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New England Plows Its Way to Denver

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FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – New England quarterback Drake Maye threw three touchdown passes, defensive cornerback guru Marcus Jones returned an interception for a score and the New England Patriots advanced to the AFC Championship Game with a 28-16 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday in cold and snowy conditions in Massachusetts.

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New England intercepted Houston’s C.J. Stroud four times in the divisional-round matchup, as Carlton Davis III picked off two passes and Craig Woodson had one. The Patriots forced five turnovers while advancing to their 16th AFC title game and their first since the 2018 season playoffs.

New England will play at the top-seeded but banged-up Denver Broncos next Sunday.

Kayshon Boutte made a stellar touchdown grab and DeMario Douglas and Stefon Diggs also had scoring receptions for second-seeded New England. Maye completed 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards while also throwing one interception and losing two fumbles.

Stroud committed seven turnovers (five picks, two fumbles) in fifth-seeded Houston’s two postseason games. He completed 20 of 47 for 212 yards and one touchdown Sunday.

Christian Kirk had a scoring catch for the Texans, who are 0-7 all-time in the divisional round of the playoffs. Will Anderson Jr. recorded three sacks and forced two fumbles and Danielle Hunter had two sacks and one forced fumble.

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The Texans played without three-time 1,000-yard receiver Nico Collins (concussion). They also lost standout tight end Dalton Schultz (calf) in the first quarter and second-string tight end Cade Stover (knee) in the fourth quarter.

The Patriots figure to be slight road favorites in the AFC title game after the Broncos lost standout quarterback Bo Nix to a broken ankle.

Houston trailed by 11 at halftime but moved within 21-16 late in the third quarter on Ka’imi Fairbairn field goals of 25 and 51 yards just as the snow picked up.

But New England regained momentum when Boutte made a one-handed 32-yard touchdown grab from Maye to give the Patriots a 12-point lead with 12:58 to play. Boutte beat Texans standout cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. on the play.

Davis exited in the fourth quarter for New England due to a head injury.

New England led 21-10 at halftime as the Texans were hindered by Stroud’s four interceptions.

The Patriots struck first on Maye’s 28-yard touchdown pass to Douglas with 9:35 left in the first quarter.

Houston scored the next 10 points on Fairbairn’s 25-yard field goal in the opening quarter and Stroud’s 10-yard touchdown throw to Kirk with 12:51 remaining in the half.

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Two-plus minutes later, Stroud was under pressure and threw the ball up for grabs. Jones intercepted it and returned it 26 yards for a score to give New England 14-10 lead.

Later in the quarter, Maye tossed a 7-yard touchdown pass to Diggs with 3:12 remaining in the half.

–Field Level Media

 

Rams Defeat da Bears

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Luck Runs Out on Mighty Bears Effort

CHICAGO – (Wire Service Report) – Rams’ FG kicker Harrison Mevis booted a game-ending 42-yard field goal with 3:19 left in overtime and Kyren Williams rushed for two touchdowns to lift the visiting Los Angeles Rams to a 20-17 victory against the Chicago Bears in an NFC divisional playoff Sunday.

The Rams advanced to face the host Seattle Seahawks in the NFC championship game on Jan. 25. Chicago finished a resurgent season under first-year coach Ben Johnson.

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Los Angeles drove for the winning field goal after Kamren Curl intercepted Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who threw three picks, including two to Cobie Durant.

Los Angeles took a 17-10 lead on Kyren Williams’ 5-yard touchdown run with 8:50 remaining in regulation. After gaining just 89 yards on six drives following its opening possession, the Rams marched 91 yards in 14 plays. Puka Nacua’s 2-yard run on 4th-and-1 from the Chicago 5 set up the Williams score.

Chicago drove to the Los Angeles 2 on its ensuing possession but Omar Speights thwarted the threat by breaking up Caleb Williams’ fourth-down pass intended for Luther Burden with 3:03 remaining.

