At a Glance
- No. 2 seed Chicago Bears host No. 5 seed Los Angeles Rams in Sunday’s 6:30 p.m. ET finale
- Bears erased a 21-3 halftime hole to beat the Packers 31-27; Rams topped the Panthers 34-31 on a last-minute TD
- NBC and Peacock carry national coverage with Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark
- Why it matters: The winner advances to the NFC Championship Game, one step from the Super Bowl
Chicago’s Soldier Field is set for the NFC divisional-round finale after two dramatic wild-card comebacks. The Bears survived their arch-rival Green Bay Packers, while the Rams escaped the Carolina Panthers on a late Matthew Stafford strike.
The Comeback Kids
The Bears trailed 21-3 at halftime last week. Quarterback Caleb Williams rallied the offense, and the defense stiffened to deliver a 31-27 victory that sent the home crowd into delirium.
Across the country, Stafford-widely seen as the MVP frontrunner-engineered his own magic. He guided an touchdown drive that ended with 38 seconds left, sealing a 34-31 win and setting up the cross-country meeting with Chicago.
How to Watch Rams vs. Bears
**Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday
TV: NBC
Stream: Peacock, NBC.com
Mobile: Peacock app on Apple/Android devices; NBC mobile app
Mike Tirico handles play-by-play, Crimson Collinsworth provides analysis, and Melissa Stark reports from the sideline. The same crew will call Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on February 8.
Pregame: A special on-site edition of Football Night in America starts at 6 p.m. ET. Host Maria Taylor will be joined by Jason Garrett, Chris Simms, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, Mike Florio, Devin McCourty, Matthew Berry, and Jac Collinsworth to break down matchups and storylines.
What’s at Stake
- A berth in the NFC Championship Game against either the Detroit Lions or the Minnesota Vikings
- Momentum heading into the conference final at a hostile road venue
- A chance for the Bears to reach their first Super Bowl since the 2006 season
- An opportunity for Stafford and the Rams to return to the title game after winning it all in 2021
Key Storylines
**Caleb Williams in Prime Time: The rookie has already authored four fourth-quarter comebacks this season. Facing a veteran Rams secondary, his poise will be tested under national lights.
Stafford vs. Bears Defense: Chicago finished the regular season fifth in sacks and seventh in takeaways. Stafford’s quick release and down-field vision could neutralize that pressure-or play into it.
Battle in the Trenches: Los Angeles fields one of the league’s top offensive lines, allowing just 24 sacks. The Bears’ front seven, led by Montez Sweat, must disrupt timing to force mistakes.
Home-Field Edge: Soldier Field’s swirling winds and raucous crowd tilt close games. The Bears are 6-1 at home this year, with the lone loss by three points.
Broadcast Notes
- GRAMMY Award-winning artist returns for her 13th consecutive season opening NBC’s Sunday Night Football with a new musical number
- SNF ranks as primetime’s No. 1 show for a record 13 straight years, per Nielsen
- Peacock offers alternate camera angles, live stats, and Spanish-language audio
Quick Stats
| Category | Rams | Bears |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | 5 | 2 |
| Wild-Card Comeback | Down 14-0, won 34-31 | Down 21-3, won 31-27 |
| QB | Matthew Stafford (MVP leader) | Caleb Williams (ROTY favorite) |
| Head Coach | Sean McVay | Matt Eberflus |
Key Takeaways
- Momentum is real: Both teams clawed out of double-digit holes to survive last week, proving no lead is safe
- Prime-time pedigree: Stafford owns nine playoff wins and a Super Bowl ring; Williams is authoring his first postseason chapter
- Ratings juggernaut: Expect another massive audience as Sunday Night Football caps the divisional weekend
- Ticket to the title game: Only one sideline will still be standing when the clock hits zero; the victor heads to the NFC Championship with the Lombardi Trophy firmly in sight
The kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. Tune in on NBC or stream live on Peacock as the Rams and Bears collide for the right to keep their Super Bowl dreams alive.
