Bears’ Darnell Mooney fails to catch Justin Fields’ potential game-winning Hail Mary.
Darnell Mooney came tantalizingly close to securing a miraculous Hail Mary catch that could have secured the game for the Bears.
The Chicago Bears experienced a heartbreaking loss in Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns, falling short 20-17. In a game where every inch matters, the Bears, poised to move to a 6-8 record, narrowly missed victory as wide receiver Darnell Mooney couldn’t secure a Justin Fields Hail Mary despite having it within his reach. Holding a 17-10 lead for a significant portion of the game, the Bears faced a 13-0 fourth-quarter comeback by the Browns. Nevertheless, with 32 seconds remaining, Fields and the Bears offense swiftly covered 30 yards, setting the stage for a potential game-changing Hail Mary.
While the attempt was intercepted by Cleveland, video footage highlighted how close Mooney came to making the critical catch. Although the loss maintains the Bears’ 5-9 record, it provides a silver lining as the team demonstrated resilience, offering fans optimism for the future. The outcome also preserves the Bears’ position with two top-five picks in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. A victory would have pushed them out of the top 10.
Regarding draft picks, the Bears still possess the coveted No. 1 overall pick via the Carolina Panthers. However, Bryce Young and the Panthers secured their second win of the season in Week 15, defeating the Atlanta Falcons 9-7. While the Bears/Panthers retain the pick, they are now only one game ahead of the Patriots, who have accumulated three wins this season.
