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znModeratorESPN sources: Titans are working to finalize a deal to hire 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as their head coach. Saleh spent Monday in Tennessee with the Titans, and the two sides impressed each other enough to move forward together. pic.twitter.com/rXC94my62B
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 20, 2026
znModerator5 interesting stats from Rams’ divisional round win over Chicago: A one-sided turnover battle, unexpected offensive game plan and production
Wyatt Miller
A herculean defensive effort lifted the Rams over the Bears in the divisional round. Three interceptions and three fourth-down stops gave the Rams a chance to win it in overtime, despite middling offensive production and an unexpected game plan from head coach Sean McVay. Yet, when kicker Harrison Mevis’ 42-yard field goal sailed through the uprights, the Rams earned the right to play Seattle in the NFC Championship next week.
Here are five interesting stats from the Rams’ 20-17 overtime victory over the Bears.
This was just the fourth game all season where Chicago lost the turnover battle, and the first time they lost it by more than two, according to nflverse data
The Bears led the league in defensive takeaways (33) and turnover margin (+22) in the regular season, so it was rare to see them fall so far behind an opponent in that area. The Rams are the only team this year to win the turnover battle against the Bears by a margin of three or more, and they did so on the biggest stage.The Rams’ nine passes defended added 40.6% to their win probability, according to nflverse data
The nine plays that saw the Rams’ defense either break up or intercept a pass increased the team’s win probability by 40.6%. That’s the 11th-highest mark in the McVay era and second-highest this season after the Rams’ four-interception game against the Seahawks in Week 11. Safety Kam Curl defended two passes, as did inside linebacker Omar Speights, while Cobie Durant had three and safeties Kam Kinchens and Jaylen McCollough each got their hands on one.“It’s a game-ball worthy performance for the whole group,” McVay said.
Caleb Williams’ three interceptions set a new career-high
In the most important game of his career to date, the Rams gave Williams fits. Durant’s two interceptions and Curl’s diving pick in overtime led to 10 of the Rams’ 20 points on the ensuing drives. Durant now has three interceptions in these playoffs and four in his five career postseason games.“What I was so impressed with in these elements, was our guys’ ability to catch the ball,” McVay said postgame.
The Rams’ seven run plays in the first half tied for the 12th-fewest in a game in the McVay era, according to nflverse data
The Rams ran the ball seven times compared to 27 dropbacks in the first half. That split ended up being a bit more even by the end of the game (31 runs compared to 46 passes), but McVay wasn’t shy about criticizing his approach and gave the players credit for executing to make up for “bad coaching” on his part. The Rams often run the ball out of 13 personnel, but only seven of their 77 plays came out of that grouping (9.1%), their lowest rate of the season since before they started leaning into that approach in Week 6.
“I could have done a much better job (calling plays), and then I did think, once we were able to get some success, we settled into a little bit of a different approach,” McVay said. “… So I think overall, I did not like the feel for the flow of the game that I had outside of the first series.”
The Rams’ offensive success rate of 35.1% was their lowest of the season, according to Next Gen Stats
The Rams succeeded on just over a third of their offensive plays, but it was enough to get the victory. Coming into the game, the Rams’ lowest offensive success rate came against the Seahawks in Week 11 (38.0%), a game that Los Angeles also won. In fact, its four lowest offensive success rates of the season have all come in wins, a credit to the defense’s ability to pick up the slack when needed.znModeratorNate Atkins@NateAtkins_
Kam Curl admitted that he and the Rams DBs heard the national talk about their abilities to play and to handle the cold and took that personally.Best game for them collectively since the first Seahawks game.
znModeratorCameron DaSilva@camdasilva
According to PFF, the Rams missed 20 tackles against the Bears, including 6 by Jared Verse and 4 by Nate Landman.Knew it was a lot, but sheesh…
znModeratorLos Angeles Rams PR@TheLARamsPR
Kevin Dotson had the highest Offensive Grade (91.3) and Run Blocking Grade (93.5) among all OL in the Divisional Round (min 80% snaps played), per @PFF.…
So that’s out of 8 teams or 40 OL.
znModeratorIncredible chemistry between Stafford and the equipment guy on the jacket transfer. pic.twitter.com/G6mGKBPM3X
— Keff Ciardello (@Keff_C) January 19, 2026
znModeratorIR, I don’t share that guy’s concern.
znModeratorEven more on the big catch.