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The Bears forced a Rams punt, which set up the latest display of Chicago’s late-game heroics. The Bears, who set an NFL record this season with seven comebacks while trailing in the final two minutes, tied the game on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Williams to Cole Kmet with 18 seconds to play. Williams released the pass from around the LA 40 amid a heavy Rams pass rush.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was 20-for-42 for 258 yards while Kyren Williams gained 87 yards on 21 carries. Nacua had five catches for 56 yards and Colby Parkinson had three receptions for 56 yards.

Caleb Williams was 23-of-42 for 257 yards and two scores. D’Andre Swift rushed 19 times for 76 yards and Colston Loveland caught four passes for 56 yards.

The teams played to a 10-all tie in the first half. Los Angeles opened the scoring when Kyren Williams rushed for a 4-yard touchdown with 6:20 remaining in the first quarter, punctuating a 14-play, 85-yard opening drive.

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The Bears attempted three fourth-down conversions in the first half and capitalized on just one — a 3-yard touchdown pass from Williams to D.J. Moore on the first play of the second quarter.

Cairo Santos connected on a 48-yard field goal with 1:10 to go in the quarter to give the Bears their first lead at 10-7. Los Angeles responded with a Melvis 32-yarder on the last play of the half.

The Rams and Seahawks split a pair of regular-season meetings, with each team prevailing on its home field. Los Angeles edged visiting Seattle 21-19 in Week 11 before the Seahawks returned the favor with a 38-37 overtime victory in Week 16.

–Field Level Media

NFL Playoffs: Divisional Game Previews

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NFC Divisional playoff capsule

Los Angeles Rams (13-5) at Chicago Bears (12-6)
Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
Soldier Field, Chicago
FanDuel Odds: Rams -3.5, Total 48.5

Playoff History: This is the 40th anniversary of the Bears last Super Bowl (XX) victory. They defeated the Rams in the NFC Championship, 24-0, that year to advance to that game. Los Angeles defeated Chicago, 24-14, in the 1950 Divisional playoffs (Dec. 17, 1950).

Pack the handwarmers, it’s Bear weather this weekend in Chicago.

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Rams head coach Sean McVay is downplaying the windchill factor reading at or below zero and the Los Angeles defense is more worried about the Iceman than the weatherman.

Caleb Williams, given the “Iceman” moniker for his fourth-quarter performances this season, helped the Bears overcame an 18-point deficit – the largest comeback in franchise postseason history – and Chicago scored 25 fourth-quarter points — third-most ever in a playoff game – to defeat the Packers, 31-27, last week. It was the first postseason win since the 2010 NFC divisional round against Seattle.

The Rams handled the Panthers, 34-31, in Charlotte to set up the first playoff meeting with the Bears in 40 years.

While Williams has been clutch, the performance of Rams QB Matt Stafford has been constant. He led the NFL in passing yards and touchdown passes. Including the playoffs, he’s over 5,000 passing yards and his next TD pass will be No. 50 on the year.

He has a cadre of capable weapons, and a trio of players with 13 or more touchdowns counting Puka Nacua’s pair of scores last week (13 total this season). RB Kyren Williams (13) and WR Davante Adams (14) give the Chicago defense a number of threats atop the scouting report. Stafford threw eight interceptions in the regular season. The Bears led the NFL with 23 interceptions — seven by S Kevin Byard III — and 33 total takeaways.

Williams and rookie TE Colston Loveland have become a dynamic duo in the passing game. Loveland led the Bears in receptions, yards and tied D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze with six TD catches in the regular season. He had eight receptions for 137 yards against the Packers last week.

–Field Level Media

Rested Broncos Prep for Bills

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DENVER – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – For the first time in 10 years, the Denver Broncos enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The last time they were the No. 1 seed — 2015, Peyton Manning’s fourth and final season in Denver — happens to be the last time they won a Super Bowl.

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Broncos coach Sean Payton knows the potential benefit of being No. 1. When his New Orleans Saints won Super XLIV in 2009, they were the NFC’s top seed.

But entering Saturday’s playoff opener against the visiting Buffalo Bills, Payton is also well aware that regular-season success and the No. 1 seed don’t guarantee anything when it comes to the postseason.

