The Los Angeles Rams (12-5, 2nd in NFC West) travel to face the Chicago Bears (11-6, 1st in NFC North) in an NFC Divisional Round playoff matchup. This is the first postseason meeting between the teams since 1985, when the Bears won 24-0 on their way to Super Bowl XX. The Rams advanced with a 34-31 Wild Card win over the Carolina Panthers on Jan. 10, showcasing a high-powered offense led by Matthew Stafford’s 304 passing yards and three TDs. The Bears earned the No. 2 seed and a bye after a strong finish, but their defense will be tested without linebacker T.J. Edwards. Chicago’s rookie QB Caleb Williams faces a Rams team that’s won 4 of its last 5, but LA’s road record (5-4) and injuries could open the door for an upset. Expect a defensive battle with the Bears’ home-field advantage at Soldier Field playing a key role.
Venue Location
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL (Capacity: 61,500).
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 PM ET (Broadcast: NBC/Peacock).
Broadcast: NBC/Peacock: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark / Kaylee Hartung (field reporters)
Westwood One: Kevin Harlan, Ross Tucker
Weather Updates
As of January 15, 2026, forecasts for Chicago on January 18 indicate mostly cloudy skies with a high of 28°F and low of 19°F. Winds from the NW at 10-15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation 20% (light snow possible), humidity 65-75%. Cold conditions could favor run-heavy strategies and impact passing accuracy, especially for the Rams coming from milder weather.
Injury Report
Both teams have several players listed, with the Rams’ secondary depleted and the Bears dealing with limited wide receivers. Participation levels are based on Wednesday’s reports (walkthrough for Bears, practice for Rams).
Los Angeles Rams:
OG Kevin Dotson (ankle): Limited; questionable for Jan. 18.
DT Poona Ford (elbow): Limited; questionable.
CB Ahkello Witherspoon (shoulder): IR; out for playoffs.
QB Matthew Stafford (right index finger): Full; expected to play.
TE Terrance Ferguson (hamstring): Full; expected to play.
S Quentin Lake (foot): Full; expected to play.
CB Josh Wallace (ankle): Full; expected to play.
WR Xavier Smith (wrist): Full; expected to play.
LB Shaun Dolac (knee): IR; out for playoffs.
Chicago Bears:
CB Nick McCloud (groin): DNP; questionable.
WR DJ Moore (knee): Limited; questionable.
WR Rome Odunze (foot): Limited; questionable.
LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (back): Limited; questionable.
S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (concussion): Full; expected to play.
OT Braxton Jones (knee): Full; expected to play.
LB Amen Ogbongbemiga (concussion): Full; expected to play.
DL Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (concussion): Full; expected to play.
LB T.J. Edwards: IR; out for playoffs.
OL Ozzy Trapilo: IR; out for playoffs.
Key
Player Matchups to Watch
This game features star quarterbacks and explosive offenses against vulnerable defenses. With injuries, focus shifts to run games and secondary matchups.
QB Matthew Stafford (LAR) vs. S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (CHI): Stafford (4,707 passing yards, league leader; 304 yards, 3 TDs in Wild Card) must exploit Bears’ secondary without Witherspoon. Gardner-Johnson (full from concussion; 6 INTs) is Chicago’s ballhawk, tasked with limiting big plays to Nacua and Adams.
RB Kyren Williams (LAR) vs. LB Amen Ogbongbemiga (CHI): Williams (1,113 rushing yards, 5.17 YPC; 57 yards in Wild Card) leads Rams’ ground attack. Ogbongbemiga (full from concussion; stepping up sans Edwards) must fill gaps in Bears’ run D (ranked 23rd, 127 YPG allowed).
WR Puka Nacua (LAR) vs. CB Nick McCloud (CHI): Nacua (1,793 receiving yards, league leader; 111 yards in Wild Card) is Rams’ big-play threat. McCloud (groin, DNP; questionable) must cover without help if limited.
QB Caleb Williams (CHI) vs. S Quentin Lake (LAR): Williams (3,942 passing yards, 28 TDs; 361 yards in Wild Card) leads Bears’ air attack. Lake (foot, full; 1 sack, 61 tackles) is Rams’ versatile safety, covering tight ends and blitzing.