***
Throwing this with velocity and pinpoint accuracy at this angle, with his feet set how they are, is completely insane. And to do it after the mess of a game he'd had??
Stafford is 1 of 1. Your favorite QB's favorite QB https://t.co/XmGAV74AGw
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) January 19, 2026
znModeratorGreg Beacham@gregbeacham
Rams LB Byron Young has some knee soreness, and CB Emmanuel Forbes has a shoulder issue from Chicago. Sean McVay says the injuries aren’t expected to sideline either guy in Seattle. The Rams came out of last night relatively healthy.znModeratorThe Rams are the most well coached team in the league – just look at the blocking from their “skill” positions pic.twitter.com/yPFbvCUnk3
— Film Watchers (@Filmwatchers1) January 19, 2026
znModerator.@RamsNFL @ChicagoBears @AsapPuka is their best playmaker…My only criticism of Bears defense is that they played too soft in key situations. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/5Z7KdYJXIo
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) January 19, 2026
znModerator.@RamsNFL @ChicagoBears Great Goal Line Stand by the defense…Might have been a different outcome if they didn't rise up. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/qIK21v9NN4
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) January 19, 2026
znModeratorLouis Riddick@LRiddickESPN
Stafford HOF/MVP throw to HOF caliber WR Adams in biggest moment of the game. Just like it’s supposed to be. Players over plays.Another angle:
What a clutch catch! pic.twitter.com/DUXJLGrzs3
— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) January 19, 2026
znModeratorWyatt Miller@wymill07
What was this week’s new path to victory for the Rams?Defending the pass.
The Rams either broke up or intercepted over 21% of Caleb Williams’ throws yesterday
znModeratorDaniel Jeremiah@MoveTheSticks
We’ve talked about it for years– in playoffs, you need WR’s with strength to catch through contact. The windows shrink. You’ll be in confined space. You must attack the ball with strong hands and finish.znModeratorScott Kacsmar@ScottKacsmar
Most game-winning drives in NFL history (including playoffs)1. Tom Brady – 72
2. Ben Roethlisberger – 57
3. Peyton Manning – 56
3. Drew Brees – 56
5. MATTHEW STAFFORD – 55
6. Dan Marino – 51znModeratorOrlovsky on the Curl INT.
Nate Atkins@NateAtkins_
Kam Curl saw the OT interception coming the moment the Bears lined up for that play, based on something the Rams identified and worked on this week.The Bears had the ball across the 50 with a chance to finally drive the dagger into the Rams’ hearts. When Chicago jogged out in an empty formation with two extra pass protectors, Kam Curl knew exactly what was coming next, thanks to a meeting during the week with defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant.
“He put a little nugget in my ear,” Curl said. “They were trying to take a shot. It was like an inside scissors or a snake concept, and I knew I had the corner on the outside. I’d seen the receiver (DJ Moore) break in. I met him, and (Williams) threw the ball. And I had to go and get it.”
This was the game of Curl’s life, on a night the Rams had to have it. It was a rare moment when their MVP-level quarterback threw no touchdowns. The youngest coach to win a Super Bowl was fighting a losing battle against the elements. The quarterback on the other side had just made the longest throw by air yards in the red zone in the history of the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. And a Soldier Field crowd was roaring in the most expensive game by ticket sales in Bears history.
That interception, followed by yet another no-look pass by Matthew Stafford, then set up the kick of a lifetime for a player who wasn’t on the Rams when the season first began
znModeratorJosh@JoshiosTweets
The Rams defense started to look like its former self:The Bears lost possession five times due to the Rams defense, approximately 16 points lost. Put the ball directly into the offense’s hands.