“The (bye) is important, but myth No. 2 is that (it) ensures the fast start. It doesn’t,” Payton said Tuesday. “Understand this: We’re playing a team that’s coming off one of their biggest wins in the last 10 years. We have to earn a fast start and take advantage of the energy, take advantage of the rest. But it has to be done out (on the field).”

Payton also knows the challenges presented by the Bills, who handily beat the Broncos 31-7 in last season’s wild-card round.

The Bills are still alive for the rematch thanks to their first road playoff win since the 1992 season, 27-24 at Jacksonville on Sunday.

Josh Allen, who entered with a foot injury and twice visited the injury tent during the game with head, hand and knee injuries, gutted out a performance that included 306 total yards, three total touchdowns and a pair of go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown drives.

“I feel good. Honestly, I feel a little better than I have the last couple weeks,” Allen said on Tuesday.

Allen, who has won his first playoff game in each of the last six seasons, would secure his third AFC Championship Game appearance with a win over the Broncos.

However, he will have quite a limited receiver room entering the matchup after both Tyrell Shavers and Gabe Davis sustained torn ACLs in the win over the Jaguars. That leaves Buffalo with just three wide receivers on its active roster — Keon Coleman, Brandin Cooks and Khalil Shakir.

Shakir led the team with 719 receiving yards in the regular season, adding a game-high 12 catches for 82 yards against Jacksonville. Coleman, the team’s 2024 second-round pick, took a step back in production in Year 2 with 404 yards.

Curtis Samuel (elbow) had his practice window for a return from injured reserve opened Tuesday and was a full participant in the first two practices of the week.

“Another guy’s got to step up. That’s point-blank what it means,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said. “And I don’t mean to be short. It’s just right now, it’s full confidence in the guys in that room.”

Standout defensive tackle Ed Oliver (bicep) also saw his practice window open on Tuesday, making it possible that he will play his first game since Oct. 26. He was limited in Tuesday and Wednesday’s practices.

For Denver quarterback Bo Nix, this will be his first home playoff game. He completed 59.1% of his passes for 144 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Buffalo.

“I think everybody would say they’d rather be at home in this situation,” Nix said. “Last year was a tough environment, tough road experience. Good for a young person like me to go gain that experience (in my) first year. It’s obviously nice to be at home. It’s nice for that challenge to be on the other side.”

Nix will be assisted by a Broncos defense that set a franchise record with 68 sacks, 11 more than any other team and just four off the NFL record set by the 1984 Bears.

Buffalo running back Ty Johnson (ankle), cornerback Maxwell Hairston (ankle) and safety Jordan Poyer (hamstring) did not practice Tuesday or Wednesday. Team sack leader Greg Rousseau (back), linebacker Matt Milano (ankle) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) have been limited.

Denver has just four players on the injury report, none of whom have missed a practice this week. Tight end Lucas Krull (foot) and linebackers Dre Greenlaw (hamstring) and Drew Sanders (ankle) have been limited.

The Bills have beaten the Broncos four of the last five times they’ve faced off and won both postseason matchups, including a 10-7 win in the 1991 AFC Championship Game.

–Field Level Media

See You on the Dark Side of the Boom

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SEATTLE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Every great NFL defense needs a nickname.

From the Purple People Eaters (Vikings) to the Steel Curtain (Steelers), the Monsters of the Midway (Bears) to the Doomsday Defense (Cowboys), the Fearsome Foursome (Rams) to the New York Sack Exchange (Jets) and the Orange Crush (Broncos) to the Legion of Boom (Seahawks), the best all got monikers.

Even the Dolphins’ No-Name Defense of the 1970s.

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The current Seattle Seahawks defense hasn’t yet matched the Legion of Boom, which led the NFL in fewest points allowed from 2012 to 2015, but it has come up with a nickname just in case — the “Dark Side.”

That unit will be key when the top-seeded Seahawks (14-3) play host to the sixth-seeded San Francisco 49ers (13-5) on Saturday in an NFC divisional-round playoff game.

