Rams shake off wild, late TD pass
by Caleb Williams, beat Bears 20-17 in OT to reach NFC title game
[January 19, 2026]
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
CHICAGO (AP) — Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay shot knowing glances
at each other, then went to work on the drive that got the Los
Angeles Rams one step away from the Super Bowl.
Stafford and the Rams survived an incredible throw by Caleb Williams
that forced overtime, beating the Chicago Bears 20-17 on Sunday
night to advance to the NFC championship game.
Harrison Mevis kicked a 42-yard field goal in OT after Kam Curl
intercepted a deep pass by Williams on the Bears’ first possession
of the extra period. Stafford glanced at his coach prior to the
winning drive, then completed three passes for first downs —
including a 16-yarder to Puka Nacua to get the Rams into field-goal
range.
“I looked right at Sean, he looked right at me,” Stafford said. “And
I'm like, ‘Here we go.’ That's what it's all about. What an
unbelievable job by our defense today, getting us the ball over and
over again. Whether it be fourth-down stops or turnovers, they were
clutch and timely.”
So was Mevis.
The “Thiccer Kicker,” as he's known, ended the Bears' season.
Teammates mobbed him while a crowd that was rocking earlier watched
in near silence at the conclusion of a cold, snowy night.
The Rams (14-5) will visit NFC West rival Seattle next Sunday in
their first trip to the conference championship game since the 2021
team won the Super Bowl. The Seahawks beat San Francisco 41-6 on
Saturday.
“It was like, all right, the football gods are smiling on us,” McVay
said. “The weather had calmed down. There wasn't a lot of wind right
there. ... I was really happy for him, and I was very confident that
he would make that.”
Los Angeles led 17-10 in the final minute of regulation and the
Bears faced fourth-and-4 from the 14-yard line when Williams
backpedaled to avoid the pass rush and heaved the ball to Cole Kmet
for the tying touchdown with 18 seconds left. Although officially a
14-yard pass, the ball traveled 51.2 yards in the air, according to
the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
Bears coach Ben Johnson thought about trying for a go-ahead 2-point
conversion but decided to send out Cairo Santos for the extra point.
Williams threw for two touchdowns but was intercepted three times as
the Bears (12-7) — who pulled off seven fourth-quarter comeback wins
in Johnson's first season — came up short this time. They won the
NFC North after finishing last in the division a year ago.
“Our guys are feeling it right now,” Johnson said. “They all
believed, man. They all believed that we could find a way to win
each and every week. And so it’s disappointing like that. I’m proud
of the group. It’s a special group.”
Fireworks in the fourth
Stafford led a 91-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, with
Kyren Williams scoring from the 5 to give the Rams a 17-10 lead with
8:50 remaining. Nacua kept the possession going on the previous play
with a 2-yard run on fourth-and-5.
The Bears then drove to the 2, but Omar Speights broke up Williams’
fourth-down pass to Luther Burden just inside the goal line.
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Los Angeles Rams kicker Harrison Mevis, center, reacts with holder
Ethan Evans, center right, and teammates after booting a
game-winning field goal during overtime of an NFL football
divisional playoff game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Jan. 18,
2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Chicago got the ball back at midfield with just
under two minutes remaining after Ethan Evans shanked a 33-yard
punt, setting up Williams' heroics.
Overtime gets off to slow start
In overtime, the Bears won the toss and deferred. They quickly got
the ball back when the Rams went three-and-out. Los Angeles was
forced to punt after Blake Corum got stopped for a 1-yard loss on
third-and-1 at the 36.
Chicago took over at the 16. Williams kept the drive going with a
3-yard keeper on fourth-and-1 near midfield. But Curl picked off
Williams' pass intended for DJ Moore two plays later.
Stafford was 20 of 42 for 258 yards and took four sacks. Nacua had
56 yards receiving after going for 111 in a wild-card win over
Carolina, and Kyren Williams ran for 87 yards and two scores.
“I definitely didn't get into a great rhythm today, there's no
question about that,” said Stafford, who sprained the index finger
on his throwing hand against the Panthers. “I had some opportunities
in the pass game, just some things that made it tough. Obviously, I
can be better. But playoff football is about winning the football
game.”
Caleb Williams completed 23 of 42 passes for 257 yards. Moore had a
touchdown catch, and D'Andre Swift ran for 76 yards.
“In these moments you feel that you let your team down, you feel
this and that,” Williams said. “It’s a good lesson learned for us,
first time being in this situation for me and for us as a team. I’m
excited for what's to come, but obviously going to go back and watch
this and see how I can be better.”
Injuries
Rams: CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr. (shoulder) was hurt in the first half.
Bears: TE Colston Loveland (concussion) exited late in regulation.
Up next
Rams: Los Angeles and Seattle split two close games in the regular
season, with the home team winning each time.
Bears: Prepare for next season.
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