The Los Angeles Rams are headed to the NFC Championship Game after a gritty 20-17 overtime win over the Chicago Bears - and they’ve got Kamren Curl to thank for it.
In a game that saw momentum swing like a pendulum, it was Curl, the former Washington Commanders safety, who came up with the defining play. With the Bears driving in overtime and nearing field goal range - a potential game-ending scenario - Curl stepped in front of a pass from Chicago rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and picked it off.
It was a clutch, instinctive play that flipped the script and handed the Rams a golden opportunity. Matthew Stafford and the offense didn’t waste it, marching downfield for the game-winning score.
Curl's interception wasn’t just a highlight-reel moment - it was the difference between heartbreak and a trip to the NFC title game. If Bears wide receiver D.J.
Moore hauls in that ball instead, Chicago’s lining up for a potential game-winning kick. But Curl read the route, jumped it, and made a play that will be remembered in L.A. for a long time.
This kind of performance is exactly why the Rams brought Curl in during the 2024 offseason. Signed to a two-year deal after four solid seasons in Washington, Curl has proven to be more than just a depth piece - he’s become a key part of a Rams defense that’s grown stronger as the season’s gone on.
For Washington fans, Curl’s emergence in the postseason is no surprise. Drafted in the seventh round out of Arkansas in 2020, he quickly outperformed expectations.
In four seasons with the Commanders, he appeared in 60 games and started 53 of them - a rare late-round gem who became a steady presence in the secondary. He was one of the few bright spots from Ron Rivera’s tenure as head coach and general manager.
Now 26, Curl is one win away from playing in the Super Bowl. And while his focus is squarely on helping the Rams get past the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks next week, it’s hard not to think about what might come next. He’s set to hit free agency again in 2026, and with the Commanders still needing help at safety, there’s a chance the paths could cross again down the line.
One of his former teammates, Washington safety Jeremy Reaves, was locked in on Sunday’s game - and for good reason. Curl’s journey from overlooked draft pick to playoff hero is the kind of story every locker room rallies around. And if he keeps making plays like this, the Rams might just be playing into February.