The Los Angeles Rams are heading to the NFC Championship Game after a dramatic 20-17 overtime victory over the Chicago Bears in the divisional round of the playoffs on Sunday night. The win came down to a single moment: Harrison Mevis's 42-yard field goal with 3:19 remaining in overtime, which sent the Rams forward and ended the Bears' season in heartbreaking fashion.
The game was played in snowy conditions in Chicago and featured one of the most remarkable plays of the playoff season. With just 17 seconds left in regulation and the Bears trailing, quarterback Caleb Williams threw a backpedaling touchdown pass that seemed impossible to complete. The score tied the game and forced overtime, giving Chicago a chance to win. But the Bears' hopes unraveled quickly in the extra period when Williams threw an interception, giving the Rams the opening they needed.
Background
Both teams entered the playoffs with strong regular seasons. The Rams finished 12-5 and earned a spot as a division winner in the NFC West. The Bears, meanwhile, had an 11-6 record and secured the fifth seed in the NFC playoff bracket. This was a matchup between a veteran quarterback in Matthew Stafford and a rising star in Williams, who was in his first professional season.
The Bears had momentum coming into the game. They had fought their way through a competitive NFC North division that included the defending champion Detroit Lions. The organization and its fans believed this could be the year they finally returned to the playoffs after years of disappointment. The Rams, meanwhile, were looking to prove they could win in January after a solid but unspectacular regular season.
Key Details
The first half belonged to the Bears. Chicago scored 10 points while holding the Rams to just 10 as well, keeping the game tight. The Rams added a field goal to lead 10-10 at halftime, but the Bears appeared to be in control of the game's flow.
The third quarter was quiet for both teams, with neither side scoring. That set up a fourth quarter where both offenses finally came alive. The Rams scored a touchdown to take a 17-10 lead, and it looked like Los Angeles would escape Chicago with a win.
But Williams and the Bears refused to quit. Late in the fourth quarter, with the game seemingly slipping away, Williams delivered one of the most impressive throws of his young career. Rolling backward and away from pressure, he found a receiver and connected for a touchdown that tied the game at 17-17 with 17 seconds remaining. The play stunned the Rams and energized the Bears, who thought they had found a way to win.
Overtimes in the NFL work differently than in college football. Both teams get at least one possession, and the first team to score wins. The Rams got the ball first in overtime but punted. The Bears then took their turn, but Williams made a critical mistake. His pass was intercepted by Kamren Curl, giving the Rams another chance.
"Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay shot knowing glances at each other, then went to work on the drive that got the Los Angeles Rams one step away from the Super Bowl." – AP
Stafford led the Rams on a 10-play, 54-yard drive that positioned them in field goal range. Mevis then calmly kicked the 42-yarder through the uprights, and the game was over. The Rams were advancing.
McVay's Coaching Admission
After the game, Rams head coach Sean McVay acknowledged that his team's performance had not been flawless. He admitted to what he described as "bad coaching" at points during the contest, suggesting that he and his staff made decisions that could have cost them the game. Despite these mistakes, the Rams' defense stepped up when it mattered most, and Stafford's veteran presence helped them overcome the coaching lapses.
The Bears' defense actually performed well against the Rams' offense, which had scored 518 points during the regular season. But Chicago's offense could not sustain drives when it needed to most, and the late interception in overtime proved to be the fatal mistake.
What This Means
The Rams will now travel to Seattle to face the NFC West rival Seahawks in the Championship Game next Sunday. This is the Rams' first appearance in the NFC Championship since their Super Bowl-winning season in 2021, marking a return to the biggest stage in the conference.
For the Bears, the loss stings deeply. Williams showed flashes of brilliance, completing his final touchdown pass with precision under pressure. But one interception in a important moment cost Chicago its season. The organization will spend the offseason evaluating whether it has the right pieces around its young quarterback to compete at the highest level.
The Rams' ability to win despite McVay's admitted coaching mistakes suggests they have the experience and talent to make a run. Stafford's composure in overtime and the defense's ability to force a turnover at the right moment proved to be the difference. In playoff football, winning games you don't play perfectly is often what separates champions from teams that go home.
