Los Angeles Rams Survive Overtime Thriller, Defeat Chicago Bears 20-17 to Advance to NFC Championship

Chicago experienced a night of raw playoff drama at Soldier Field, where the Los Angeles Rams edged the Chicago Bears 20-17 in overtime in the NFC Divisional Round. Harrison Mevis kicked a 42-yard field goal in the extra period to send the fifth-seeded Rams to the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks, while ending the Bears’ promising season on a heartbreaking note.

Frigid conditions greeted both teams as snow flurries swirled and temperatures hovered around 19 degrees, with wind chills dipping below zero. The elements turned the matchup into a gritty, low-scoring battle that showcased dominant defenses and clutch moments from young and veteran players alike.

The Rams struck first in the opening quarter. Matthew Stafford, playing in his first outdoor cold-weather playoff game in years, leaned on running back Kyren Williams to open the scoring. Williams powered through the Bears’ front for a short touchdown run, capping a methodical drive that ate clock and quieted the home crowd early. The score gave Los Angeles a 7-0 lead and set the tone for a game where field position and red-zone stops would matter most.

Chicago answered in the second quarter. Second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, showing flashes of the poise that had carried the Bears to the No. 2 seed, engineered a response. He connected with wide receiver DJ Moore on a precise pass for a touchdown that knotted the game at 7-7 heading into halftime. The Bears’ defense deserves credit for keeping the Rams in check, sacking Stafford multiple times and forcing punts on consecutive possessions.

The third quarter remained a defensive slog. Both offenses struggled with the wind and slippery turf, trading punts as neither could sustain drives. Stafford completed just over half his passes through three quarters, visibly affected by the conditions that are rare for a quarterback accustomed to dome stadiums. Williams, meanwhile, kept the Bears in it with his mobility, scrambling for key first downs but also taking hits from a relentless Rams pass rush.

The fourth quarter brought the fireworks fans had waited for. Williams plunged in for a touchdown run that put the Rams ahead 17-10 with under nine minutes remaining. The score came after Stafford finally found rhythm on a long drive, mixing short passes with handoffs to Williams, who finished the night with 87 yards and two scores on 21 carries.

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Chicago refused to fold. Facing pressure, Williams led the Bears downfield, but the Rams’ defense stonewalled them on multiple fourth-down attempts inside the red zone. One goal-line stand in particular turned momentum, as Los Angeles forced a turnover on downs and seemed poised to run out the clock.

With time dwindling, Williams pulled off one of the most memorable plays of the postseason. On fourth-and-long from deep in Rams territory, he dropped back far behind the line, evaded rushers, and launched a deep heave into the end zone. The ball found Cole Kmet for a touchdown that tied the game at 17-17 with seconds left, sending Soldier Field into a frenzy and forcing overtime.

Overtime started with promise for Chicago. The Bears’ defense forced a quick three-and-out, giving Williams the ball with a chance to win it. But on the ensuing drive, safety Kam Curl stepped in front of a deep pass intended for Moore, picking off Williams for his third interception of the night. The turnover flipped the field and gave the Rams prime position.

Stafford made the most of the opportunity. He targeted Puka Nacua on a crucial sideline catch that kept the chains moving, then handed off repeatedly to Williams to chew clock and move into range. Mevis, the rookie kicker who had already proven reliable in pressure situations, trotted out and split the uprights from 42 yards, sealing the 20-17 victory.

For the Rams, the win marks another deep playoff run under head coach Sean McVay. Stafford, despite completing fewer than half his passes for 258 yards and taking several hard hits, managed the game effectively when it mattered most. His leadership in the cold, combined with Williams’ ground dominance and timely defensive plays, kept Los Angeles alive in their quest to return to the Super Bowl.

The Bears, meanwhile, head into the offseason with reasons for optimism. Williams showed why he remains one of the league’s most exciting young quarterbacks, delivering under pressure even in defeat. His late-game heroics will be replayed for years, though the interceptions serve as a reminder of the fine line between bold and reckless. Chicago’s defense, which harassed Stafford all night and limited big plays, provides a strong foundation for next season.

The matchup highlighted the contrasting styles of two franchises at different points in their arcs. The Rams, road warriors as a lower seed, continue their habit of thriving in January. They now face a divisional rival in Seattle with a spot in the Super Bowl on the line. For the Bears, the loss stings, but it caps a year of progress that has fans believing brighter days are ahead.

In the end, a single field goal in overtime decided a game that had everything playoff football promises: tough defense, adverse weather, and moments of individual brilliance. The Rams move on, carrying the momentum of survival into the next round.