In a gripping NFC Divisional Playoff game held on Sunday night at Chicago, the Los Angeles Rams pulled off a narrow 20-17 victory against the Chicago Bears in overtime, moving them one step closer to a Super Bowl appearance. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford shared a knowing glance with head coach Sean McVay as they prepared for the crucial drive that eventually culminated with the winning field goal.
Stafford’s composure was instrumental throughout the Rams’ final drive, completing three key passes, including a significant 16-yard connection to Puka Nacua, which advanced the team into field goal range. The game-winning 42-yard kick was executed by Harrison Mevis, whose teammates swarmed him in celebration as the audience, who had been energetic earlier, quieted down amid the frigid, snowy conditions.
The Rams’ defense played a decisive role by consistently forcing turnovers and halting the Bears on critical downs, including the pivotal interception by Kam Curl on a deep pass from Bears quarterback Caleb Williams during the overtime period. The Bears’ inability to capitalize on their overtime possession ultimately paved the way for the Rams’ victory.
With this win, the Rams, now holding a 14-5 record, will face their NFC West division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks, in the NFC Championship next Sunday. The Seahawks had earlier defeated the San Francisco 49ers decisively, 41-6, setting up a highly anticipated matchup.
Reflecting on Stafford’s pivotal final drive, head coach McVay commented on the favorable conditions and expressed confidence in his quarterback’s ability to deliver under pressure. The Rams had maintained a 17-10 lead late in the fourth quarter until a last-minute comeback by the Bears, sparked by Williams’ remarkable touchdown pass.
Trailing by seven with less than a minute remaining, Williams executed a previously unforeseen strike on fourth-and-4 from the 14-yard line. Backpedaling to evade pressure, Williams launched the ball to tight end Cole Kmet for a 14-yard touchdown, effectively tying the game with just 18 seconds left. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the ball traveled an impressive 51.2 yards in the air on that play.
Despite considering a two-point conversion to seize the lead, Bears head coach Ben Johnson ultimately opted for the extra point to level the score. Williams finished the game completing 23 of 42 passes for 257 yards, including two touchdowns, but was also intercepted three times, which hindered Chicago’s chances to clinch the win.
The Bears entered the playoffs with momentum, boasting seven fourth-quarter comeback victories during Johnson’s debut season as head coach. Their transformation was notable, as the team clinched the NFC North title after finishing last in the division the previous year.
Johnson expressed pride in his team’s resilience despite the heartbreak of a narrow overtime loss and acknowledged the learning opportunities presented by the experience.
Fourth-quarter moments saw the Rams mounting a 91-yard touchdown drive capped by Kyren Williams’ 5-yard rushing touchdown, extending their lead to 17-10. This drive was kept alive by a successful fourth-and-5 play involving Puka Nacua. The Bears soon responded with a promising advance down to the 2-yard line, but a crucial fourth-down pass from Williams to Luther Burden was disrupted by Los Angeles linebacker Omar Speights.
Following a Shane punt mishap that handed Chicago the ball near midfield, Williams capitalized on the opportunity to engineer the dramatic game-tying touchdown. However, the Bears’ momentum was ultimately stymied early in overtime when Curl’s interception halted a promising drive.
Stafford concluded the evening completing 20 of 42 passes for 258 yards, enduring four sacks, and overcoming the challenges presented by a sprained index finger sustained in the previous game. Supporting his efforts, Nacua contributed 56 receiving yards after a substantial game in the wild-card round, while Kyren Williams amassed 87 rushing yards alongside his two touchdowns.
Williams acknowledged the lessons learned from his team’s playoff debut, expressing determination to improve upon the experience while remaining optimistic about future prospects.
Injury updates reported Emmanuel Forbes Jr., the Rams' cornerback, sustaining a shoulder injury in the first half, while Bears tight end Colston Loveland exited late in regulation due to a concussion.
Looking forward, the Rams prepare for a challenging NFC Championship clash against a Seattle Seahawks team they split regular-season games with, each winning on home turf. Meanwhile, the Bears will turn their focus to rebuilding and preparing for the upcoming season.