CHICAGO — A three-and-out to open overtime put all the pressure on the Rams’ defense in Sunday night’s divisional-round matchup with the Chicago Bears. The game had gone to sudden death, and a field goal would end the Rams’ season.
But safety Kam Curl wasn’t ready to go home, instead making a diving interception at the Rams 22 to give the ball back to quarterback Matthew Stafford. And Stafford wasn’t going to come up short twice.
First, a short pass to tight end Colby Parkinson for 15 yards. Then a dart to Davante Adams on the sideline in the tightest of windows for 12, Adams dragging his second foot to stay in bounds. And then, facing third-and-6, Stafford found Puka Nacua in the slot on a quick button hook. Nacua turned and ran to the Bears’ 27.
In field goal range, the Rams’ season came down to a field goal. And midseason addition Harrison Mevis delivered with a 42-yarder down the middle, delivering the Rams a 20-17 win and a trip to face the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC title game.
With a 14-play opening drive, the Rams looked as though they would move the ball with ease all game. Stafford was able to connect on 6 of 8 passes, two going to Jordan Whittington for 35 yards, and Kyren Williams picked up 18 on four carries. When the Bears went into their dime defense on the goal line, Williams scampered into the end zone for a quick 7-0 lead.
But the offense went cold across its next three drives. Chicago deployed defensive back blitzes, and the Rams looked unprepared for the pressures. Stafford went 2-for-9 in those three drives while taking three sacks.
But the defense kept the Rams close. The usual issues popped up, especially on outside runs and crossing routes, on which D.J. Moore scored a one-yard, fourth-down touchdown.
But a Cobie Durant interception ended the Bears’ first drive. Then, run stuffs by linebackers Omar Speights and Nate Landman and safety Cam Kurl on third- and fourth-and-1 stopped another threat in Rams’ territory.
The group held the Bears to 4-for-11 on third and fourth downs in the half. The offense finally got moving at the end of the second quarter with a 27-yard contested catch by tight end Tyler Higbee, and the 32-yard Harrison Mevis field goal tied things up going into the break.
With the Rams receiving the second-half kickoff, there was an opportunity to take the lead to open the third quarter. But the Rams only gained one first down in the third quarter.
Even after a fadeaway interception by Durant gave the Rams the ball at midfield, Stafford threw three incompletions – one nearly intercepted – and they had to punt.
But then the clock struck the fourth quarter, and the Rams’ offense turned from a pumpkin into a carriage.
The blitzes suddenly were accounted for. Stafford threw a quick release on a double blitz to tight end Colby Parkinson to pick up one first down. Then running back Blake Corum picked up an extra rusher to give Stafford time to find Puka Nacua for another. The Rams spammed Williams, rushing him seven times for 29 yards.
A jet sweep to Nacua on fourth down put the Rams into first-and-goal. Then Williams ran wide right and leapt into the end zone for a seven-point lead.
In eight plays, the Bears worked their way down to the goal line. On third-and-goal, safety Quentin Lake stopped D’Andre Swift in midair, then linebacker Omar Speights broke up the fourth-down pass.
But it couldn’t be that easy, right? The Rams picked up one first down, then had to punt. And the defense was called upon again. On fourth down from the Rams’ 14, Bears QB Williams was pressured backwards to the 40 and chucked a ball up into the corner of the end zone. Tight end Cole Kmet came away with it after some hand fighting with Durant, and an extra point tied things up and sent it to overtime.