“I think throughout the season, we were just feeling like we had a really special defense, you know, special players, and we were also just doing special things,” Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams said. “We always hear of ‘Legion of Boom,’ especially being in here. We were starting to get to a point like, ‘Hey, maybe we deserve our own name.’”

The Seahawks had the league’s top-ranked scoring defense at 17.2 points per game.

Their best performance came in the regular-season finale in Santa Clara, Calif., against the 49ers in a game to determine the NFC West division title and the conference’s top playoff seed, which included a first-round bye. The Seahawks allowed just 173 yards of total offense in a 13-3 victory.

That dropped the 49ers to the No. 6 seed. They went on the road and defeated the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles 23-19 on Sunday to advance.

Christian McCaffrey gained just 48 yards on 15 carries but made six receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns to boost San Francisco. Little-used receiver Demarcus Robinson added six catches for 111 yards and a score.

It was a costly victory, however, as star tight end George Kittle sustained a torn right Achilles tendon.

The 49ers will be without Kittle and All-Pro defender Nick Bosa (knee) against Seattle.

San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, who was designated to return from injured reserve on Tuesday, was more likely to return should the 49ers advance to the NFC Championship Game, but Warner didn’t rule out playing this week. He has been sidelined since Oct. 12 with a fractured and dislocated right ankle.

Niners safety Ji’Ayir Brown (hamstring) and linebacker Luke Gifford (quadriceps) also sat out practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“I think that made us stronger for stuff like this,” Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams said about the 49ers’ injury-marred season. “Kittle going down in the first half (at Philadelphia). I think if we didn’t have experience with that, it would have been easy for everybody to fold and nobody would have blamed us. They would say, ‘Hey, they don’t have this player, don’t have that player, they probably should lose.’”

Offensive tackle Josh Jones (knee) was the only active Seattle player to miss both the Tuesday and Wednesday practices. Linebacker Tyrice Knight (shoulder) was limited Wednesday after missing Tuesday, and linebacker Ernest Jones (illness) sat out the Wednesday session.

Starting left tackle Charles Cross was a full participant Tuesday after missing the final three games of the regular season, but he was listed as limited Wednesday with knee and hamstring issues when the hamstring previously was the only injury listed.

The Seahawks will be playing their first playoff game at home since January 2021.

“We need it loud, man,” defensive lineman Jarran Reed said, “so the Dark Side can come alive.”

The 49ers won 17-13 at Seattle in the season opener, thanks to Bosa’s strip sack of Sam Darnold with 36 seconds left and the Seahawks at San Francisco’s 9-yard line. Brock Purdy threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to backup tight end Jake Tonges with 1:34 remaining for the go-ahead score.

–Field Level Media

Drake Maye vs. NFL’s Best Defense

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FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Drake Maye’s first career start came against the Houston Texans and their vaunted defense. Maye will get another look at perhaps the finest defense in the NFL on Sunday when the New England Patriots battle the Texans in the AFC divisional round on Sunday in Massachusetts.

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Maye is an MVP candidate after starring in his second regular season, but the quarterback relishes that first start against Houston. The Patriots lost 41-21 on Oct. 13, 2024.

“It feels like 10 years ago,” Maye said Wednesday. “It’s been a long journey. Just taking time to reflect on running out there with the team (and having) first-snap jitters was pretty cool. It’s fun to look back on.”

Maye was intercepted twice that day while throwing for 243 yards and three touchdowns. That provides a hint at the challenge ahead in trying to help the Patriots advance to the AFC title contest.

“We got our hands full,” Maye said. “We know it’s going to be a tough game. We have to play the game the right way.”

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel also is concerned with the Texans, who led the NFL in total defense and finished second in scoring defense and takeaway margin during the regular season.

“They chase the football and they get a lot of hats to the football,” Vrabel said. “They create turnovers. They play physical.”

Maye helped lead second-seeded New England to a 16-3 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, the franchise’s first postseason win since Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams. He passed for 268 yards and one touchdown and was intercepted once.

