Rams Beat Bears 20-17 in OT, Reach NFC Championship/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Los Angeles Rams edged out the Chicago Bears 20-17 in overtime to reach the NFC Championship Game. Matthew Stafford led the game-winning drive after Caleb Williams’ miraculous last-minute TD forced OT. The Rams now head to Seattle for a conference showdown, while the Bears’ magical season ends.
Rams NFC Championship Push: Quick Looks
- Rams beat Bears 20-17 in overtime thriller in Chicago
- Caleb Williams’ insane last-minute TD pass forces OT
- Matthew Stafford leads final drive capped by 42-yard FG
- Rams rookie kicker Harrison Mevis clinches win with game-winner
- Kam Curl intercepts Caleb Williams in OT to set up victory
- Stafford throws for 258 yards despite four sacks
- Kyren Williams scores twice and rushes for 87 yards
- Rams will face Seahawks next in NFC title game
- Bears coach Ben Johnson opts for extra point over 2-point try
- Bears finish season 12-7 after NFC North title year
Deep Look: Rams Survive Caleb Williams’ Miracle to Reach NFC Title Game
CHICAGO — The Los Angeles Rams are headed back to the NFC Championship Game, and they got there by surviving one of the most electrifying moments of the NFL season.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford and head coach Sean McVay shared a look of confidence before engineering a final drive in overtime that sealed a 20-17 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night. The win came just minutes after Bears rookie QB Caleb Williams stunned the football world with a game-tying touchdown pass that defied logic — and nearly ended the Rams’ playoff dreams.
The Rams will now face division rival Seattle for a spot in the Super Bowl.
Game of Inches and Emotions
After Bears kicker Cairo Santos tied the game with an extra point following Williams’ miracle 14-yard TD to Cole Kmet, the Rams needed to reset. The Bears had just completed a 51-yard-in-the-air touchdown on 4th-and-4 with 18 seconds left, and Soldier Field was roaring.
But Rams safety Kam Curl intercepted Williams on Chicago’s first possession of overtime, setting up the Rams’ offense. From there, Stafford calmly delivered three straight first-down passes, including a crucial 16-yarder to Puka Nacua, bringing them into field-goal range.
Then came the moment. Rookie kicker Harrison “Thiccer Kicker” Mevis nailed a 42-yard field goal through the snowy Chicago air — and silence fell on a stunned stadium.
“I looked right at Sean, he looked right at me,” said Stafford. “And I’m like, ‘Here we go.’ That’s what it’s all about.”
Mevis was mobbed by teammates. For the Rams, it was celebration. For the Bears, heartbreak.
Stat Leaders and Game Highlights
- Matthew Stafford: 20-of-42, 258 yards, sacked 4 times
- Kyren Williams: 87 rushing yards, 2 TDs
- Puka Nacua: 56 receiving yards, key 4th-down conversion
- Caleb Williams: 23-of-42, 257 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs
- D’Andre Swift: 76 rushing yards
- DJ Moore: 1 TD catch, targeted on intercepted OT pass
“I didn’t get into a great rhythm,” said Stafford, who is recovering from a finger injury. “But playoff football is about winning.”
Caleb Williams Shines Despite Loss
Despite the three interceptions, Williams showed flashes of the generational talent that made him the Bears’ top draft pick. His fourth-down, backpedaling rainbow to Kmet will be replayed for years.
“It’s a good lesson for us,” said Williams. “We’ll be back.”
The Bears were 12-7 this season, capturing the NFC North after finishing in the basement just a year ago. It was a strong first season for head coach Ben Johnson, who turned the team around but stopped short of a conference title.
Johnson considered going for a game-winning 2-point conversion after the Kmet touchdown but opted for the extra point instead.
“Our guys are feeling it,” said Johnson. “They believed we could win every week. I’m proud of this group.”
Key Fourth Quarter Moments
- Stafford leads a 91-yard drive ending in Kyren Williams’ 5-yard TD
- Rams take 17-10 lead with under 9 minutes left
- Bears reach the Rams’ 2-yard line, but Omar Speights breaks up Williams’ 4th-down pass
- Rams punter Ethan Evans shanks a 33-yarder, setting up Chicago at midfield
- Caleb Williams delivers the miracle throw with 18 seconds left
Overtime Drama
- Bears win the toss and defer, but Rams go three-and-out
- Chicago regains possession, converts on 4th-and-1
- Kam Curl intercepts Williams two plays later
- Stafford leads final drive; Mevis kicks game-winner
Injuries
- Rams: CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr. left with a shoulder injury
- Bears: TE Colston Loveland exited due to a concussion
What’s Next
- Rams: Travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. Each team won at home in their regular-season matchups.
- Bears: Look ahead to a promising offseason centered around their franchise QB, Caleb Williams.
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