The Los Angeles Rams are no strangers to the big stage, and as the last road team to take the field in this year’s Divisional Round, they’re stepping into a playoff landscape that’s been dominated by home teams so far. Denver edged out Buffalo in a dramatic 33-30 overtime thriller, and Seattle steamrolled San Francisco 41-6. As the New England Patriots hold a 21-10 lead over Houston early in the third quarter, the question now becomes: can the Rams be the first road team to flip the script?
Despite being slight favorites heading into their matchup against the Chicago Bears, the line has tightened-from an opening -4.5 to -3.5 by kickoff. That shift reflects a growing confidence in the Bears from analysts and bettors alike. And given how tight the Panthers game was, this one is shaping up to be another playoff slugfest.
But here’s the thing: while the home teams have had the upper hand so far, the Rams aren’t just showing up-they’re coming in with a plan.
The Rams Are Built for This Moment
This is a 12-5 team that’s battled through the grind of the regular season and emerged relatively healthy-an underrated advantage this time of year. And when roster tweaks have been needed, general manager Les Snead has continued to show his knack for plugging holes with the right guys at the right time.
Head coach Sean McVay, meanwhile, has kept his messaging consistent. Cold weather?
Not a concern. While other teams might make a big show of preparing for the elements, McVay has kept it simple: let the staff handle the logistics, let the players focus on execution.
It’s a clear, focused approach that speaks to the culture of trust within the Rams' organization.
That’s not to say they’re ignoring the conditions. This team knows what it’s walking into.
But they’ve been here before-literally. Just last season, they played through a blizzard against the Eagles.
That snowy loss didn’t just sting-it sparked change. The Rams went into the offseason determined to shore up their defense against the run, and that led to the additions of nose tackle Poona Ford and inside linebacker Nate Landman.
Both were brought in with one goal in mind: make sure a snow game doesn’t beat them again.
Can LA Buck the Trend?
So far, home-field advantage has been real. But if any team is built to push back, it’s this Rams squad.
They’ve got the playoff experience, the personnel, and a coaching staff that doesn’t flinch in the face of adversity. The Bears are no pushover, and this matchup has all the ingredients for a classic postseason battle.
But Los Angeles isn’t just hoping to win on the road-they’ve built a blueprint for it.
Now it’s time to see if that plan holds up under the bright lights-and the biting cold-of playoff football in Chicago.