Maye was sacked five times and this week’s matchup features Houston pass rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., known for their speed and relentless style.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans — a former two-time Pro Bowl linebacker — is concerned about the foot speed of Maye, who had 66 yards on 10 rushes against the Chargers.

“Where he’s taking that next step is his ability to escape the pocket,” Ryans said Wednesday. “I think it really doesn’t get talked about much, but his athletic ability, his ability to escape the pocket has been really clutch for them. He’s made some big runs to really hurt a lot of defenses, so we have to be conscious of that.”

The fifth-seeded Texans advanced with a 30-6 road victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.

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Sheldon Rankins returned a fumble for a touchdown after Anderson’s strip-sack of Aaron Rodgers and Calen Bullock intercepted Rodgers’ final pass of the game and returned it for a score. The Texans allowed just 175 total yards and 13 first downs.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud passed for 250 yards and a touchdown but was sloppy with three turnovers (one interception, two lost fumbles).

Stroud admitted he must be better with ball protection. He’s now focused on notching a second straight playoff win in a tough road atmosphere.

“I think last week was a good test for us,” Stroud said. “I think being able to get past that with a ‘W,’ this next week is going to be the same type of environment — loud.”

Regardless, Houston has the opportunity to reach the AFC Championship Game for the first time in franchise history.

“I don’t take it lightly to be one of the final four teams left in the AFC,” Ryans said. “It’s where you want to be, it’s the position you want to be in if you’re a competitor and I’m a true competitor.”

It appears Houston won’t have Nico Collins on Sunday. The three-time 1,000-yard receiver sustained a concussion during the Monday night game and was one of four Texans to miss practice Wednesday. The others are defensive end Denico Autry (knee), offensive tackle Trent Brown (ankle) and receiver Justin Watson (concussion). Autry has blocked 14 kicks in his career.

Sitting out for New England were offensive tackles Morgan Moses and Thayer Munford Jr., both with knee ailments. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez remains in concussion protocol after being hurt against the Chargers. Vrabel is hopeful Gonzalez will be cleared by Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Rams Gear-Up for Chicago’s Finest

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CHICAGO – (Staff  and Wire Service Report) – Any skeptics left doubting the merit of Caleb Williams’ nickname might look to the mercury for confirmation on Sunday night when the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams stage the finale of a four-game NFL Divisional Playoff weekend.

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Williams’ late-game heroics and growing legend for cool under pressure hit a new level last week. He led Chicago back from a 21-3 deficit with a team-playoff record 361 passing yards to lift the Bears over the rival Green Bay Packers, the first postseason win for the franchise since 2011. It was the seventh game-winning fourth-quarter drive for Williams this season.

“I feel calm in those moments. I feel my conditioning is the best in those moments. I feel that I’m the best in those moments because of what I’ve prepared to be in those moments,” Williams said. “For myself, it’s just ‘next play, next play, next play,’ and then when you have to go make a play, it’s life or death in those moments.”

As the Rams roll into Chicago (12-6), the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, the challenge is heating back up following a 34-31 win over the Panthers in the wild-card round last Saturday. Frigid temperatures are in the forecast for gametime — highs in the teens with snow flurries around kickoff time at 6:30 p.m. ET.

A little precipitation and chill might not hurt Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is 4-1 at Chicago in his career when the kickoff temperature is below 40 degrees. He’s not alone. L.A.’s lead running back, Kyren Williams, is from St. Louis and played at Notre Dame. Wide receiver Davante Adams, the NFL leader with 14 touchdown catches, spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Packers and knows his way around frosty Soldier Field, too.

Stafford said he’s not feeling any pain or lingering issues with his sprained right index finger. He was hurt at Carolina last week but didn’t miss a snap and led the Rams to a comeback win with 304 yards and three TDs.

Williams had 3,942 passing yards and 27 touchdowns in 2025. The Rams are quick and relentless along the defensive line and had 47 sacks in the regular season. Los Angeles (13-5) will test Williams’ eye discipline and gauge the readiness of left tackles Theo Benedet and Braxton Jones, activated from injured reserve this week. Both have started this season, but the Bears lost Ozzy Trapilo (knee) to a season-ending injury against the Packers.

