Washington commanders make history with Miracle Hail Mary

In week 8 the Washington commanders went hunting and caught more than just a bear. In the final two seconds of the game, wide receiver Noah Brown crawled behind a pile of defenders and caught a 52-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, sealing a dramatic Hail Mary victory over the Chicago Bears.

The game wasn’t just a game winner for the Commanders; it was only the seventh time in NFL history that a game-winning touchdown pass of at least 50 yards was completed as time expired.

“I just heard the crowd erupt and saw our sideline engulfing the field. That’s when I knew,” Daniels reflected in a press release. And while Hail Mary passes have become synonymous with unforgettable moments, the connection between Daniels and Brown is now being called the Miracle in Maryland. It’s a moment like that Washington fans and Daniels will never forget it.

“That’s a unique experience,” Daniels said. “Not many people experience things like that.”

The gloves Brown was wearing at the time, along with the end zone pylon signed by him and Daniels, are now on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

Daniels became the second starting quarterback since 1970 to throw a 50-yard, game-winning touchdown pass as time expired, joining Cleveland’s Tim Couch, who pulled off the same act in Week 8 of the 1999 season.

When it comes to these breathtaking, game-winning Hail Marys, they don’t come around often. To put it in perspective, this 52-yard strike from Daniels to Brown joins a very exclusive club: It is one of only seven game-winning 50-yard touchdowns completed in NFL history as the time passed.

From the Lions’ Jim Gibbons catching a 65-yard pass from Earl Morrall in 1960 to Kenyon Drake’s 69-yard catch from Ryan Tannehill in 2018, this play ranks first among other unforgettable plays.

And now that moment is forever enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, where Brown’s gloves and autographed pylon will serve as a reminder of one of the most incredible plays in NFL history.

Keep up CommanderGameday and the Locked to commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2024 season.

• Second Commanders vs. Steelers injury report released

• Commanders’ QB Jayden Daniels closes out history after earning 7th Rookie of the Week honors