Win over Bears proves the Rams are going to win the Super Bowl
Now, do you believe?
Finally, do you understand?
The Rams are going to win the Super Bowl.
Period. No conditions. No debate. This has been written here before and, after Sunday, it literally deserves to be written again.
The Rams are going to win the Super Bowl.
Sunday brought it to life. On Sunday, it was made real. Sunday was the test all championship teams must pass, and the Rams did it with frozen hands, swollen faces and a crying will.
How they beat the Chicago Bears in a divisional playoff game in a freezing, snowy Soldier Field in front of a bundled-up crowd going crazy, God only knows.
How they did that by blowing a lead on a last-minute miracle pass and then nearly blowing the game in overtime, surely even heaven has no idea.
But they did it, somehow, swear to Stafford, they did it, winning 20-17 in overtime with a result that could be described in one word.
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Gary Klein explains what went right for the Rams in their 20-17 overtime win over the Chicago Bears in the NFC Divisional Playoffs at Soldier Field.
Puka Nacua was bouncing, gesturing and shouting that word during the post-match on-court interview.
“Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!”
Yes, they are now heading to Seattle for next week’s NFC Championship Game against the Seahawks.
And yes, this is the same Seahawks team they beat in November in Los Angeles, the same Seahawks team they led by 16 points in the fourth quarter just a few weeks ago in Seattle before losing in overtime.
Such a collapse will not happen again. The Rams are tougher now. They are more resilient now. After Sunday, they believe they can now survive anything.
The Rams will win this rubber match against Seattle and advance to the Super Bowl, where they will face a young and untested New England Patriots team, fresh off a certain victory against the Denver Broncos, suddenly without a quarterback.
The Rams and coach Sean McVay owe the Patriots this Super Bowl defeat after the 2018 season. They will have their revenge, and with it their second championship in five years.
After what happened Sunday in Chicago, seriously, how can you believe anything else?
“They kept fighting, they kept believing, and that’s what it’s all about,” McVay said afterward. “It’s not about style, it’s about being able to survive and move forward and we were able to do that in a hostile environment. … I love this team.”
How could you not?
Finding themselves in a tie with the underdog Bears after three quarters in temperatures below 20 degrees, the Rams put together a 91-yard drive early in the fourth quarter and appeared to be headed to victory with Kyren Williams’ five-yard run into the end zone.
But on a fourth down with 18 seconds remaining, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams said a prayer as he ran away from three Rams defenders and, somehow, Cole Kmet got open and caught the ball in the end zone for an eventual tying touchdown.
“Can you believe they played that game? » McVay asked the media.
Just like that, it was overtime and the Rams were forced to rely on a longtime McVay mantra.
“It was tough, but I thought the great thing is there’s nothing we can do about it, move on to the next play,” McVay said. “We always talk about being in the moment, being totally and completely present, and I think our guys have done a great job of that.”
Rams coach Sean McVay smiles as he leaves the field after a 20-17 overtime victory over the Chicago Bears in the NFC Divisional Playoffs on Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Well, not at first. The stunned Rams scored three points on their first possession in overtime, a team with a future Hall of Fame quarterback surrendering with three points that were indicative of questionable play by McVay throughout the game.
“Man, I didn’t do a very good job for our group tonight, but I thought our guys were able to overcome it,” McVay said.
They began to overcome it on Kam Curl’s diving interception of Caleb Williams on the ensuing Bears drive, one of several dazzling plays by a surging Rams defense that created three turnovers.
“We were at our best in the biggest moments,” McVay said. “You can feel these guys shining brightest in their most important moments.”
Curl’s pick allowed Matthew Stafford to spark a 54-yard drive highlighted by a diving Davante Adams and a third down by Nacua.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford passes in the first quarter of the Rams’ 20-17 overtime win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)
Ten plays later, Harrison Mevis kicked a 42-yard field goal to finish it.
Their only concern for next week is Stafford’s sprained finger, which may have contributed to a substandard performance, as he went 20 of 42 without a touchdown.
“I could be better, but you know, playoff football is about winning the football game,” Stafford said. “I played well, I threw for several yards last year in the snow and we lost. It’s… it sucks… I’m so happy I played a little worse today and came home with the win.”
It was Stafford’s second winning game in two playoff games. Does anyone not believe they can do two more?
“Helluva deal right there,” McVay concluded. “It was like, okay, the football gods were smiling down on us.”
Helluva deal, helluva team and the gods are just getting started.
