Darnell Mooney’s going to be dreaming of this Hail Mary pass tonight.
On Sunday, the Chicago Bears lost to the Cleveland Browns 20-17 thanks to some late-game heroics from Joe Flacco to secure the game-winning field goal. After the Browns made the field goal to take the lead, the Bears did have about 30 seconds left to make a play and they almost did thanks to the arm of Justin Fields.
With no time left on the clock, Fields launched a Hail Mary down the field towards the end zone. Unlike with most Hail Mary passes, this one was nearly caught by Mooney in the end zone. In fact, Mooney had it in his hands, but the ball impossibly bounced off of his arms, ending up as a Browns’ interception to steal the win.
HOLY OH MY GOD pic.twitter.com/l6fbNhvmW8
— NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2023
That was so close. Maybe the closest Hail Mary attempt we’ve seen this season. Mooney and the Bears will definitely be thinking about this play after that rough loss for sure.
NFL fans were just as devastated as Mooney after the Bears’ wide receiver dropped a game-winning Hail Mary against the Browns.
The fact that Darnell Mooney didn’t catch this ball is unreal… pic.twitter.com/GFjNxJmlH8
— m (@downbadbears) December 17, 2023
MOONEY HOW
— charles (“you look good” – andy reid) mcdonald (@FourVerts) December 17, 2023
I'm not sure there's any better (and totally unfair) summation of the Justin Fields era in Chicago than Fields hitting Darnell Mooney in the hands on a Hail Mary, only for Mooney to literally kick the ball away
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) December 17, 2023
Doesn’t get closer than this! He should’ve had it https://t.co/WtAv49Nddz
— Lu (@LuBanga24) December 17, 2023
I genuinely don’t understand how you don’t catch this https://t.co/1vMODG2Kz1
— Mason💙💛 (@masonyo25) December 17, 2023
Darnell Mooney was sooooo close to catching that man pic.twitter.com/jVTgwOjE2T
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) December 17, 2023
Looking at this picture knowing that not only did Mooney not catch this game winning pass, but it ended up as an interception… pure heartbreak. #Bears pic.twitter.com/RKdMMju2E1
— X (Formerly Known As Numbersmuncher) (@NumbersMuncher) December 17, 2023
Mooney and Scott with huge drops. Wow. What a brutal loss. pic.twitter.com/ooRquvwyu0
— Johnathan Wood (@Johnathan_Wood1) December 17, 2023
Mooney has to be sick. incredibly difficult circus catch. but man, so painfully close.
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) December 17, 2023