The Los Angeles Rams will face the Chicago Bears in the NFL divisional round on Sunday at Soldier Field, marking their first postseason meeting since 1985. Both teams boast potent offenses that ranked among the league's best in scoring and yardage during the regular season. Harsh winter weather and key individual performances could decide the outcome of this high-stakes matchup.
The Chicago Bears host the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET, broadcast on NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, Universo, and NFL+. This game revives a rivalry dormant since the 1985 NFC Championship, when the Bears dominated 24-0 en route to Super Bowl XX. Neither current head coach Sean McVay nor Ben Johnson was alive for that encounter, but both have engineered remarkable turnarounds, leading their teams from last in total offense to the playoffs in their debut seasons—a feat shared only with Jim Fassel in 1997.
Offensively, the Rams topped the NFL with 30.5 points per game and 394.7 yards per game, while the Bears ranked ninth in scoring at 25.9 points and sixth in total yards at 369.5. Both squads excelled in big plays, with the Bears generating 127 (10-plus yard rushes, 20-plus yard completions) and the Rams 125, trailing only Buffalo's 129. The Bears have scored 30-plus points in six games this season, including playoffs, echoing their Super Bowl runs in 1985 and 2006.
Key storylines include the Bears' ability to sustain offensive excellence. Chicago staged seven comebacks from deficits in the final two minutes, including an 18-point wild-card rally against Green Bay. Quarterback Caleb Williams shines late, with seven passing touchdowns and a 128.5 passer rating on third downs when trailing. However, the Rams' defense has faltered, allowing 28.3 points per game since Week 13 after leading the league early at 16.3.
Matthew Stafford, the NFL's passing yard leader with 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns, must deliver an MVP-caliber outing. He has posted 200-plus yards and two-plus touchdowns in his last eight playoff games. Turnovers loom large: Stafford has thrown six interceptions and lost two fumbles in the Rams' five losses, while the Bears led the league with 33 takeaways, going 9-0 when forcing two or more.
Weather forecasts predict temperatures of 10-15 degrees with 20-30 mph wind gusts, dropping the wind chill below zero. Stafford is 1-9 in cold, rainy, or snowy conditions with the Rams, though he exceeded 300 yards in two sub-40-degree losses. The wind may hinder passing and special teams, where the Rams have struggled. Bears kicker Cairo Santos is reliable at home, converting 7 of 8 field goals in recent games, including two from 50-plus yards. Rams kicker Harrison Mevis has made 14 of 15 field goals since Week 10 but lacks long-range attempts.
Expert picks lean toward a close contest, with some favoring the Seahawks over the injury-plagued 49ers in another game, but the AFC matchups, including this one, remain unpredictable due to offensive-defense balances.
