LANDOVER, Md. – The screams made Jayden Daniels recognize a miracle had occurred.

“I just heard people screaming and running down our sideline,” the Washington Commanders quarterback said. “That’s how I knew.”

Left guard Nick Allegretti was in the midst of “chaos” about 70 yards from the far end zone — “trying to hit someone in a different color jersey to give Jayden a shot” — when Daniels’ Hail Mary fell from the sky.

“I didn’t know who caught it until three minutes later,” Allegretti said in a raucous postgame locker room following the 18-15 blowout against the Chicago Bears at Northwest Stadium.

Coach Dan Quinn saw every moment. He witnessed his offense squander opportunities in the red zone, settle for field goals and blow a 12-point third-quarter lead to the Bears. Running back Roschon Johnson’s 1-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion put Chicago up by three points with 25 seconds left.

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Linebacker Frankie Luvu walked down the sideline and told teammates to keep their heads up. It’s not over yet.” Defensive tackle Daron Payne was on the bench “hoping (the offense) would go down and score or go to overtime.”

Quinn watched Daniels, the team’s prized rookie playing with an injured rib, put in a valiant effort in a hyped matchup with Bears freshman quarterback Caleb Williams. Daniels started the possession at Washington’s 24 and completed two passes that moved the ball to the 48 with two seconds left.

“I thought we had a chance if we could move up a little bit,” Quinn said. “Then it’s Hail Mary time.”

Daniels wasn’t his most efficient against the Bears’ top-five defense, though drops and penalties hampered matters. Olamide Zaccheaus’ 32-yard catch-and-run touchdown was erased by an illegal man downfield penalty.

Teammates didn’t feel Daniels was limited by the injury that knocked him out in the first quarter of last week’s home win over the Carolina Panthers. They admired the effort.

“That’s the dog in him,” running back Brian Robinson Jr. said.

Quinn heard the final play call on his headset – not that anyone couldn’t have guessed that. Daniels had to buy time so the receivers could race to the end zone, but scrambling away from defenders for more than 10 seconds on the final play was extra. He rolled to his right as guard Sam Cosmi kept rushers away from his quarterback and watched Allegretti deliver a monster block that “cleaned someone’s clock.”

The coach saw Daniels float back to the center of the field and launch the ball about 65 yards into the air. He watched his receivers execute the plan on a play that usually seems random.

As wide receiver Terry McLaurin and 6-foot-4 tight end Zach Ertz battled for position against Chicago defenders, Noah Brown was in the end zone, standing behind the large group fighting for the ball.

“That just happened to be my assignment on the Hail Mary,” Brown said.

Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson turned his back on the game and chirped at the fans as Washington’s players ran off the field. He did not enter the game until the Commanders had players inside the Bears’ 20-yard line. Ertz got a hand on the ball. So did Stevenson.

“It’s hard to just go up there and get it,” Quinn said. “You should almost go up there and…expect a tip.”

Brown did it. Quinn saw the bounce go towards his uncovered receiver and land in his hands. Noah caught the (tilted) bow.

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JAYDEN DANIELS HAIL MARY! @COMMANDS WIN! pic.twitter.com/BsQ0Z84Rko

—NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024

The frantic Quinn threw away his headphones and ran wildly onto the field with his players. Daniels left his chill atmosphere behind for the “once-in-a-lifetime experience”. … I was excited. The whole stadium, the team, the sidelines, everyone.”

Washington was already fortunate when the Bears lost a fumble after a botched exchange between Williams and lead blocker/offensive lineman Doug Kramer Jr. in the shadow of the Commanders’ goal line, just before the start of the touchdown. They absorbed a blow when kicker Austin Seibert badly missed a 51-yard field goal after already making four. No matter what happens, these commanders stay focused.

“What I like about this team,” John Bates said, “is that no one backs down.”

That certainly applies to the 23-year-old quarterback.

The rib injury that sidelined Daniels complicated his status in Week 8. Missing most team practices in between meant a rare event might not happen. The two quarterbacks, both Heisman Trophy winners, were selected Nos. 1 and 2 in April’s draft by franchises that have spent decades searching for a long-term solution at the sport’s most critical position.

Almost as rare is how often quarterbacks drafted with the first and second picks meet in their rookie year. This would be the sixth time, but only if Washington’s No. 5 were playing. Daniels was cleared after pre-game warmups, which included several stretches, throwing medicine balls and a basketball and throwing football passes from near and far. He also got down on all fours, because apparently you have to crawl before you can walk into the group.

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Backup Marcus Mariota appeared set for his first start since 2022. That’s not the quarterback CBS had in mind when the network expanded the game to a top afternoon time slot. Daniels then underwent a rigorous Friday workout. Media reports became slightly positive over the next 48 hours.

“That Friday thing was cool,” Daniels said after completing 21 of 38 passes for 326 yards and one touchdown pass. He rushed for 52 yards on eight carries.

The stout defensive effort almost fell apart. D’Andre Swift’s 56-yard touchdown run gave Chicago (4-3) momentum. Williams completed just 10 of 24 passes for 131 yards, although he showed his competitiveness in the second half.

Daniels is the main reason why Washington improved to 6-2 for the first time since 2008. The win marked a 4-0 start at home, similar to the 2005 team that won the franchise’s most recent playoff game.

Players and coaches always believe that anything is possible. No one familiar with the reality – or the brutal misery of the organization under its previous ownership – saw this coming.

Payne, Washington’s 2018 first-round pick, is one of the most regular players on the team. Over many years he witnessed everything that could and did go wrong for this franchise. He has yet to finish a season with a winning record.

“For us, things usually don’t come out on top,” says Payne.

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These commanders tell a different story.

“It felt good to come out happy and celebrate with the guys,” Payne said.

General manager Adam Peters joined the players in the locker room and spent time with Cosmi and the offensive line. On Monday, that broken unit will worry about injuries to tackles Cornelius Lucas (ankle) and Brandon Coleman (concussion). Cosmi, a 2021 second-round selection, and the group were processing how the Commanders earned the win. As he walked toward the exits, Cosmi shared one observation.

“Things are finally trending for the good.”

Talk about a miracle for this franchise.

(Photo: Nick Wass / Associated Press)