[8] Robert Griffin III, Michael Thomas,[24] Skip Bayless, Danny Parkins, Tom Pelissero, Matthew Berry, Albert Breer, and Adam Schefter.[25] Washington Post writer Scott Allen deemed the play the greatest in Northwest Stadium history.[5] Chicago Tribune writer Dan Wiederer described the play as having "Double Doink shock value".[8]

The conduct of Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who was observed taunting Commanders fans for several seconds before and during the start of the play, was criticized.[26] Stevenson later apologized, stating that he "let the moment get too big".[27] Many also criticized the Bears' play calls such as the attempted hand-off to backup offensive lineman Doug Kramer Jr. that resulted in a lost fumble at Washington's one-yard line earlier in the 4th quarter.[15] According to the Redskins Rule, the Commanders' win would traditionally have indicated a win for Kamala Harris of the incumbent Democratic party in the 2024 United States presidential election.[28] However, Republican nominee Donald Trump won the electoral and popular votes.[29]

The loss was the first of what was a ten-game losing streak for the Bears, eventually resulting in elimination from playoff contention. They were blown out by the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots in their next two games, resulting in the firing of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.[30] The Bears then suffered multiple additional last-second losses, losing to the rival Green Bay Packers 20–19 after kicker Cairo Santos' game-winning field goal attempt was blocked by Packers defensive tackle Karl Brooks, and to another rival Minnesota Vikings 30–27 in overtime on a game-winning field goal by kicker John Parker Romo. On Thanksgiving Day against the rival Detroit Lions, the Bears suffered another close loss, losing 23–20 after Matt Eberflus didn't call their final timeout, instead letting the clock run out. Shortly after that game, the Bears fired Eberflus, who became the franchise's first head coach to be fired mid-season.[31]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Keeley, Sean (October 28, 2024). "Jim Nantz has epic call on Commanders' Hail Mary touchdown". Awful Announcing. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  2. ^ Maakaron, John (October 28, 2024). "Lions Fans React to Bears Epic Loss to Commanders". Detroit Lions On SI. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  3. ^ "10 most memorable Hail Marys in NFL history, including 'Madhouse in Maryland'". FOX Sports. October 29, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  4. ^ "Unsportsmanlike with Evan, Canty and Michelle - Hour 1: Hail Maryland". ESPN. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Allen, Scott (October 27, 2024). "'A madhouse in Landover': Listen to calls of the Commanders' Hail Mary". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  6. ^ Harrison, David (October 28, 2024). "Reactions to Commanders Last-Second Win over Bears Pouring In". Washington Commanders On SI. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Edholm, Eric (October 28, 2024). "Commanders QB Jayden Daniels stuns Bears with 'once-in-a-lifetime' game-winning Hail Mary TD". NFL.com. Retrieved October 28, 2024. Jayden Daniels held onto the ball for 12.79 seconds on his game-winning 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown to Noah Brown, the first TD pass with a time to throw over 10 seconds in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016).
  8. ^ a b c Sugrue, Brendan. "NFL world reacts to the Commanders' unreal Hail Mary TD vs. Bears". Bears Wire. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  9. ^ Schwab, Frank (October 28, 2024). "Jayden Daniels' Hail Mary beats Caleb Williams and the Bears". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  10. ^ Thompson, Scott (October 27, 2024). "Commanders pull off play of the year with Hail Mary to beat Bears". Fox News. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  11. ^ "Jayden Daniels's Ridiculous Hail Mary Touchdown vs. Bears Had NFL Fans in Awe". SI. October 28, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  12. ^ "Commanders lose Jayden Daniels to a rib injury in a 40-7 romp over the Panthers". ESPN. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Jayden Daniels' Hail Mary TD to Noah Brown gives Commanders 18-15 win over Bears". AP News. October 27, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Commanders 18-15 Bears (Oct 27, 2024) Play-by-Play". ESPN. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Bears Recreating 'Refrigerator' Perry Play Backfires in Crucial Moment vs. Commanders". SI. October 27, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Commanders 18-15 Bears (Oct 27, 2024) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  17. ^ Keeley, Sean (October 28, 2024). "Jim Nantz has epic call on Commanders' Hail Mary touchdown". Awful Announcing. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Tyrique Stevenson goes from taunting Commanders fans to tipping Hail Mary pass". NBC Sports. October 28, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  19. ^ Florio, Mike (October 29, 2024). "Yes, there was uncalled holding on the Commanders' Hail Mary play". NBC Sports. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  20. ^ Joseph, Andrew (October 28, 2024). "Bears fans were livid about the uncalled holding penalties during the Commanders' stunning Hail Mary TD". For The Win. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  21. ^ "Bears' Radio Call of Jayden Daniels's Stunning Hail Mary Was So Perfectly Sad". SI. October 28, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  22. ^ Gowton, Brandon Lee (October 27, 2024). "NFL Playoff Picture: Jayden Daniels Hail Mary prevents Eagles from taking first place in the NFC East standings". Bleeding Green Nation. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  23. ^ "Jayden Daniels, Commanders leave Bears and fans reeling with Hail Mary". ABC7 Chicago. October 28, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  24. ^ "Jayden Daniels's Ridiculous Hail Mary Touchdown vs. Bears Had NFL Fans in Awe". SI. October 28, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  25. ^ Bachar, Zach. "Jayden Daniels' Hail Mary TD Shocks NFL Fans as Commanders Beat Caleb Williams, Bears". Bleacher Report. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  26. ^ Cronin, Courtney. "Bears' Tyrique Stevenson apologizes for 'lack of focus' on Commanders' Hail Mary". ESPN. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  27. ^ Fishbain, Kevin (October 29, 2024). "Bears' Tyrique Stevenson was supposed to box out on Hail Mary, apologizes to team". NY Times. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  28. ^ Daher, Natalie. "Commanders' stunning win awakens fans' election superstitions". Axios. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  29. ^ Rubin, April (November 6, 2024). "Trump set to be the first Republican candidate to win the popular vote in 20 years". Axios. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  30. ^ Cronin, Courtney (November 12, 2024). "Shane Waldron fired as Bears' offensive coordinator". ESPN.
  31. ^ Cronin, Courtney (November 29, 2024). "Bears fire Eberflus amid 6-game skid, name Brown interim coach". ESPN.
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