The Washington Commanders' miraculous Hail Mary against the Chicago Bears is the gift that keeps on giving.
At the end-of-season NFL awards, Jayden Daniels' tipped desperation heave to Noah Brown was named the Play of the Year. It was featured on shirts and posters and even made into a Christmas tree ornament.
Now, it's been featured on the long-running popular game show Jeopardy!
You know you've made it big-time when you're part of a Jeopardy! clue. The Commanders, after decades of futility, can finally say they've made it again.
The Commanders were a Jeopardy clue tonight. #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/2zLLU3JWj2
— Commanders Squad CLT (@CommandersCLT) February 25, 2025
In many ways, the unbelievable finish became emblematic of Washington's 2024 season. It was a moment that provided hope for a downtrodden fanbase. It symbolized the release of all the toxic energy accumulated during Dan Snyder's tyrannical ownership tenure.
Commanders' Hail Mary will live long in the memory of every fan
That newfound positivity carried the Commanders through a series of frantic finishes late in the year. This culminated in the franchise's first two playoff victories since the 2005 campaign. After reaching the NFC Championship game for the first time in 33 years, Washington lost 55-23 to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles — but alas, this season was the dawning of a new era.
For the Bears, that play defined their season in a much different way.
Chicago was 4-2 entering the Week 8 contest and on the verge of moving to 5-2. The playoffs were well within reach for the first time since 2020, as was a winning season for the first time since 2018. Instead, the 18-15 loss became the start of a 10-game losing skid that ended in the final week of the regular season.
Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson's premature celebration (before being responsible for tipping the pass into the hands of Brown) was an image that haunted Chicago for months. It reflected a culture of complacency and poor preparation. This ultimately led to the firing of head coach Matt Eberflus after some befuddling clock management in a defeat to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.
Washington's famous finish is made more notable by the fact that the two quarterbacks involved were selected No. 1 and No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Chicago took Caleb Williams, leaving Jayden Daniels for the Commanders, and the former LSU star would go on to defeat his fellow Heisman Trophy winner to secure NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
If the Bears had to do it over, one has to believe they'd be drafting Daniels this time around. Although Williams showed enough to suggest he can have a productive career.
The Commanders have no regrets.
They have their quarterback, a team that should compete for Super Bowls for years to come, and an iconic moment in the memory bank that America won't forget anytime soon.
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