Locals in the NFL: Bobby Wagner always believed in Commanders' Hail Mary TD to beat Bears

AROUND THE SHIELD — In 13 seasons in the NFL, Bobby Wagner has been around some wild games and incredible finishes.

Sunday's ending was right up there with the best of them.

The former Utah State star linebacker had seven tackles and a quarterback hit as the Washington Commanders survived the Chicago Bears 18-15 on Jayden Daniels' 52-yard Hail Mary game-winner tipped into the arms of Noah Brown as time expired in Landover, Maryland.

Fans and observers may have doubted when Chicago pulled ahead 15-12 with 26 seconds left, but not the Commanders. And not Wagner.

Wagner, the former second-round draft pick in 2012 with nine Pro Bowl appearances and the NFL's career active leader in tackles, explained his belief in the postgame locker room.

"Never, oh no," he told ABC 7 News. "We need a shot; just give us a shot. It wasn't oh nos, dang they scored. The offense had a chance. Then we watched them get a completion, they got it closer, then they got it closer — and I'm like, OK, we've got a chance.

"You've got to have that belief. If you don't have that belief, it's not going to happen. Our belief before that play happened is something that had to happen for the play to happen."

Here's Wagner breaking down the final play, including his reaction and stalwart belief in the team's offense.

Here's a look at other former Utah college and high school football standouts from Week 8 of the 2024 NFL regular season.

Monday Night Football

Pittsburgh 26, New York 18

Steelers (6-2)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Reserve running back ran for 46 yards on nine carries, caught two passes for 13 yards in 26 offensive snaps
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety made one tackle in 20 snaps on special teams

Giants (2-6)

• No locals on the active roster

Sunday Night Football

San Francisco 30, Dallas 24

49ers (4-4)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker posted team-high eight tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass defender in 62 defensive snaps
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Punted four times for 172 yards (43.0 yards per punt) with one punt downed inside the 20 in 10 snaps on special teams

Cowboys (3-4)

• Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State/Fremont: Reserve linebacker played 20 snaps on special teams

Sunday afternoon

Philadelphia 37, Cincinnati 17

Eagles (5-2)

• No locals on the active roster

Bengals (3-5)

• Ryan Rehkow, P, BYU: Played four snaps on special teams as holder
• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Starting halfback ran five times for 11 yards, caught four passes for 28 yards with one fumble in 30 offensive snaps
• Tanner McLachlan, TE, Southern Utah (via Arizona): Inactive for Week 8
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC): Inactive for Week 8

Cleveland 29, Baltimore 24

Browns (2-6)

• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker had team-high eight tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass defended in 59 defensive snaps
• Winston Reid, LB, Weber State/Copper Hills: Reserve linebacker made one tackle in 23 snaps on special teams

Ravens (5-3)

• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker had three tackles and a pass defended in 51 defensive snaps
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Active but, but did not play

Detroit 52, Tennessee 14

Lions (6-1)

• Sione Vaki, RB, Utah: Reserve running back had a tackle and a forced fumble in 22 snaps on special teams
• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon): Starting right tackle played all 48 offensive snaps
• Tim Patrick, WR, Utah: Starting wide receiver was targeted once in 37 offensive snaps

Titans (1-6)

• No locals on the active roster

Houston 23, Indianapolis 20

Texans (6-2)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Starting tight end caught four passes for 52 yards in 47 offensive snaps

Colts (4-4)

• Blake Freeland, BYU/Herriman: Active, but did not play
• Julian Blackmon, S, Utah/Layton: Starting safety made eight tackles and a tackle for loss in 71 defensive snaps
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Kicked field goals of 46 and 37 yards with two extra points in nine snaps on special teams

Green Bay 30, Jacksonville 27

Packers (6-2)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 14-of-22 passes for 196 yards with an interception in 44 offensive snaps
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Reserve safety made one tackle in 21 snaps on special teams

Jaguars (2-6)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker had three tackles and a tackle for loss in 39 defensive snaps

Arizona 28, Miami 27

Cardinals (4-4)

• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Starting nose tackle had two tackles in 38 defensive snaps

Dolphins (2-5)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Placed on injured reserve Friday (shoulder)

Atlanta 31, Tampa Bay 26

Falcons (5-3)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve tailback had 33 yards on 12 carries in 22 offensive snaps, made two tackles in eight snaps on special teams
• Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah: Reserve cornerback totaled three tackles in 16 defensive snaps
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker posted 11 tackles in 70 defensive snaps

Buccaneers (4-4)

• No locals on the active roster

Los Angeles 26, New Orleans 8

Chargers (4-3)

• Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton (via Stanford): Starting wide receiver was targeted twice in 52 offensive snaps
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame): Starting safety made five tackles in 67 defensive snaps

Saints (2-6)

• Taysom Hill, TE, BYU: Starting tight end ran four times for 20 yards, caught two passes for 21 yards, forced a fumble out of bounds for a safety, and finished with a tackle for loss on defense
• Dallin Holker, TE, BYU/Lehi (via Colorado State): Inactive for Week 8
• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran two times for four yards in 23 offensive snaps

Buffalo 31, Seattle 10

Bills (6-2)

• Cole Bishop, S, Utah: Reserve safety made one tackle in 16 plays on special teams
• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Reserve tight end caught four passes for 31 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown, in 41 plays on offense
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting cornerback totaled team-high eight tackles in 48 defensive snaps

Seahawks (4-4)

• Sataoa Laumea, OG, Utah: Inactive for Week 8

Denver 28, Carolina 14

Broncos (5-3)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Inactive for Week 8
• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting linebacker had two tackles in 61 defensive snaps
• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake: Starting left tackle played 72 offensive snaps
• Jonah Elliss, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker made three tackles in 29 defensive snaps
• Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah: Reserve wide receiver caught three passes for 28 yards in 25 offensive snaps

Panthers (1-7)

• Brady Christensen, OL, BYU/Bountiful: Starting center played all 61 offensive snaps

Kansas City 27, Las Vegas 20

Chiefs (7-0)

• Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU/Orem: Reserve tackle played five snaps on special teams

Raiders (2-6)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman (via UCLA): Starting center played 42 offensive snaps before leaving game with injury (ankle)
• Jackson Powers-Johnson, OG, Corner Canyon (via Oregon): Starting left guard played all 58 offensive snaps

Washington 18, Chicago 15

Commanders (6-2)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Reserve cornerback played 11 snaps on special teams
• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker totaled seven tackles and a quarterback hit in 63 defensive snaps

Bears (4-3)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback had two tackles in all 74 defensive snaps
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Starting left tackle played 18 offensive snaps before leaving with injury (knee)
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker had a tackle and forced a fumble in 16 snaps on special teams

Thursday Night Football

Los Angeles 30, Minnesota 20

Rams (3-4)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Starting wide receiver returned from injury to catch team-high seven passes for 106 yards in 41 offensive snaps
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Reserve defensive end made one tackle in 12 defensive snaps

Vikings (5-2)

• Taki Taimani, DL, East (via Oregon): Reserve nose tackle made one tackle in eight defensive snaps

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