The Los Angeles Rams needed to be deflated after Caleb Williams pulled off one of probably the most exceptional highlights in NFL playoff historical past, a wild fourth-down touchdown pass with the Chicago Bears’ season on the line to tie the game with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
And when the Rams punted to begin time beyond regulation, then let the Bears begin driving downfield, it appeared just like the Bears’ magical season would proceed to the NFC championship recreation.
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But the Rams additionally know the way to win shut video games. Williams threw an interception to Rams security Kam Curl with the Bears getting near field-goal vary. Then it was Matthew Stafford’s flip to indicate why he’s the doubtless NFL MVP.
Stafford drove the Rams downfield, hitting Puka Nacua on an enormous third-down play to get the Rams into field-goal vary, and Los Angeles ended the Bears’ season on a field goal by Harrison Mevis for the 20-17 win. The Rams are shifting on to the NFC championship recreation in Seattle the place they’ll face the top-seeded Seahawks.
The Seahawks and Rams performed two video games that got here right down to the ultimate play in the common season, together with a wild Week 16 comeback for the Seahawks. They’ll face one another a 3rd time in the NFC championship game next Sunday evening.
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The Rams gained’t be overwhelmed by the second. They’ve already survived two white-knuckle video games to maneuver to the NFL’s last 4.
Chicago’s bitter chilly, snow have an effect on offenses
The Bears have been a second-half workforce for a lot of the season, however the first half on Sunday night time was fairly good for them.
Chicago outgained the Rams 210-148 in the primary half. The Bears did a great job limiting Nacua, who had three catches for 27 yards at that time, and shutting out Davante Adams in the primary half.
The Bears weren’t operating it nice in the chilly climate however Williams performed effectively. He had 155 yards and a landing in the primary half. He additionally had an interception on a fourth down, one of the 3 times the Bears went for it on fourth down in the primary half. The solely time they transformed on a fourth down was a giant one. Williams hit DJ Moore for a 3-yard landing for the Bears’ solely landing of the primary half.
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The Rams have been out of kinds, and the climate was an element. It was chilly, with gentle snow coating the field. It’s not the sort of climate a workforce from Southern California will naturally adapt to simply. The Rams have been leaning on Stafford and the passing recreation, but it surely wasn’t efficient in the circumstances. That hasn’t been the case typically this season for Stafford, who’s the favourite to win NFL MVP.
It was Bears climate, and that helped maintain the sport low-scoring and shut. It was tied 10-10 going into the fourth quarter.
Rams security Kam Curl got here up with this time beyond regulation interception that helped Los Angeles defeat Chicago in the NFC divisional spherical. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Rams survive one other jaw-dropping TD from Caleb Williams
The third quarter was scoreless however there was loads of pleasure to return in the fourth quarter and time beyond regulation.
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The Rams drove downfield and took a 17-10 lead when Kyren Williams scored on a 5-yard landing run to the suitable facet. The Bears had an extended drive after that however the Rams had a goal-line stand, stopping three runs after which batting down a move on fourth right down to take over on downs.
The Rams couldn’t run out the remaining of the clock and punted on the two-minute warning. A foul punt in the chilly landed on the 50-yard line, giving the Bears nice field place. And Chicago has been good at successful video games with late heroics all season.
The Bears reached the 14-yard line. Williams, who has made big performs underneath stress all season, retreated to in regards to the 40-yard line underneath stress on fourth-and-4 and someway lofted a move all the way in which to an open Cole Kmet in the tip zone.
The Rams thought there was a push-off by Kmet however there was no penalty known as.
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In the wild-card spherical, Williams had some marvelous performs in a comeback win over the Packers. Another ridiculous spotlight play by Williams on Sunday night time led to a 17-17 tie with 18 seconds left.
The Bears, just like the Bills did on Saturday at Denver, gained the time beyond regulation coin toss and selected to kick off. The Rams have been surprisingly conservative to begin time beyond regulation, operating 3 times after which punting. The Bears have been shifting when Williams tried a deep move however was intercepted by Curl deep downfield.