“Obviously it’s a bit of a whirlwind,” Benedet said of coming off the bench last week for the game-winning drive and resuming his role as the starting left tackle.

It’s not unthinkable the game could be won by two dudes under stocking hats on the sideline.

Rams coach Sean McVay and Bears coach Ben Johnson are regarded as two of the game’s brightest offensive minds. McVay enters his 15th career playoff game against a 15th different team but is very familiar with Johnson, who shares common pupils with McVay in Stafford and Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Before McVay helped pry Stafford from Detroit in a trade, Johnson was on the coaching staff with the Lions for two seasons. Then the Rams sent Goff to the Lions in the QB swap.

“He does a great job. I’ve studied him really closely since he took over and started it doing it in Detroit,” McVay said. “I think what shows his flexibility is the ability to have one of the best offenses with a player like Jared, who’s really special, and then being able to have some similar foundational principles with Caleb but also accentuate the things that make him really unique with the athleticism, move the spot and take advantage of their skill around it.”

Bears fans will recognize the bloodlines of the Rams’ offensive coordinator — Mike LaFleur — and Packers coach Matt LaFleur and McVay are longtime friends and coaching allies from their days as assistants with the Washington Commanders organization.

Did McVay phone a friend for tips on taking down the Bears?

“What do you think? We watch the tape, we do our work, and Matt is a very close friend of mine,” he said.

Year 17 has been a brilliant season for Stafford. He led the NFL in passing yards (4,707) and touchdowns (46) in the regular season. Adams and Puka Nacua, the league leader with 129 receptions, loom as massive worries even for a defense that was first in the NFL in interceptions (23) and takeaways (33).

“I’ve got so much respect for that guy. You talk about the ultimate competitor,” Johnson said. “He’s one of the more talented throwers of the football I’ve ever been around. He’s outstanding. He’s a great teammate. … His toughness. Physical toughness.”

McVay said the Rams are spending extra time drilling all 11 defensive players on playing until they hear a whistle because of Williams’ flair for flourishing on unrehearsed extensions of busted plays.

“Some of those second reaction plays where he’s getting flushed to his right or getting flushed to his left and guys understand how to be able to work with him,” McVay said, “those are the ones that are really scary.”

When he lost No. 1 wide receiver Rome Odunze for five weeks due to a foot injury, Williams turned to rookie tight end Colston Loveland to fill that void. Loveland, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 draft, had eight receptions for 137 yards last week.

“I know Caleb has an immense amount of trust in him,” Johnson said. “He’s one of the first ones in the building every single day. He is always studying his playbook while he’s eating breakfast. He is always the last one off the practice field, doing the jugs machine. Model of consistency, which for a rookie speaks volumes.”

The winner of Sunday’s game plays in the NFC title game next week, meeting either the San Francisco 49ers (13-5) or Seattle Seahawks (14-3).

The Rams beat the 49ers in the 2021 NFC Championship, 20-17, and beat the Saints in the 2018 conference championship game.

Chicago last won the NFC Championship Game in 2006 and also won in 1985 prior to winning Super Bowl XX. The Bears lost the 2010 NFC Championship to the Packers.

Rams nose tackle Poona Ford (elbow) and offensive lineman Kevin Dotson (ankle) were limited on Wednesday but plan to play Sunday. Dotson has been out since he was hurt in Week 16 against the Seahawks.

Dotson is an essential cog in the running game.

“He’s a beast. When he was playing this year, I thought he was one of the best guards, if not the best guard in the league,” Stafford said. “So if we can get him back, obviously that would be a huge boost.”

Odunze and wide receiver D.J. Moore (knee) were limited to start the week but Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (concussion) was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.

–Field Level Media

NFL Playoffs: MNF | Texans at Steelers

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Houston Texans (12-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Texans -3, Total 38.5
Series Rewind: Houston pounded Pittsburgh 30-6 in 2023 to end a three-game skid in the series. That was C.J. Stroud’s rookie season and he shined by passing for 306 yards and two TDs. This is their first postseason meeting.