RB D’Andre Swift (CHI) vs. DT Poona Ford (LAR): Swift (1,087 rushing yards; 54 yards in Wild Card) is Bears’ lead back. Ford (elbow, limited; questionable) clogs lanes in Rams’ D-line.
Recent Team Forms
Los Angeles Rams (7-3 in last 10 games, +68 point differential):
The Rams have been offensive juggernauts, averaging 30.5 PPG while allowing 20.4. They’re on a 1-game win streak after the Wild Card victory, but lost to Chicago 18-24 in Week 4.
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Jan 10 | @ CAR (Wild Card) | W 34-31 |
| Jan 4 | ARI | W 37-20 |
| Dec 28 | @ CAR | L 28-31 |
| Dec 21 | vs IND | W 27-20 |
| Dec 14 | @ SF | W 42-26 |
| Dec 7 | vs SEA | L 37-38 |
| Nov 30 | @ ATL | L 24-27 |
| Nov 23 | vs PIT | W 31-28 |
| Nov 16 | SEA | W 21-19 |
| Nov 9 | @ SF | W 42-26 |
Chicago Bears (5-5 in last 10 games, +1 point differential):
he Bears have been inconsistent, averaging 25.9 PPG while allowing 24.4. They’re on a 1-game win streak after the Wild Card victory over Green Bay 31-27, with Williams throwing for 361 yards.
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Jan 10 | GB (Wild Card) | W 31-27 |
| Jan 4 | DET | L 16-19 |
| Dec 28 | @ SF | L 38-42 |
| Dec 21 | vs PIT | W 31-28 |
| Dec 14 | @ NYG | W 24-20 |
| Dec 7 | vs GB | W 24-17 |
| Nov 30 | vs DET | W 31-28 |
| Nov 23 | MIN | L 17-19 |
| Nov 16 | @ DET | L 21-52 |
| Nov 9 | NYG | W 24-20 |
Series History
The Bears lead the all-time series 55-39-3 (including playoffs). Chicago has won 69 total games (regular season + playoffs), with an average score of 22.8 PPG to the Rams’ 20.1. The Bears’ largest victory was 47-0 in 1942; Rams’ was 42-6 in 1958. In playoffs, the Bears are 1-1 vs. Rams. The Bears won the last regular-season meeting 24-18 on Sep. 29, 2024. At Soldier Field, Chicago is 34-20 vs. LA. Recent games average 43.7 points, trending under in 6 of last 10.
Betting Trends
Rams are 12-6 ATS overall (66.7%), 5-4 ATS on the road (55.6%), 4-3 ATS as road favorites (57.1%).
Bears are 11-7 ATS overall (61.1%), 6-3 ATS at home (66.7%), 2-0 ATS as home underdogs (100%).
Over has hit in 10 of Rams’ 17 games (58.8%), 5 of Bears’ 17 (29.4%).
Trends: Rams 4-1 ATS in last 5 vs. NFC North; Bears 5-2 ATS in last 7 as underdogs. Total under in 4 of last 5 Rams playoff games; over in 3 of last 5 Bears home playoff games. Rams 1-4 ATS in last 5 road playoff games; Bears 2-0 ATS as playoff underdogs since 2010.
