Written by Andrew Seligman
CHICAGO – Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams survived Amazing throw by Caleb Williams That led to overtime, beating the Chicago Bears 20-17 on Sunday night to advance to the NFC Championship game.
Harrison Mewis kicked a 42-yard field goal in overtime after Cam Curl intercepted a deep pass from Williams on the Bears’ first possession of the extra period. Stafford completed a 16-yard pass to Puka Nacua to put the Rams in field goal range and set up Mevis, known as the “Thiccer Kicker,” for the game-ending kick. His teammates attacked him while the crowd that had been shaking earlier watched in almost silence.
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 beat San Francisco 41-6 on Saturday.
Los Angeles took a 17-10 lead into the final minute and the Bears faced fourth-and-4 from the 14-yard line when Williams dropped back to avoid a pass rush and lofted the ball to Cole Kimmitt to tie the game with 18 seconds left. Although the ball was officially a 14-yard pass, it traveled 51.2 yards through the air, according to the NFL’s Next Generation Stats.
Williams threw for two touchdowns but was intercepted three times for the Bears (12-7), who had an improbable string of wins under first-year coach Ben Johnson but came up short this time.