They did that in Week 12 (5 times) and Week 6 (7 times).
znModeratorJimEverett.eth@Jim_Everett
An observation I’ve witnessed first hand & maintained for a number of years. It’s bigger than Chris but he’s an excellent Cincinnati example.In general, the Midwest & East coast guys (even commentators) tend to stick together and they’ll have a tendency to bag on the West coast teams (Troy Aikman is a tweener being Texas as a Pro but UCLA guy) Why? Not a psychologist, just an observer. The NFL is whole heartily a New York based entity (until Kronke built them a building next to SoFi so things were supposed to be more west coast influenced…but it hasn’t happened yet) so even tho the Rams are successful, the other half of the country doesn’t follow (especially with the time change and west coast games ending at midnight or 1am). So there’s a location bias…spent years watching this play out. Chris is just another example of staying close to the core. Still questioning? Where are all the major network NFL pregame shows at?
znModeratorDan Orlovsky@danorlovsky7
Kam Curl and Speights were exceptional last night for @RamsNFLznModeratorHayden Winks@HaydenWinks
Rams at Seahawks should feel like a Super Bowl. Two best teams by far. Tickets should be infinity dollars.znModeratorSaid he never got a feel for the game, and was particularly regretful of his 3rd-and-1 call at the start of OT.
Yeah that was a BAD call. We said so at the time in chat.
znModeratorAdam Grosbard@AdamGrosbard
Sean McVay on Rams offense: “I did not do a very good job for our group tonight but I thought our guys were able to overcome it.”Said he never got a feel for the game, and was particularly regretful of his 3rd-and-1 call at the start of OT.
January 19, 2026 at 11:00 am in reply to: Chicago game…tweets, plays, highlights, commentary #161422znModeratorfrom Nate Atkins: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6981907/2026/01/18/rams-bears-score-result-takeaways-nfl-divisional-round/
The Rams put too much on Stafford, Nacua and Adams in the elements early. And they didn’t put it on them at all once the snow mostly cleared and the Bears were selling out to stop the run.
But, as he often does, Stafford pulled out something incredible when he had to in overtime. After Curl’s interception kept the game alive, Stafford ripped one of his best throws of the season at a sidearm angle as Adams dragged his toes to stay inbounds for a first down. Then Stafford hit the ol’ reliable Nacua to convert a third down into field goal range. And Mevis came through as the hero with the winning field goal.
Stafford led the NFL in touchdown passes on the No. 1 scoring offense while playing the league’s No. 1 strength of schedule. In the postseason, he’s led two winning drives in games that felt like they were slipping from the Rams’ grasp. He’s played his way to his assumed first MVP trophy, and though he was far from perfect at Soldier Field, he remains the biggest reason the Rams are one win from returning to the Super Bowl.writer
January 19, 2026 at 11:00 am in reply to: Chicago game…tweets, plays, highlights, commentary #161421znModeratorOrlovsky on the Curl INT.
Nate Atkins@NateAtkins_
Kam Curl saw the OT interception coming the moment the Bears lined up for that play, based on something the Rams identified and worked on this week.znModeratorMatthew Stafford:
“We got a lot of things we can be better at but we stuck together as a team, found a way to win on the road in some tough conditions, and made the plays when we needed to make them. You’d love to come in here and throw for 450 (yards) and four touchdowns but hey, find a way to win the game. Survive and advance, and we did it.”
znModeratorWyatt Miller@wymill07
Kam Curl today:– 1 INT in overtime
– A team-high 13 total tackles
– 2 PDs
– 1 QB hit
– 1 4th-down run stopMaybe the best game of Curl’s career comes at the perfect time
znModeratorNate Atkins@NateAtkins_
The Rams started the second half with Roger McCreary at outside cornerback opposite Darious Williams.znModeratorBearsMuse@ChiBearsMuse
I can’t lie, this feels different than all the other Playoff losses we’ve had. It’s a peaceful loss, because usually after these losses in the Playoffs, we don’t have anything to really be excited for, but now we have Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson, and a young Offensive core that’s only going to get better. It was an unfortunate result, but I’m not as sad because of the potential there is on this team. We will be back and I cant wait for next Season. It will always be Bear Down!znModeratorWyatt Miller@wymill07
One thing I noticed instantly about Harrison Mevis was how level-headed he is. He’s all about preparation and confidence.He just sent the Rams to the NFC Championship and let out a scream. That’s the most emotion I’ve ever seen out of him. What a kick by the rookie.
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