Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams withstood incredible pitching from Caleb Williams to force overtime and beat the Chicago Bears 20-17 on Sunday night to advance to the NFC Championship Game.
Harrison Mavis kicked a 42-yard field goal in overtime after Cam Karl intercepted a deep pass from Williams on the Bears’ first possession in overtime.
Stafford completed a 16-yard pass to Puka Nacua to bring the Rams into field goal range and set up Mevis for the game-ending kick.
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 defeated San Francisco 41-6 on Saturday.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Harrison Mavis made a 42-yard field goal in overtime to defeat the Bears and clinch a spot in the NFC Conference Championship for the Rams.
Leader in statistics:
rams
Passing: Matthew Stafford, 20/42, 258 yards rushing: Kyren Williams, 21 carries, 87 yards, 2 TDs receiving: Puka Nacua, 5 catches, 56 yards
bear
Passing: Caleb Williams, 23/42, 257 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing: D’Andre Swift, 19 carries, 76 yards Receiving: Colston Loveland, 4 catches, 56 yards
With Los Angeles leading 17-10 and the Bears on fourth-and-4 from their own 14-yard line with 18 seconds left, Williams backpedaled to avoid a pass rush and pushed the ball to Cole Kmet for the game-clinching touchdown.
According to NFL Next Generation Stats, the ball traveled 51.2 yards in the air, although it was officially a 14-yard pass.
Williams threw two touchdowns, but was intercepted three times as the Bears (12-7), who had come from behind seven times in the fourth quarter under first-year coach Ben Johnson, fell short this time. They won the NFC North after finishing last in the division a year ago.
Stafford led a 91-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, with Kyren Williams scoring from five to give the Rams a 17-10 lead with 8:50 remaining. Nacua ran for 2 yards on fourth-and-5 on the previous play and continued to possess the ball.
The Bears then trailed by two points, but Omar Speights broke down Williams’ fourth-down pass to Luther Burden just inside the goal line.
Chicago got the ball back at midfield with Ethan Evans’ 33-yard punt with just under two minutes left, setting the stage for Williams’ heroics.
The Bears won the toss in overtime and the game was postponed. When the Rams went 3-and-out, they quickly got the ball back, but on a 36-yard third-and-one, Blake Collum was stopped for a 1-yard loss and forced to punt.
Chicago took over the game at No. 16. Williams continued the drive with a 3-yard keeper on a fourth-and-1 near midfield, but Karl picked off the former No. 1 pick’s pass to DJ Moore two plays later.
Stafford was 20-of-42 for 258 yards and four sacks, Nacua had 56 yards receiving after gaining 111 yards in the wild-card game against Carolina, and Kyren Williams had 87 yards and two scores.
Watch every NFL Playoff and Super Bowl I game live from Levi’s Stadium on Sky Sports NFL.
