Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams survived an incredible throw by Caleb Williams that forced overtime, beating the Chicago Bears 20-17 on Sunday night to advance to the NFC championship game.
Harrison Mevis kicked a 42-yard field goal in OT after Kam Curl intercepted a deep pass by Williams on the Bears’ first possession of the extra period. Stafford completed a 16-yard pass to Puka Nacua to get the Rams into field-goal range and set up Mevis, known as the “Thiccer Kicker,” for the game-ending kick. He was mobbed by teammates while a crowd that was rocking earlier watched in near silence.
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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 led 17-10 in the final minute and the Bears faced fourth-and-4 from the 14-yard line when Williams backpedaled to avoid the pass rush and heaved the ball to Cole Kmet for the tying touchdown with 18 seconds left. Although officially a 14-yard pass, the ball traveled 51.2 yards in the air, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
Williams threw for two touchdowns but was intercepted three times for the Bears (12-7), who pulled off a series of improbable wins under first-year coach Ben Johnson but came up short this time.
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The game was heartbreaking for devoted Bears fans who braved frigid temperatures at Soldier Field.
“You know what, I’m just going to buy the ticket. It was $600 dollars. It is section 250, so we are pretty close,” said Bears fan Mykenze Ostrom.
Fans, all layered up, packed the South lot of Soldier Field ahead of the playoff matchup. ABC7 caught up with them before the game.
Ruth Moriarty and her son were among the people in attendance.
They were gifted tickets by ticket broker Steve Buzil after ABC7 interviewed him last week.
The mom and son duo were visiting Soldier Field in honor of her late husband’s 40th birthday. He was an avid Bears fan.
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“I think he would be so excited for his son to be here. I don’t think there is anything better. I am fulfilling one of his dreams. I am a lucky lady,” Moriarty said.
Brandon Martinez was another familiar face in the crowd. He’s now known as the Cheese Grater Guy after this viral moment during last week’s Bears game against the Packers.
His family brought a Ram-shaped pinata to their tailgate.
“We were able to get a Rams pinata. We are going to take care of it right now. We are drinking out of horns. We might put a taco of birria there,” Martinez said.
The Bears are accustomed to frigid conditions, of course, but “subfreezing weather” is barely in the vocabulary of Los Angeles residents.
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“They can’t play in the cold. We thrive in the cold. This is what we do. Bear down,” said Bears fan Joey Gigliotti.
Click here to see the chilliest games teams have played in the postseason.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.