At a Glance
- The No. 2 seed Chicago Bears will host the No. 5 seed Los Angeles Rams in the final divisional-round game of the weekend.
- Chicago erased a 21-3 halftime hole to beat the Packers 31-27, while Matthew Stafford’s late TD lifted the Rams past the Panthers 34-31.
- Kickoff is 5:30 p.m. CT Sunday on NBC and Peacock, with Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark on the call.
- Why it matters: The winner earns the NFC’s last ticket to the conference championship and keeps Super Bowl hopes alive.
The divisional round will end under the lights at Soldier Field, where comeback kings collide. After wild-card thrillers, the Bears and Rams each punched their next ticket with fourth-quarter heroics and now meet for the right to play in the NFC title game.
Comeback Season Continues for Chicago
Down 21-3 at halftime to the rival Packers, Chicago looked finished. Instead, Caleb Williams and the offense flipped the script, scoring four second-half touchdowns and sealing a 31-27 victory that sent the home crowd into delirium.
- Chicago trailed by 18 before the comeback started.
- The defense held Green Bay scoreless after the break.
- The win marked the Bears’ fifth double-digit comeback of the season.
Soldier Field has become the league’s toughest place to protect a lead, and the Bears will try to keep that trend alive against a Rams team that also knows how to finish.
Stafford’s Late Magic Sends Rams Through
Los Angeles looked headed for an early exit when Carolina took a 31-27 lead deep into the fourth. Then Matthew Stafford, the MVP frontrunner, engineered a 75-yard drive that ended with a go-ahead touchdown with 38 seconds left, securing a 34-31 road win.
- The victory was the Rams’ eighth in nine games.
- Stafford threw for 342 yards and 3 scores.
- Wide receiver Puka Nacua posted 138 receiving yards on nine catches.
The Rams have now won four straight road playoff games dating back to the 2021 Super Bowl run, and they’ll need another road masterpiece to topple the NFC’s second seed.
How to Watch Rams vs. Bears
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. CT Sunday
TV: NBC
Stream: Peacock, NBC.com
Mobile: Peacock app (Apple/Android), NBC app
Broadcast Crew
- Play-by-play: Mike Tirico
- Analyst: Cris Collinsworth
- Sideline: Melissa Stark
The same trio will also call Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on Feb. 8, so Sunday night serves as a dress rehearsal on the sport’s biggest stages.
Pregame Schedule
NBC and Peacock will air a special on-site edition of “Football Night in America” starting at 5 p.m. CT. Host Maria Taylor will be joined by Jason Garrett, Chris Simms, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, Mike Florio, Devin McCourty, Matthew Berry and Jac Collinsworth to break down matchup angles and storylines.
Streaming Options
Cord-cutters can watch live on:
- Peacock (premium tier required)
- NBC.com with cable-login authentication
- Peacock mobile app for phones and tablets
- NBC mobile app for authenticated subscribers
All platforms deliver the same NBC feed, including commercials and halftime coverage.
SNF Opener Returns
The network’s Sunday Night Football opener will again feature the multi-platinum, GRAMMY Award-winning singer who has starred in the musical introduction for 13 consecutive NFL seasons. The performer’s identity is withheld until airtime, maintaining the tradition that precedes every primetime kickoff.
Key Matchups to Monitor
- Caleb Williams vs. Rams’ pressure packages
The rookie quarterback faced blitzes on 42 percent of snaps against Green Bay and still posted a 112.3 passer rating in the second half.
- Matthew Stafford vs. Bears’ Cover-3 looks
Chicago allowed the third-fewest 20-plus-yard completions this year; Stafford led the NFL in completions of 40-plus yards.
- Run-game efficiency
Both teams rank in the top seven for rushing yards per attempt since Week 12. Whichever offense stays balanced keeps the opposing pass rush at bay.
Injury Report Snapshot
The original report did not list specific injuries, so both clubs are presumed at full strength heading into the final practice week of the postseason.
Ticket Demand
Secondary-market prices for the prime-time clash started at $285 for upper-bowl seats within minutes of the Packers-Bears result, according to News Of Fort Worth‘s tracking of major ticket exchanges. Lower-level tickets surpassed $700 apiece, reflecting the historic stakes of a Bears home playoff game under the lights.
Historic Trends
- Chicago is 4-1 at home in the playoffs since 2005.
- The Rams have won three straight against the Bears, including a 29-22 victory in Week 2 this season.
- The last postseason meeting came in January 2019, when the Rams edged the Bears 30-22 en route to the Super Bowl.
Weather Watch
Early forecasts call for cloudy skies, temperatures near 28°F and northwest winds at 8 mph, typical January conditions that favor the run game and disciplined special-teams play.
Key Takeaways
- Both teams advanced on dramatic comebacks, setting up a momentum-fueled showdown.
- Prime-time exposure on NBC and Peacock guarantees national attention and playoff-record streaming numbers.
- The winner advances to face either the No. 1 seed or the remaining lower seed in the NFC Championship Game.
- Chicago hopes home-field magic continues; the Rams eye another road statement to reach their second conference title game in three years.
The stage is set for a classic NFC collision under the lights.
