Image Source: Tyler Greenawalt, Rams Wire
Key Takeaways
- The Los Angeles Rams are facing the Chicago Bears in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs
- The Rams are led by head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford, while the Bears are led by quarterback Caleb Williams and first-time head coach Ben Johnson
- Experts mostly favor the Rams to win, but a few pick the Bears to win at home in potentially cold and snowy conditions
- The game is a matchup between a battle-tested team and an upstart team, with both sides needing fourth-quarter comeback wins to secure their place in the next round
Introduction to the Matchup
The Los Angeles Rams are back in the divisional round for the second consecutive season, and they will be facing the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. As head coach Sean McVay noted, this will be his 15th different team to face in the playoffs. The Rams are led by McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford, who will be facing off against the Bears’ quarterback Caleb Williams and first-time head coach Ben Johnson. According to the article, "It’s a matchup against the battle-tested Rams led by McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford against the upstart Bears led by quarterback Caleb Williams and first-time head coach Ben Johnson." This matchup promises to be an exciting one, with both teams having needed fourth-quarter comeback wins to secure their place in the next round of the NFC postseason.
Expert Picks
The experts are mostly standing with the Rams, with 25 out of 32 experts picking them to win. As the article states, "Experts mostly stood with the Rams once more, but a few liked the home team Bears in a game that should be very cold and possibly snowy." Some of the experts who picked the Rams include Jarrett Bell, Nick Brinkerhoff, and Chris Bumbaca. On the other hand, a few experts, such as Matt Bowen and Kalyn Kahler, liked the Bears to win at home. The article notes that the game will be played in potentially cold and snowy conditions, which could affect the outcome.
Analysis of the Teams
The Rams are a battle-tested team, having been in the playoffs before, while the Bears are an upstart team led by a first-time head coach. As the article notes, "Both sides needed fourth-quarter comeback wins to secure their place in the next round of the NFC postseason." This suggests that both teams have the ability to come from behind and win games, which could make for an exciting matchup. The Rams are led by McVay, who has a lot of experience in the playoffs, while the Bears are led by Johnson, who is in his first season as a head coach.
Weather Conditions
The game will be played in potentially cold and snowy conditions, which could affect the outcome. As the article states, "Here are the top expert picks for the Rams-Bears divisional round playoff game… in a game that should be very cold and possibly snowy." The cold and snowy conditions could favor the Bears, who are used to playing in such conditions, while the Rams may struggle to adapt. However, the Rams have a strong team and may be able to overcome the weather conditions to win the game.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the matchup between the Rams and the Bears promises to be an exciting one, with both teams having the ability to come from behind and win games. The experts mostly favor the Rams to win, but a few pick the Bears to win at home in potentially cold and snowy conditions. As the article notes, "Now, they’ll take each other on for a spot in the conference title game." The game will be a test of the Rams’ experience and the Bears’ youth and energy, and it will be interesting to see which team comes out on top.
https://theramswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2026/01/16/rams-bears-divisional-round-expert-picks/88178349007/
