Rams Survive the Cold and the Chaos in Chicago, Advance to NFC Championship
The Los Angeles Rams are heading to the NFC Championship Game, but it wasn’t exactly a masterpiece getting there. In a gritty, frozen showdown in Chicago, the Rams outlasted the Bears in overtime to notch their second straight playoff win - both by the narrowest of margins.
This one didn’t come with many style points, but in January, it’s about surviving and advancing. And that’s exactly what LA did.
Let’s be clear: this was not the kind of performance that settles nerves or answers lingering questions. If anything, it raised a few more.
The Rams may be winning, but they’re doing it in a way that leaves fans holding their breath until the final whistle. Still, a win’s a win - and now they’re one step away from the Super Bowl.
Here’s a breakdown of four players and units who stood out - and four that didn’t - in a wild divisional round win in the Windy City.
❌ Losers
1. Pass Rush Vanishes When It’s Needed Most
You’d expect the Rams’ defensive front to feast against a rookie quarterback in the playoffs. Instead, they served up a goose egg in the sack column.
No sacks, no quarterback hits that rattled Caleb Williams, and not nearly enough pressure to force mistakes. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula had to know his secondary would be tested - and to their credit, they held up.
But the front seven didn’t do their part.
The Rams’ defense has often leaned on its ability to collapse the pocket and create chaos. On Sunday, that chaos was missing.
The Bears’ offensive line kept Williams upright, and that gave him just enough time to make plays. The pass rush simply didn’t show up.
2. Offensive Play Calling Leaves Fans Scratching Their Heads
Matthew Stafford had a rough day. Less than 50% completion, four sacks, and 29 yards lost on those takedowns. Add in a throwing hand that looked like it wasn’t cooperating in the cold, and you’ve got a quarterback trying to gut it out through visible discomfort.
So what did the Rams do? They kept throwing.
The run game was an afterthought until late in the contest, despite the conditions clearly favoring a more balanced - or even run-heavy - approach. It felt like the Rams were forcing something that wasn’t there, and it nearly cost them.
A more even game plan could’ve taken pressure off Stafford and helped control the clock. Instead, it was a grind from start to finish.
3. Run Defense Gets Pushed Around
The Rams didn’t give up a monster individual rushing performance, but the Bears still piled up 160 yards on the ground - well above their season average. That’s a problem. The run defense looked flat, uninspired, and a step slow all night.
This wasn’t just a case of missed tackles or blown assignments. It was a systemic issue: poor gap discipline, lack of backside pursuit, and not enough physicality at the point of attack.
When your pass rush isn’t getting home, your run defense has to step up. The Rams didn’t get either.
4. Where Were Davante Adams and Puka Nacua?
This offense has leaned heavily on the receiving duo of Davante Adams and Puka Nacua all season long. But on Sunday, they were largely invisible. The two combined for just 7 catches on 16 targets for 80 yards - a pedestrian line for a pair of stars who usually carry the load.
Nacua, who had a breakout performance a week ago, couldn’t replicate the magic. Adams, the veteran playmaker, never found a rhythm. Whether it was the cold, the coverage, or the game plan, the Rams needed more from their top targets - and didn’t get it.
✅ Winners
1. Kam Curl Comes Up Clutch in Overtime
Big moments call for big plays, and Kam Curl delivered. With the game hanging in the balance in overtime, Curl stepped in front of a Bears pass and picked it off, flipping momentum in an instant. It was the kind of play that playoff legends are made of - a defensive back reading the quarterback, breaking on the ball, and making a game-changing interception.
That turnover set the stage for the Rams’ offense to finally seal the deal. Curl didn’t just make a great play - he made the play.
2. Jordan Whittington Provides a Spark
It wasn’t a banner day for the Rams’ receivers, but Jordan Whittington made the most of his limited chances. With just two catches for 35 yards, his stat line won’t jump off the page. But in a game where the stars were quiet, Whittington’s contributions stood out.
He showed reliable hands, crisp routes, and a willingness to make tough catches in traffic. More importantly, he looked in sync with Stafford - a sign that the quarterback’s hand might not be as much of an issue as it appeared. Whittington’s emergence could be a sneaky factor heading into the next round.
3. Cobie Durant Lives Up to the ‘Land Shark’ Nickname
Cobie Durant was everywhere. The cornerback known as “Land Shark” played like he had something to prove - and he did just that. Two interceptions, both at critical moments, helped swing the momentum and keep the Rams in control.
His first pick stopped a promising Bears drive and set up the Rams’ opening touchdown. His second came just as Chicago was threatening again, slamming the door on another rally. In a game full of tension, Durant’s instincts and ball skills were a calming force for the Rams’ defense.
4. Harrison Mevis Delivers the Game Winner
Harrison Mevis wasn’t even on the Rams roster when the season started. But when the game was on the line in January, he was the one with the ball on his foot - and he nailed it. The former UFL kicker drilled the game-winning field goal in overtime, sending LA to the NFC title game.
It’s a storybook moment for a player who’s taken the long road to the NFL. And for the Rams, it’s one more reason to believe that sometimes, the unlikeliest heroes make the biggest difference in the playoffs.
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t a clean win. It wasn’t dominant. But it was enough.
The Rams have now survived two playoff battles by the slimmest of margins. They’ve shown toughness, resilience, and just enough playmaking to keep moving forward. But if they’re going to take the next step - and punch a ticket to the Super Bowl - they’ll need more consistency, especially from their stars and their pass rush.
Two down. Two to go. The path to the Lombardi is never easy - but the Rams are still on it.