Williams stated the decide was a outcome of miscommunication on a route between him and Moore.
That bought the Rams going. Stafford began finishing passes and bought the Rams into Bears territory. One third-and-6 he hit Nacua, who dragged Bears defenders for a 16-yard acquire to the 27-yard line, inside field-goal vary. The Rams couldn’t get it a lot additional however Mevis hit the field goal to win it.
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The final time the Rams performed at Seattle, they led 30-14 with lower than 9 minutes left however couldn’t shut out a win and ended up dropping on a 2-point conversion by the Seahawks in time beyond regulation. Despite that loss, many nonetheless felt the Rams have been one of the best workforce in the NFL and the proper decide to make it to Super Bowl LX out of the NFC. We’ll discover out subsequent Sunday.
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Jason Owens
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Jason Owens
What a recreation. What a season in Chicago.
Caleb Williams prolonged Chicago’s season with a miracle landing move, then breathed new life again into the Rams with an interception in time beyond regulation. The Rams transformed that likelihood right into a game-winning field goal by Harrison Mevis, and so they’re headed to the NFC championship to face the NFC West rival Seahawks.
A sensational season in Chicago, in the meantime, involves a heartbreaking finish.
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Jason Owens
The Rams are going to the NFC championship recreation. Harrison Mevis is nice from 42 yards, and the Rams have transformed Caleb Williams’ time beyond regulation interception right into a game-winning field goal.
The Rams are on to a championship matchup in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks.
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Jason Owens
The Bears have been driving after changing on fourth down close to midfield.
But Kam Curl got here up with a play that may have saved the Rams’ season. Curl ran underneath an underthrown ball from Williams downfield and picked it off for Williams’ third interception of the sport.
The subsequent rating secures a visit to the NFC championship recreation, and Los Angeles has the ball again.
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Jason Owens
The Bears stuffed the Rams on third-and-1 on the primary possession of time beyond regulation and have the ball and an opportunity to win. The subsequent rating wins the sport.
Chicago will begin at its personal 15-yard-line.
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Jason Owens
This view of Williams’ landing prayer from the tip zone is value one other look.
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Jason Owens
Unreal. Caleb Williams retains making these throws.
With the season on the road on fourth-and-4, Williams confronted intense stress from the Rams’ move rush and threw a prayer off his again foot into the tip zone. The prayer was answered.
Cole Kemet caught the 14-yard move that traveled greater than 40 yards in precise distance, and we’re headed to time beyond regulation.
Unbelievable.
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Jason Owens
Caleb Williams has an opportunity to mount one other comeback win. The Rams couldn’t run out the clock and punted again to the Bears whereas holding a 17-10 lead.
Chicago has the ball and desires a landing with 1:50 remaining in regulation. They’ll begin with nice field place on the 50 with a timeout in their pocket. Can Williams do it once more?
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Jason Owens
With lower than 4 minutes remaining, the Bears confronted first-and-goal from the 5 with their season doubtlessly on the road. They didn’t convert.
After selecting up 3 yards on two runs, the Bears regarded to D’Andre Swift on third down. Quentin Lake leveled his leaping effort to cross the goal line with a devastating sort out in the air.
Then on fourth down, Caleb Williams threw incomplete into site visitors into the tip zone. The Rams have the ball and the possibility to run out the clock with a 17-10 lead with 3:03 remaining and a visit to the NFC championship on the road.
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Jason Owens
With factors at a premium, the Rams didn’t kick a chip-shot field goal on fourth-and-1 from the 7. Instead, they ran an end-around for Puka Nacua, who powered his method for a primary down.
One play later, Kyren Williams ran round the suitable edge for a 5-yard landing and a 17-10 lead with 8:50 remaining. If the Bears are going to win, they’ll must mount one other come-behind victory in the fourth quarter.
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Jason Owens
The Bears regarded to operating again Kyle Monangai after Caleb Williams set them up with third-and-1 through a scramble. Jared Verse sniffed out the play.
