The Los Angeles Rams advanced to the NFC Championship Game with a heart-stopping 20-17 overtime victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night, sealed by a 42-yard walk-off field goal from kicker Harrison Mevis. This win sets up a highly anticipated NFC West rivalry rematch against the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday, marking the Rams’ first conference championship appearance since their Super Bowl LVI triumph.
In a frigid and snowy Soldier Field, the Rams built a 17-10 lead in the fourth quarter after a 5-yard touchdown run by Kyren Williams. However, with just 18 seconds remaining in regulation, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams delivered a miraculous play, evading pressure on fourth-and-4 from the 14-yard line and launching a 51.2-yard aerial heave that found tight end Cole Kmet in the end zone for the tying score, sending the game to overtime.
After the Bears won the coin toss and deferred, both teams exchanged punts in the extra period. Chicago’s first possession ended abruptly when safety Kam Curl intercepted a deep pass from Williams intended for DJ Moore, giving the Rams the ball at their own 36-yard line. This turnover proved decisive, as Los Angeles efficiently moved into field-goal range.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford, who had struggled with accuracy throughout the game, connected with receiver Puka Nacua for a 16-yard gain on a crucial third-down play, positioning the Rams at the Bears’ 24-yard line. From there, Mevis—affectionately nicknamed the ‘Thiccer Kicker’—calmly drilled the game-winning 42-yard field goal, triggering a jubilant celebration from the Rams while silencing the previously raucous Chicago crowd.
Stafford finished 20-of-42 for 258 yards with no touchdowns and took four sacks, but his late-game composure was pivotal. Nacua contributed 56 receiving yards, while Kyren Williams rushed for 87 yards and two scores. On the other side, Caleb Williams threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted three times, including the critical overtime pick that sealed the Bears’ fate.
Rams coach Sean McVay praised his team’s resilience, noting, ‘The football gods are smiling on us.’ Stafford reflected on a shared moment with McVay before the final drive, saying, ‘I looked right at Sean, he looked right at me. And I’m like, ‘Here we go.” Bears coach Ben Johnson, in his first season, expressed pride in his team’s effort despite the loss, highlighting Williams’ ‘ridiculous’ touchdown throw.
The victory propels the Rams (14-5) to an NFC Championship Game showdown with the Seahawks, who dominated the San Francisco 49ers 41-6 on Saturday. Los Angeles and Seattle split their two regular-season meetings, each winning at home, setting the stage for a competitive clash with a Super Bowl berth on the line.
For the Bears (12-7), the defeat ends a remarkable turnaround season under Johnson, during which they won the NFC North after finishing last a year ago and recorded seven fourth-quarter comeback victories. While disappointed, the team remains optimistic about the future, with Williams acknowledging the learning experience from his first playoff appearance.
