In a nail-biting thriller that had fans on the edge of their seats, the Chicago Bears pulled off a stunning last-second victory over the Washington Commanders, proving that in the NFL, anything can happen in the final moments. Imagine the tension as the clock ticked down – could a rookie kicker really be the hero? Let's dive into the key moments that made this game unforgettable.
Written by Kevin Fishbain, Dan Wiederer, Nicki Jhabvala, and Alex Valdes
Step onto the field with Jake Moody, who was making his debut appearance for the Chicago Bears after getting called up from the practice squad just the night before. In a moment that will be replayed for weeks, he nailed a crucial 38-yard field goal right as the clock hit zero, securing a thrilling 25-24 triumph for the Bears against the Washington Commanders. For those new to football, a field goal is like a precise kick through the upright goalposts, worth three points, and this one came at the perfect time to swing the game.
The Commanders were confidently trying to chew up the remaining time on the clock to seal their win, but disaster struck with a mishandled snap between their quarterback, Jayden Daniels, and running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt around the midfield mark, with roughly three minutes still to play. This error handed the Bears a golden opportunity – it was actually Washington's third giveaway of the evening, on a chilly, drizzly night that made the ball slippery and handling even tougher. Seizing the moment, Chicago advanced 36 yards over eight methodical plays. Running back D’Andre Swift shouldered the load, taking five handoffs for 34 yards during that drive, paving the way for Moody's decisive boot. Turnovers like fumbles can be game-changers in football, often shifting momentum dramatically, and that's exactly what happened here.
Moody, who had been let go earlier in the season by the San Francisco 49ers following a shaky stretch with the team, stepped in admirably for the sidelined Cairo Santos. He converted four out of five field goal tries for the Bears, showing nerves of steel under pressure.
Swift shone brightly, piling up 108 rushing yards and even hauling in a spectacular 55-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Caleb Williams early in the fourth quarter, closing the gap to 24-22. Unfortunately, they couldn't convert the extra point via a two-point attempt, which is a riskier play teams use to gain two points instead of the standard one from a kick. But here's where it gets controversial – some fans argue that sticking with the safer kick might have changed the game's complexion earlier; what do you think?
The Bears came out firing, putting points on the board from their initial three drives by making the most of Washington's first two mistakes, jumping ahead 13-0 midway through the second quarter. However, Daniels orchestrated a stunning comeback, firing off three touchdown passes to flip the script. The Commanders grabbed a 24-16 advantage thanks to a scoring toss to tight end Zach Ertz early in the final frame. And this is the part most people miss: despite the sloppiness, the Bears' resilience in the rain highlighted their growing grit as a team.
The D’Andre Swift Breakthrough
Chicago supporters have been eagerly anticipating a breakout performance from D’Andre Swift – and while it wasn't a record-shattering 200-yard rampage, his explosive 55-yard score on a third-down play was pure magic, keeping the Bears very much alive. Those gritty runs on the closing drive, especially his 15-yard burst on a toss sweep on second-and-11 from the 33-yard line, were instrumental in positioning Moody for glory. For beginners, a toss play is a handoff where the running back swings wide to the edge, often catching defenses off guard.
This marked Swift's strongest ground game of the year, as the Bears' offensive line finally carved out some effective paths for him. Sure, the rushing attack as a whole could use more polish, and third-down conversions were a struggle overall – converting only about 30% league-wide is tough, but they managed key ones here. Tapping into Swift's potential might just unlock the rest of the offense, creating balance that makes passing easier too. Bears head coach Ben Johnson admitted during their bye week that the underwhelming run game was hitting him 'personally,' motivating the team to tweak their approach. In the end, they cracked the code just enough for this massive upset on the road. —Kevin Fishbain, Bears beat writer
Avenging Last Year's Heartbreaker
It felt almost poetic that this matchup boiled down to the wire once again. And predictably, the decisive play hinged on a kicker in his very first outing for the Bears, freshly added to the active 53-man roster that Monday. Moody's heroics capped off a messy affair with a bold, determined flourish – the second consecutive game where Chicago turned potential defeat into triumph through sheer willpower.
Earlier, Moody had a 48-yard try swatted away, but he bounced back impressively while covering for Santos, who sat out due to a nagging quad injury. In an instant, it seemed like the ghosts from the Bears' infamous 'Hail Mary' defeat to Daniels in this very stadium last season were finally laid to rest. A Hail Mary, by the way, is a desperate long bomb thrown into heavy coverage as time expires – high risk, high drama. This win felt like sweet revenge, but does it signal a turning point, or just a one-off? — Dan Wiederer, Bears beat writer
Washington's Familiar Flaws Exposed
It was the same old story for the Commanders: botched coverages that left receivers wide open, whiffed tackles that let runners slip away, big plays surrendered on defense, dropped catches by pass-catchers, and those costly fumbles. After building that 24-16 cushion in the fourth, safety Quan Martin completely missed an open-field tackle on Swift, letting the back scamper 55 yards for six. Martin had him cornered near the sideline and could've simply shoved him out – a fundamental error that beginners should note as a key defensive skill.
Then, with 3:10 remaining, Croskey-Merritt coughed up his second fumble on a botched handoff from Daniels. The Bears pounced on every one of Washington's three turnovers, turning them into 13 vital points. Subtly controversial here: is this sloppiness a sign of deeper coaching issues, or just bad luck in the wet weather? — Nicki Jhabvala, Commanders beat writer
Jayden Daniels' Magic Persists
Even with their top two wideouts sidelined by injuries, their third option limping on a sore heel, and the ground game sputtering – aside from two lost fumbles – Daniels remained unfazed. He dazzled with a 33-yard touchdown strike to Luke McCaffrey (that's right, brother to star Christian McCaffrey) off a clever fake screen, sparking a dormant offense. Daniels followed up with a sharp 37-yard strike to rookie Jaylin Lane before capping it with a 6-yard dart to Ertz for the 24-16 edge. Quarterbacks like Daniels thrive on improvisation; it's why he's such a rising star. — Jhabvala
The Missing Ground Game
Washington boasts one of the NFL's premier rushing units, while Chicago fields one of the league's weakest fronts against the run. Yet, if you tuned in, you might not have guessed it. Daniels accounted for 52 yards on his own scramblers, but the other rushers combined for just 72 yards on 21 attempts – underwhelming, to say the least. This mismatch not panning out raises eyebrows: was it the Bears' unexpected adjustments, or did the rain throw off the rhythm? — Jhabvala
Oct 14, 2025
So, what do you make of this rollercoaster? Is Jake Moody the savior the Bears needed, or should they worry about their injury-prone kicking situation long-term? And for the Commanders, can Jayden Daniels carry them through these self-inflicted wounds, or is it time for tougher accountability? Drop your thoughts in the comments – agree, disagree, or share your hot takes!
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