In a heartbreaking finish, Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson committed a rookie mistake in Week 8 that left Bears fans reeling. With mere seconds on the clock and Washington needing a near-impossible 76-yard miracle to win, Stevenson got a little too comfortable, sealing his fate in one of the season’s most jaw-dropping endings.
Up by three with the Commanders backed up on their own side of the field, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had orchestrated what looked like a game-winning 62-yard drive, leaving only 25 seconds in the game. For all intents and purposes, Chicago had this one in the bag. But Washington’s rookie QB Jayden Daniels, dealing with a rib injury no less, had other ideas.
As Washington lined up for what was essentially a Hail Mary prayer, Stevenson was seen taunting fans on the sidelines, turning his back to the line of scrimmage. This fatal error left him off guard as the Commanders snapped the ball, and Daniels launched a 52-yard bomb toward the end zone. Stevenson belatedly sprang into action, managing to get a hand on the ball. But instead of knocking it down, he tipped it right into the hands of Commanders receiver Noah Brown, who secured the game-winning touchdown.
Looks like Tyrique Stevenson tried to catch it one handed?
Why isn’t he swatting downward?
Devastating way to lose. #Bears pic.twitter.com/RIucwTeK4m
— Sky Kruse (@KruseSports_) October 28, 2024
It was the longest game-winning Hail Mary touchdown since the Miami Miracle in 2018, and Stevenson’s missed opportunity transformed an otherwise solid defensive game into a gut-wrenching 18-15 loss. Bears head coach Matt Eberflus, visibly frustrated after the game, said, “We’ve practiced that play a hundred times since we’ve been here. 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.” For a Bears team that’s struggling to find its rhythm, it was a brutal lesson in finishing plays and staying focused until the final whistle.
To Chicago and teammates my apologies for lack of awareness and focus …. The game ain’t over until zeros hit the clock. Can’t take anything for granted. Notes taken, improvement will happen. #Beardown
— Tyrique Stevenson (@dreamchaserTy10) October 28, 2024
Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick out of LSU, was a game-time decision due to his rib injury from last week, but he showed up when it counted, going 21 of 38 for 326 yards and the game-winning score. His counterpart, Bears rookie Caleb Williams, drafted No. 1 out of USC, did his part, but the botched defensive play overshadowed an otherwise promising performance.
🚨🚨THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE🚨🚨#BEARS DB TYRIQUE STEVENSON MOCKED #COMMANDERS FANS DURING THE HAIL MARY, ONLY TO BE THE ONE WHO TIPPED THE BALL INTO THE AIR, ALLOWING NOAH BROWN TO MAKE THE CATCH.
😱😱😱
Only the #NFL… this is crazy. pic.twitter.com/QbKMBFar58
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 28, 2024
Stevenson’s mishap will be a tough one to shake off. This game, intended as a showcase for the league’s top two rookie quarterbacks, ended up being a hard lesson in football fundamentals. For Bears fans, it was yet another disappointing chapter in a season filled with close calls and missed opportunities. The hope now is that the team learns from this devastating defeat, or they risk more games slipping away just like this one.
