LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — A few very simple thoughts went through Jayden Daniels' mind when the Washington Commanders had to make a long-distance shot to beat the Chicago Bears.

“Take some time and don’t throw the ball out of bounds,” Daniels said.

Daniels crawled around for almost 13 seconds and threw the ball from the Washington 35-yard line with no time on the clock. The pass slipped from Zach Ertz's hands just before the goal line into the waiting arms of Noah Brown, who was alone in the end zone 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown That gave the Commanders an improbable 18-15 victory on Sunday and sent players, coaches and fans into a frenzy.

The rookie quarterback didn't even see Brown make the catch.

“I just heard people screaming and our sideline rushing down the field. That’s how I knew it,” said Daniels, whose status was uncertain until hours before kickoff because of a rib injury. “This is something of a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Not many people experience something like that.”

Daniels' heroics came after the Commanders (6-2) fell behind with 25 seconds left on a Roschon Johnson TD run after a pass interference penalty put the ball on the 1-yard line. There were only 19 seconds left after a kickoff return to the 24.

Three completions later, Daniels set his best high point yet in a season that has made him the favorite to win AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and one of the NFL's most electrifying players.

“We're blessed to have '5' leading this team: the things he can do are special,” Brown said. “I wouldn’t want to play with any other quarterback.”

Offensive lineman Sam Cosmi said it was “like a movie.”

“Front row seats are an amazing thing,” Cosmi said. “That was just crazy. That will always stay in my mind. What a moment.”

In the NFL's sixth matchup between rookie quarterbacks and the draft's top two picks, Daniels threw for 326 yards and ran for 52 yards. Caleb Williams, the first overall pick by the Bears (4-3), completed four of his first 16 passes and finished 10 of 24 for 131 yards.

Chicago, whose winning streak was snapped at three, had just 172 yards of offense entering the fourth quarter and didn't get into the game until D'Andre Swift scored a 56-yard TD run late in the third quarter.

“It's just because we're shooting ourselves in the foot, and that's because of the details and the focus in the game, all week long,” said Williams, a Washington native playing professionally in his homeland for the first time. “That comes from myself. I’m definitely part of that. I definitely missed a few passes that I don’t normally miss, tough but very encouraging because we stayed in it.”

Daniels wasn't himself at times and seemed a little uneasy with the rib injury that sidelined him in last week's win over Carolina and kept him from practice on Wednesday and Thursday. After releasing the ball, he conceded several hits but was at his best when it mattered most.

“We knew he had it in him,” said running back Brian Robinson Jr. “He just showed us today what he’s capable of and how tough he is.”

Rating Seibert

Austin Seibert kicked four field goals for the Commanders and secured their only points until the Hail Mary.

Signing Seibert after a kicking debacle in the season opener has proven huge for Washington. Even with one game fewer, he passed Mark Moseley during his All-Pro season in 1982 and made the most field goals and points scored in franchise history in Week 8.

Injuries

Bears: After losing left tackle Braxton Jones to a knee injury in the first half, guards Teven Jenkins (knee) and Bill Murray (chest) left in the fourth half.

Commanders: LT Cornelius Lucas limped off the field midway through the third quarter with an ankle injury. Rookie Brandon Coleman, who shared snaps with Lucas, was inactive due to a concussion.

Next

Bears: Visit Arizona next Sunday.

Commanders: Visit the New York Giants next Sunday.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl