The Los Angeles Rams are heading back to the NFC Championship Game after surviving a heart-stopping finish and outlasting the Chicago Bears 20-17 in overtime Sunday night in the NFC Divisional Playoffs.
Matthew Stafford and the Rams needed every ounce of poise to escape a frigid, snow-dusted night that featured one of the postseason’s most spectacular throws — and one crushing mistake. After Caleb Williams forced overtime with a jaw-dropping touchdown pass in the final seconds of regulation, Harrison Mevis delivered the final blow, drilling a 42-yard field goal in overtime to end Chicago’s season.
The decisive kick came after safety Kam Curl intercepted Williams on the Bears’ first possession of the extra period, snatching a deep throw intended for DJ Moore. Stafford glanced toward head coach Sean McVay before calmly guiding Los Angeles into scoring range, completing three first-down passes on the drive. The biggest came on a 16-yard strike to Puka Nacua, setting up Mevis — affectionately nicknamed the “Thiccer Kicker” — for the game-winner. As teammates mobbed Mevis, a stadium that had been roaring minutes earlier fell into stunned silence.
Los Angeles (14-5) now advances to face NFC West rival Seattle next Sunday, marking the Rams’ first trip to the conference title game since their Super Bowl-winning 2021 season. The Seahawks earned their spot with a dominant 41-6 win over San Francisco on Saturday.
The Rams appeared to have the game in hand late in regulation. Stafford engineered a 91-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, capped by Kyren Williams’ 5-yard scoring run with 8:50 remaining to give Los Angeles a 17-10 lead. The drive stayed alive thanks to a daring call, with Nacua converting a fourth-and-5 on a 2-yard run.
Chicago responded with urgency, driving to the Rams’ 2-yard line, but linebacker Omar Speights broke up Williams’ fourth-down pass to Luther Burden just inside the goal line. The Bears got another chance moments later after Rams punter Ethan Evans shanked a 33-yard punt, handing Williams the ball near midfield with under two minutes left.
What followed was pure magic. Facing fourth-and-4 from the 14-yard line, Williams backpedaled to avoid pressure and unleashed a throw to tight end Cole Kmet for the tying touchdown with 18 seconds remaining. Though officially a 14-yard pass, NFL Next Gen Stats clocked the ball traveling 51.2 yards in the air. Bears coach Ben Johnson briefly considered a go-ahead two-point conversion but opted for the extra point, sending the game to overtime.
Overtime opened quietly. Chicago won the toss and deferred, then quickly got the ball back after the Rams went three-and-out. Los Angeles stalled when Blake Corum was stopped for a 1-yard loss on third-and-1, forcing a punt. Williams extended the Bears’ ensuing drive with a 3-yard quarterback keeper on fourth-and-1 near midfield, but two plays later Curl stepped in front of a pass and changed the game.
Stafford finished 20 of 42 for 258 yards while absorbing four sacks. Nacua had 56 receiving yards after a 111-yard performance in the wild-card round, and Kyren Williams ran for 87 yards and two touchdowns.
Williams showed flashes of brilliance in defeat, completing 23 of 42 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns, but three interceptions proved costly. Moore caught a touchdown pass, D’Andre Swift ran for 76 yards, and Chicago (12-7) came up just short after a remarkable turnaround season that included seven fourth-quarter comeback wins and an NFC North title one year after finishing last in the division.
This time, though, the Bears’ late-game magic ran out — and the Rams marched on.