The two-time Pro Bowl defender stuffed Monangai for a 1-yard loss, and the Bears opted to play the field-position recreation with a punt on fourth-and-2 from close to midfield.
Neither workforce has gained traction in the second half, and the sport stays tied at 10-10 early in the fourth quarter.
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Jason Owens
So a lot for that.
Matthew Stafford threw 3 straight incompletions after the Cobie Durant interception, and the Rams didn’t transfer the ball from the 50-yard line. Chicago has the ball again after a punt.
The recreation’s locked in a 10-10 tie with 3 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
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Jason Owens
Is this the error that modifications the sport?
Caleb Williams simply threw his second interception to Cobie Durant. And not like his first, it wasn’t on a downfield throw on fourth down.
Durant picked off Williams on second-and-15 at midfield, and the Rams have a chief alternative to take the lead with 4:02 remaining in the sport.
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Jason Owens
We’re now at 3 first-half possessions and three punts. The Rams went 3-and-out after a first-down fumble resulted in an 8-yard loss, and the Bears have the ball again in a 10-10 recreation with 5:30 remaining in the third quarter.
Points are at a premium. How will these coaches deal with fourth-down choices as the sport strikes on?
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Jason Owens
The Rams didn’t do a lot with the primary drive of the second half and punted after gaining 19 yards. The Bears have the ball and the possibility to take the lead.
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Jason Owens
It was a comparatively clear first half for each groups, with the one turnover of the sport a Caleb Williams interception downfield on fourth-and-3.
Both groups have struggled to maneuver the ball after spectacular early landing drives. And each groups completed the primary half with a field goal.
Chicago’s been extra environment friendly on offense, however has turned the ball over twice on downs. Nobody’s blinked but in the frigid Soldier Field circumstances. This might come right down to who makes the fewest errors in the second half.
Rams
Matthew Stafford: 12 of 24, 144 yards, 0 TDs, 0 turnovers
Kyren Williams: 6 carries, 24 yards, 1 TD; 4 catches for 30 yards
Puka Nacua: 3 catches for 27 yards
Jordan Whittington: 2 catches for 35 yardsBears
Caleb Williams: 13 of 19 for 155 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
D’Andre Swift: 6 carries for 33 yards
Colston Loveland: 3 catches for 38 yards
DJ Moore: 3 catches for 37 yards, 1 TDRams complete offense: 148 yards on 4.4 yards per play
Bears complete offense: 210 yards on 6.4 yards per playRams: 0 for 0 on 4th down
Bears: 1 for 3 on 4th down, 1 TD -
Jason Owens
The Rams answered Chicago’s field goal with one of their very own, and the sport goes into halftime tied at 10-10.
Harrison Mevis was good from 32 yards at time expired to cap a nip-and-tuck first half.
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Jason Owens
For the primary time in 4 alternatives, Ben Johnson opted to not go for it on fourth down. Kicker Cairo Santos rewarded his confidence with a 48-yard field goal in suboptimal circumstances on fourth-and-4, and the Bears have a 10-7 lead with 1:10 remaining in the primary half.
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Jason Owens
The Rams didn’t do a lot with the ball after forcing a turnover on downs. They punted again to the Bears after a 3-and-out, and the sport stays tied at 7 late in the second quarter.
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Jason Owens
On fourth-and-1 and dealing with a 50-yard field goal try in blustery Solider Field circumstances, the Bears made the plain resolution and opted to go for it on the Los Angeles 32.
They didn’t get it. The Rams stuffed Kyle Monangai behind the road of scrimmage, and Los Angeles takes over on downs in a 7-7 recreation with 4:26 remaining in the primary half.
The Bears are actually 1 for 3 on fourth-down, with their profitable try scoring a landing.
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Jason Owens
The Bears bought a cease after holding the Rams to 17 yards on their second possession and have the ball again in the second quarter with the possibility to take the lead. The recreation’s tied at 7-7 halfway by means of the second quarter.
