The Chicago Bears had one of the most heartbreaking losses in team history nearly one year ago, and Monday they’ll go back to the scene when they face the Washington Commanders.

In that infamous game, the Bears had taken a 15-12 lead over the Commanders with just 25 seconds to play, but four snaps later they were on the losing end of an 18-15 defeat thanks to a 52-yard Hail Mary pass from quarterback Jayden Daniels.

The play was one of the most stunning in recent memory for the Bears, and a big part of the reason why was how the sequence unfolded for cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.

Video from the stands shows Stevenson seeming to celebrate even before the play occurred, and as he realized what was unfolding behind him, the cornerback came across the field and tipped the ball, only for it to end up in the hands of wide receiver Noah Brown.

OMG. While the Hail Mary play was going on Chicago Bears DB Tyrique Stevenson was taunting the crowd and celebrating a victory. He then proceeded to have the ball bounce off his hand and into Noah Brown’s hands for the game winning TD. Talk about karma 🤯 pic.twitter.com/WgxiiA6dzI

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) October 28, 2024

The reaction to the play, predictably, was immediate and severe, with Stevenson blasted on social media by fans and by analysts on TV.

This week, Stevenson was asked about the play in the lead-up to the Washington game, and he said the criticism was certainly a harsh slap in the face.

“It was harsh,” Stevenson told media at Halas Hall Wednesday. “It hurt my feelings. That’s the best way I can explain it — it just hurt my feelings being a football player and having one of those mistakes that’s going to linger around. Even when my son grows up, I’ve got to explain that to him. It definitely hurt. But just use it as fuel.”

Stevenson, who had solid back-to-back games in wins over the Cowboys and Raiders before the Bears’ bye week, said he’s focused on this week’s game rather than any type of revenge, and that feeling was echoed by Caleb Williams, who is a D.C.-area native and is hoping to beat out Daniels, the quarterback who was chosen with the pick after him in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“So, being able to orchestrate the game, orchestrate this week, have the guys focus on what we need to focus on,” he said. “That’s where I’m at. Not going down the rabbit hole of the ‘revenge’ title or anything like that. It’s being able to focus on us, this team’s different than last year.”

Naturally, fans will still be focused on the idea of revenge nearly a year later, and the two teams will do battle again under the lights beginning at 7:15 p.m. Monday, with the game airing on ABC.