The NFL divisional round will end with fireworks as the No. 2 Chicago Bears welcome the No. 5 Los Angeles Rams to Soldier Field for the right to play in the NFC Championship.
At a Glance
- Chicago erased an 18-point hole to beat Green Bay 31-27 in the wild card round
- Matthew Stafford’s late TD lifted the Rams past Carolina 34-31
- Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock
- Why it matters: The winner advances to within one victory of Super Bowl LX
Bears’ Comeback Kings
Chicago has trademarked the second-half rally this season, and the wild card round supplied the latest example. Down 21-3 at halftime to the rival Packers, quarterback Caleb Williams directed five consecutive scoring drives, including the game-winning touchdown with 1:47 left, to clinch a 31-27 victory.
The comeback preserved the Bears’ perfect postseason record at Soldier Field and sent Green Bay home empty-handed for the second straight year.
Rams Survive Shootout
Los Angeles needed its own late-game heroics to advance. Facing a Carolina squad that had already knocked off two division winners, the Rams traded blows for 59 minutes before Stafford engineered a 75-yard march that ended with a touch pass to Puka Nacua with 38 seconds remaining, sealing a 34-31 win.
Stafford, the current MVP betting favorite, threw for 367 yards and three scores while playing through a sore knee. The victory pushed the Rams into the divisional round for the fifth time in seven seasons under coach Sean McVay.
How to Watch
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. PT
TV: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, NBC.com, NBC and Peacock mobile apps
Commentary team:
- Play-by-play: Mike Tirico
- Analyst: Cris Collinsworth
- Sideline reporter: Melissa Stark
The same crew will call Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on February 8.
Pregame Show
NBC’s on-site edition of “Football Night in America” begins at 3 p.m. PT with Maria Taylor, Jason Garrett, Chris Simms, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, Mike Florio, Devin McCourty, Matthew Berry and Jac Collinsworth providing analysis and interviews.
Key Matchups
- Caleb Williams vs. Rams pass rush: The rookie QB faced only three blitzes from Green Bay but expects more heat from defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, who led the league in five-man pressures.
- Matthew Stafford vs. Bears’ Cover-3: Chicago allowed the fewest explosive passes this season (28 of 20-plus yards). Stafford’s ability to hit Cooper Kupp and Nacua on deep comebacks and seams will test that discipline.
- David Montgomery vs. LBs Ernest Jones and Troy Reeder: The Bears back gashed Green Bay for 88 second-half yards. If he duplicates that success, play-action lanes open for Williams.
Series History
The Rams own a 6-5 postseason edge, but Chicago won the last meeting 15-6 in 2019. That game featured a combined 24 penalties and six turnovers, conditions neither quarterback wants repeated.
Ticket Demand
Secondary-market prices on StubHub started at $312 for upper-level seats Monday morning, making this the priciest Bears home playoff game since the 2011 NFC title tilt.
Weather
The National Weather Service forecasts 28°F at kickoff with 10 mph winds and a 30 percent chance of flurries-classic January football that favors the run-heavy Bears.
Prop Bets to Watch
- Stafford passing yards: over/under 289.5
- Williams TD passes: over/under 1.5
- First score: Bears field goal (+350)
Halftime Entertainment
A GRAMMY-winning singer will perform the opening musical segment for the 13th consecutive season of NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
Key Takeaways
- Both teams advanced on dramatic comebacks, setting up a tension-filled chess match
- The Bears’ home-field advantage and cold-weather style could neutralize the Rams’ high-octane attack
- The winner draws either Detroit or Dallas next Sunday for the NFC crown
Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.
