Bears ride magical season into matchup with Rams
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Caleb Williams warms up in the snow at Soldier Field before beating the Green Bay Packers. Photo: Michael Owens/Getty Images
The Bears will host the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field next Sunday in the NFC Divisional Round after beating the Packers 31-27 on Saturday night.
Why it matters: The Bears ended two droughts in one night: Their first playoff win since 2011 and their first playoff win over the Packers since 1941.
Driving the news: The team is now preparing for the Rams and a familiar foe, quarterback Matt Stafford.
- Stafford spent 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions in the NFC North.
- The Rams are one of the league's better offenses when playing at SoFi Stadium, but this game will be played at Soldier Field, which, according to broadcaster Al Michaels, was literally shaking from the raucous crowd during Saturday's win.
By the numbers: Saturday's 18-point comeback was the biggest in Bears playoff history.
- It marked the seventh time this season they've won after trailing in the final two minutes.
- Star quarterback Caleb Williams' 361 passing yards set a franchise playoff record.
State of play: The Bears can continue the remarkable season that has featured a worst-to-first turnaround after the hiring of head coach Ben Johnson last January.
- Johnson not only improved Williams' play, but he also became the first Bears coach since Lovie Smith to beat the Packers twice in one season.
What they said: "F--k the Packers," coach Johnson said after the game during a fiery post-game speech.
The intrigue: The 2025/26 Bears look comfortable with fanning the flames of this long-standing rivalry. Johnson coldly shook Matt LaFleur's hand after the game, and Williams and other players donned cheese grater hats while shredding cheese on the national postgame show.
- Fans loved the interaction and chanted "Green Bay sucks" as they left Soldier Field.
Reality check: The Bears wouldn't have to complete miraculous comebacks if they didn't fall behind early. On Saturday night, the Bears continued their bad habits of starting sluggish, losing 21-3 at halftime.
Yes, but: The team has dominated after halftime adjustments.
The bottom line: The Cinderella Bears aren't just a feel-good story, they're dangerous, dramatic and now one win away from the NFC Championship game.
- Get ready for chants to change from "Green Bay Sucks" to "Super Bowl Super Bears" in the coming week.
What we're watching for: What time the game will be next Sunday. The NFL will likely announce the full schedule for the next round tomorrow night.
Editor's note: This story is developing.