Divisional Round Preview
Fresh off a stunning, grind-it-out comeback against Green Bay, the Chicago Bears don’t have the luxury of basking in the moment. The reward for knocking off their oldest rival is a high-stakes Divisional Round clash with the Los Angeles Rams, with a trip to the conference championship hanging in the balance.
This is your Divisional Rd Preview 🐻⬇️
When/Where:
📅 Sunday, January 18th
🕔 5:30 PM
📺: NBC/Peacock
📍Solider Field, Chicago, IL
💰 Odds:
Bears +3.5 +164
Rams -3.5 -198
O/U 50.5
🌚☁️The Weather:
High of 16 degrees, low of 2 degrees. The wind will make it feel colder and closer to -8 degrees.
🧸Our Bears:
Chicago comes into the Divisional round brimming with confidence. The win over the Packers wasn’t just emotional, it was proof of continued resilience. Down late, the Bears leaned on toughness, discipline, and timely execution, traits that tend to travel well in January. For a young core, surviving that kind of pressure can be transformative.
Offensively, the Bears need to play to their strengths and dominate at the line of scrimmage. The offensive line must be sharp, as the Rams bring a formidable front with Fiske, Young, and Verse. This will be a true test on Sunday evening.
Caleb got off to a slow start but looked outstanding in the second half. He’ll need to carry that momentum into this game, lead the offense to an early score, and help take some pressure off the Bears’ defense while keeping the Rams’ offense in check.
Losing Ozzy Trapilo will be a big test for the Chicago Bears as he gave the bears a consistent presence at the left tackle position. However, Theo Benedet has experience, having started eight games for the Bears this season. In those games, Chicago went 6–2, with the two losses coming on the road at Baltimore and in Week 18 against Detroit. 5-2 at LT 1-0 at RT
Defensively for the Bears, I believe Kyler Gordon will have more responsibility and make a bigger impact. Tyrique Stevenson should also have a bigger role, and getting a full game from DeMarco Jackson will be key. His speed—east to west and north to south—adds a different dimension.
All three should make an impact for the Bears, not only in the passing game but also against the run, making it harder for the Rams to operate their offense this Sunday.
This isn’t about numbers. The slate is clean. Both teams are 1–0. If the Bears come out with the same heart and desire they showed in the second half against Green Bay, the defense will be just fine—while giving L.A. plenty of fits.
What Chicago Needs to Do to Win:
It's a pretty simple formula to me. Start fast and avoid falling into an early hole. Win the turnover battle. Control tempo and keep the Rams from turning this ballgame into a track meet. Stay poised if the game comes down to the final minutes just like they have all year.
Double team Puka Nacua on every play if you can, but always make sure you know where that dude is.
🐻⬇️
🐏The Rams
The Rams jumped out to a 14–0 lead early in the second quarter, but Carolina refused to go away, sparking a comeback that led to four lead changes during a chaotic fourth quarter. Los Angeles ultimately survived, powered by its top-ranked offense and MVP candidate Matthew Stafford, who threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns in the Wild Card win. His primary weapons, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, were dominant, combining for 15 catches and 183 yards and 1 touchdown. They will be a stiff test for the Chicago Bears secondary.
Still, the Rams struggled to put the game away. If that same lack of killer instinct shows up in Chicago, it could jeopardize their postseason run. The Bears are not a team you want to invite back into a game late, especially in the fourth quarter, where they’ve consistently shown their most dangerous side.
That said, Los Angeles is no stranger to this moment. This is a playoff-tested team with a roster and coaching staff that understands how thin the margins are in January football. That experience and composure under pressure could prove decisive if this matchup comes down to the final possessions.
Defensively, the Rams are a stout unit. Los Angeles ranks among the league’s best at generating pressure, posting the fifth-highest pressure rate in the NFL. Their pass rush also finished seventh in total sacks with 47 on the season, led by Byron Young (12 sacks), Jared Verse (7.5), and Kobie Turner (7.0). They can consistently get after the quarterback, making this one of the stiffest defensive tests the Chicago Bears will face all season.
Against the pass, the Rams sit around the middle of the league, ranking near 19th in passing yards allowed at roughly 218 yards per game. Their run defense was more solid, finishing 11th while allowing about 109 rushing yards per contest. Carolina struggled to generate much on the ground last week, managing just 83 yards on 22 carries (3.8 yards per attempt). However, over their final three games, the Rams did give up an average of about 127 rushing yards per game.
Overall, Los Angeles finished 17th in total defense, squarely middle of the pack, but was far more effective in keeping points off the board. They closed the season ranked 10th in scoring defense, allowing just 20.7 points per game.
🔑Key Matchups:
Ben Johnson vs Sean McVay
Personally, I have all the respect in the world for both of these head coaches. McVay is the elite of elite, While Ben is earning his flowers.
Two of the NFL’s brightest offensive minds are about to square off in a postseason chess match where every adjustment carries weight. In January, talent alone isn’t enough—adaptability is everything. How swiftly Chicago responds to Los Angeles’ offensive wrinkles, and how effectively the Rams counter the Bears’ defensive disguises, ( and vice versa) could be the subtle edge that decides the outcome. Expect both young masterminds to reach deep into their playbooks and test each other at every turn.
Bears defense vs. Rams playmakers:
Chicago’s defense set the tone against Green Bay with physicality and timely stops in the 2nd half. This is the way they need to start this one.The Rams present a different challenge, speed, spacing, and explosive potential. Limiting chunk plays and continuing to tighten up in the red zone will be non-negotiable.
Bears offense vs. Rams defense:
Chicago’s offensive identity has been about balance and efficiency, and some fireworks. The Bears sustaining drives and protecting the football will be crucial against a Rams defense built to disrupt timing and force mistakes. If the Bears can stay ahead of the chains, they’ll give themselves a real chance to pull the upset.
💥Nuggets and Tidbits:💥
The Bears are 2-3 against Sean McVay 2-0 vs McVay in Chicago.
The Bears last Divisional Rd Win: January 16, 2011. Our Bears beat the Seattle Seahawks 35-24
The Rams last Divisional Rd Win: January 22nd 2022 vs. The Rams beat Tampa Bay Bucs 30-27
Matthew Stafford 2 games in 25 with temps below 50 degrees
Completion Percentage: 60%
Pass Yds: 512 yards 256 PYPG
Pass TD: 4 touchdowns
Ints: 5 interceptions
Staffatd is 5-7 at Soldier with 16 tds and 15 INTs
The Rams have lost 3 of their last 4 road games. 4 of their 5 losses are on the road.
🔮The Prediction:
The Bears have already proven they belong by taking down Green Bay in dramatic fashion. Now comes the harder part: backing it up against a polished Rams team with championship aspirations of its own. It’s grit versus experience, momentum versus pedigree, and with a conference championship berth on the line, expect a tense, hard-hitting showdown that comes down to who executes best when it matters most.
Both teams come off dramatic Wild Card wins. The Bears overcame an 18-point deficit to beat the Packers, while the Rams survived a late comeback attempt by the Panthers, so momentum favors both sides.
While I don’t want to overstate the weather, it will likely play a factor. Matthew Stafford has struggled in cold, outdoor conditions, with five of his eight interceptions this season coming in games below 50°F. Adding in the cold and the Rams’ struggles on the road—with four of their five losses in road games this season, including three of their last four.
It opens the door for the Bears to create takeaways, swing momentum, and potentially pull off an upset. With all that in mind, I like the Bears to cover the spread and advance to the NFC Championship Game.
Final Score
🧸Bears 27 🐏 Rams 24
