The Los Angeles Rams largely struggled to end the 2025 season as injuries to key players scuffled their momentum. The Rams were the favorites to win the NFC West and claim the No. 1 seed in the conference, but instead they wound up the fifth seed and were forced to open Wild Card Weekend on the road against the Carolina Panthers.
Los Angeles boasted a better record than the 8-9 Carolina squad, but since the latter won the NFC South they earned the right to host a game in the postseason. The Rams, despite their uninspiring finish to the regular season, entered the contest as major betting favorites because of their explosive offense, pass rush and postseason experience.
It looked like the Rams were going to cruise after the first quarter as they scored efficiently and forced the Panthers into multiple turnovers. However, the team has a habit of allowing opponents to climb back into games and that’s exactly what happened against Carolina as they overcame their rough start to take a lead in the second half.
Head coach Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford are no strangers to clutch situations in the playoffs, and the two worked their late-game magic against a Panthers defense that was playing with momentum. Stafford led his latest game-winning drive by working the football across the field before finding Colby Parkinson for a touchdown.
L.A.’s defense was susceptible to explosive plays, but with Carolina in obvious passing downs the defensive line finally got to pin its ears back and pressure Bryce Young. Young and the Panthers failed to convert a first down on their final possession and the Rams escaped with a 34-31 victory to advance to the NFC Divisional Round.
With the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers beating the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively, in the Wild Card round the Rams will face off against the Bears.
The Bears made several dramatic comebacks in the regular season and they had another up their sleeve after they somehow found a way to claw back against the Packers. They’ve been one of the most fun stories of the NFL and will host the Rams at Soldier Field.
Rams at Bears schedule, time & TV info
The Rams will travel to the No. 2 seed Bears on Sunday, Jan. 18. The game will be at either 12 p.m. PT or 3:30 p.m. PT, with the TV network TBD.
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