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The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game in nine years and now the NFL’s best defense stands in the way and threatens to impose another unhappy ending. Aaron Rodgers (11-10 as a postseason starter) will be asked to solve the defensive unit of the Texans and end the dubious streak that has seen Pittsburgh drop six consecutive playoff games since defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round on Jan. 15, 2017. Rodgers had 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 16 games. He hasn’t been picked in his last seven outings. Protecting the ball is key against Houston, which ranks second in the NFL with a plus-17 takeaway margin. The Texans allowed a league-low 277.2 yards per game and ranked second in points allowed at 17.4 per game. Danielle Hunter finished third in the NFL with 15 sacks and Will Anderson Jr. tied for eighth with 12. Stroud is playing in the playoffs for the third straight season and has a 2-2 postseason mark. During the regular season, he passed for 3,041 yards and 19 touchdowns against eight interceptions despite missing three games due to a concussion. The Steelers get DK Metcalf (team-best 850 receiving yards, six TDs) back from a two-game suspension. Also, star linebacker T.J. Watt should feel a bit more spry in his second game since lung surgery.

–Field Level Media

NFL Playoff Preview: Chargers at Patriots

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Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at New England Patriots (14-3)
Sunday, 8 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Patriots -3.5, Total 46.5
Series Rewind: New England leads the all-time series 27-17-2 and has won each of the three times they’ve faced off in the NFL playoffs (2007, 2008, 2019). But Los Angeles beat the Patriots in 2023 and 2024 by a combined score of 46-7.

Patriots MVP candidate Drake Maye is set to make his playoff debut after a stellar second season in which he led the league with a 72.0 completion percentage along with 4,394 yards and 31 TDs to eight picks. He led an offense which finished second in scoring (28.8 points per game) and third in total offense (379.4 yards). But he was also sacked 47 times, fourth-most of any NFL QB, and will be facing a Chargers defense which ranked 10th in the league in sacks (45). Chargers QB Justin Herbert has actually been sacked even more (54 times, third in the NFL) behind a ramshackle line missing two tackles. Herbert is looking for some playoff redemption after his first two postseason games did not go according to plan. Los Angeles blew a 27-0 lead in a 2022 wild-card game at Jacksonville, and he threw a career-high four picks in a 32-12 wild-card game last season at Houston. Herbert (left hand) has practiced fully this week after sitting out the regular-season finale with minimal stakes. Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs (1,013 receiving yards) and rookie RB Tre’Veyon Henderson (911 yards, nine touchdowns) have boosted Maye, who could be down two starting offensive linemen this week with left guard Jared Wilson (concussion) and center Garrett Bradbury (illness) missing practice or limited.

Playoff Game Preview: San Fran at Phila

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San Francisco 49ers (12-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Eagles -4.5, Total 44.5
Series Rewind: San Francisco won handily 42-19 in its last trip to Philadelphia in Week 13 in 2023, about 11 months after getting blown out 31-7 there by the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 29, 2023.

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The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles rested most of their starters in Week 18 and settled for the No. 3 seed, while the 49ers dropped to the sixth seed after losing a battle with Seattle for the coveted No. 1 slot. This is the fifth straight playoff appearance for Philadelphia under fifth-year coach Nick Sirianni, whose teams alternated wild-card losses with Super Bowl runs in their first four postseasons under his watch. It’s the fifth playoff trip in the past seven seasons for the 49ers under Kyle Shanahan, which includes a couple of Super Bowl setbacks. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is 5-0 at home in the playoffs and facing a 49ers squad that is 7-2 on the road this season. Hurts can attack San Francisco’s shaky pass defense with 1,000-yard receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert (11 touchdowns). Niners star Christian McCaffrey was second in the NFL with 2,126 scrimmage yards but faces a Philly front anchored by Pro Bowl DT Jalen Carter. Philadelphia’s All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson (foot) hopes to play for the first time since Week 11. San Francisco All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams (hamstring) and wideout Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle) are questionable.