RAMS NOTES:
• RAMS seeking 3rd Conf. Champ. game since 2018 (SB LVI win & SB LIII appearance). • QB MATTHEW STAFFORD had 304 pass yards & 3 TDs in NFC-WC & has 2+ TD passes in 8 straight playoff games, tied with Joe Flacco for 2nd-longest streak in NFL history. Has 3,300 pass yards & 25 TDs (22 pass, 3 rush) with 101.4 rating in 11 career postseason starts. Led NFL with 4,707 pass yards & career-high 46 TD passes in 2025, his 10th-career season with 4,000+ pass yards & 20+ TD passes, 1 of 7 QBs in NFL history to do so. Made 4th-career Pro Bowl in 2025. • RB KYREN WILLIAMS had 75 scrimmage yards & TD catch in NFC-WC. Aims for 5th in row in postseason with 70+ scrimmage yards. Ranked 10th with career-high 1,533 scrimmage yards in 2025. Had 94 rush yards & rush TD in last reg. season meeting. • RB PUKA NACUA had 111 rec. yards & rush TD in NFC-WC & has 433 rec. yards (108.3 yards per game) & 3 scrimmage TDs in 4 career postseason starts. Led NFL with 129 receptions, ranked 2nd with career-high 1,715 rec. yards & tied-6th with 10 TD catches this season. Made 2nd-career Pro Bowl in 2025. • WR DAVANTE ADAMS led NFL with 14 TD catches in 2025. Has 982 rec. yards & 8 TD catches in 12 career playoff games. • TE COLBY PARKINSON had TD catch in NFC-WC & aims for 3rd in row in playoffs with TD catch. • LB NATE LANDMAN co-led team with 10 tackles & had PD in NFC-WC. Ranked tied2nd with career-high 4 FFs in 2025. • LB BYRON YOUNG ranked tied-8th with career-high 12 sacks this season. Has TFL in 3 of his past 4 playoff games. Made 1st-career Pro Bowl in 2025. • DE KOBIE TURNER has 0.5+ sack in 3 of his past 4 playoff games. • CB EMMANUEL FORBES had 6 tackles in NFC-WC. Ranked tied-3rd with 18 PD this season. Had PD in 11 games in 2025, 1 of 6 players to do so. • CB COBIE DURANT had 2nd-career postseason INT in NFC-WC. Aims for 4th in row in playoffs with PD. • S KAM CURL co-led team with 10 tackles in NFC-WC & had career-high 122 tackles this season.
BEARS NOTES:
• BEARS won 1st playoff game since 2010. Won 6 games this season when trailing in final 2 min. of the 4th quarter, most such wins in NFL history & had 7th such win in NFC-WC. Seeking 1st Conf. Champ. game since 2010. • QB CALEB WILLIAMS had 361 pass yards & 2 TD passes in NFC-WC, most pass yards in a playoff debut since 2011 (Matthew Stafford). Joined HOFer Kurt Warner as only players in NFL history with 350+ pass yards & win in playoff debut. Ranked 6th with career-high 27 TD passes & 7th with career-high & franchise-record 3,942 pass yards in 2025. Had 2+ TD passes in last 5 reg. season games, 1 of 2 (Matthew Stafford) to do so. • RB D’ANDRE SWIFT had 92 scrimmage yards (54 rush, 38 rec.) & rush TD in NFCWC. Had career-high 1,386 scrimmage yards & tied career-high with 10 TDs (9 rush, 1 rec.) in 2025. Had 70+ scrimmage yards in 5 of his last 6 reg. season games. • RB KYLE MONANGAI ranked 5th among rookies with 947 scrimmage yards & 783 rush yards this season. • WR DJ MOORE had 64 rec. yards & TD catch in NFC-WC. Had rec. TD in last reg. season meeting. • TE COLSTON LOVELAND (rookie) led team with 8 catches & 137 rec. yards in NFC-WC, 2nd-most rec. yards by a rookie TE in a postseason game. Tied-2nd among rookies with 6 TD catches & 5th with 713 rec. yards this season. • LB TREMAINE EDMUNDS had 6 tackles & PD in NFC-WC & has 6+ tackles in 8 of his 9 career playoff games. Ranked tied-8th with 4 INTs this season. • DL MONTEZ SWEAT had PD in NFC-WC. Had 10 sacks & 1st career FR this season. Aims for 3rd in row vs. LAR with sack & FF. • DB C.J. GARDNER-JOHNSON has 51 tackles, TFL, 4 PD & INT in 13 career playoff games. Had season-high 10 tackles & had INT in Week 14 meeting. • DB KEVIN BYARD had 5 tackles in NFC-WC. Led NFL with career-high 7 INTs this season. Made 3rd-career Pro Bowl in 2025. • DB NAHSHON WRIGHT had PD in NFC-WC. Ranked tied-2nd with career-high 5 INTs in 2025.
Game Odds
Los Angeles Rams – 4.5
Chicago Bears 48.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Saturday, January 17, 2026
