Rams end the Bears’ magical run and the Patriots ease past the Texans to set up NFL’s final four

For a game that wasn’t very exciting for 90% of the time, the ending of the fourth quarter and overtime made it up for it.

The Los Angeles Rams outlasted the Chicago Bears 20-17 in overtime in a game dominated by the tough conditions at Soldier Field on Sunday.

Snow fell, temps kept dropping and both teams struggled. The two teams combined for 11 total punts with the Bears electing to go for it on fourth down six times.

It was a 10-10 game through three quarters but Rams running back Kyren Williams broke the deadlock after his second TD of the game with just under nine minutes left in the fourth quarter.

In overtime, the Bears defense got a big stop to open the extra period but a Williams interception gave the Rams the ball right back.

But as Caleb Williams has done all season, his clutch gene came through, leading to a miraculous 14-yard heave (offically 14, it was more like 40 after Williams scrambled backward) to tight end Cole Kmet to tie the game up with 18 seconds left.

From there, Matthew Stafford and the high-powered LA offense found a way to set up Harrison Mevis with a 42-yard field goal to win the game.

The Rams now have a date with Sam Darnold and the Seahawks in Seattle next week with a trip to Super Bowl LX on the line.

It wasn’t always pretty, but the New England Patriots have found a way to get past the Houston Texans to set up an AFC conference championship matchup against the Denver Broncos.

With rain and then snow falling heavily in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the Patriots beat the Texans 28-16 in front of a vociferous home crowd at Gillette Stadium.

While much has been said about New England’s offense, led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye, it was the defense that really sealed the deal for the Patriots in this divisional round win.

New England’s defense hurried and harried Houston’s C.J. Stroud as the quarterback struggled throughout the entire game.

The 24-year-old threw four interceptions, was sacked three times and completed just 20-47 passes on a disappointing night on the road.

And with the defense doing their job, Maye stepped up when it mattered.

Despite being sacked five times by an incredible Houston defense, Maye still managed to throw three touchdown passes to guide New England back to the conference championship.

With a Bo Nix-less Denver Broncos up next, Patriots fans might just be thinking that this year could be their year.

Score: Patriots 28, Texans 16.

Harrison Mevis made his NFL debut on November 9.

Less than a year ago, he was in the United Football League. A year before that, he went undrafted out of Missouri, despite holding the SEC record for the longest field goal at 61 yards.

The Rams signed Mevis to their practice squad midway through this season. Head coach Sean McVay then hosted a competition between him and the Rams’ existing kicker Joshua Karty. Mevis won.

“I don’t know when my time is going to come, but I’m going to be ready,” Mevis said at the time.

And he was.

Mevis sent the Rams to the conference championship with his 54-yard field goal in overtime. Facing a Bears team that seemed to be one of destiny, LA turned to their Thiccer Kicker – as Mevis is affectionately known – and his thighs broke the tie.

What exactly are the rules in overtime in the playoffs?

Both teams will get a possession in a 15-minute overtime period. If there’s a safety on the opening possession, then the game ends.

If the score is still tied after each team has had a possession, the next team to score wins.

Each team will start overtime with three timeouts.

All replay reviews will be iniated by the replay official - no coach’s challenges.

If the game is still tied after 15 minutes, we play on into another 15-minute period.

The Bears have won the coin toss and elected to kick. Matt Stafford and the Rams will get the ball first.

Caleb Williams just made the throw of his life that you’ll see on replay reels for years to come.

On fourth-and-four from the 14, the Rams defense chases him back to the 40-yard line. Seemingly desperate and on his back foot, Williams launches the ball into the end zone, where it is CAUGHT by Cole Kmet to keep the Bears season alive.

Actually, this is when Chicago thrives. The Bears have seven wins when trailing in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter this year — the most ever in NFL history.

They haven’t won it yet. But you’ll never see a more exciting throw to send a game to OT.

Score: Rams 17, Bears 17

Finally, a position the Bears presumably feel comfortable in: Trailing late in the game with everything on the line. Got ‘em right where they want them, etc. etc.

Not so fast.

Down by a touchdown, Caleb Williams remembers he’s arguably the most athletic player on the field and scrambles downfield for 26 yards, dodging defenders in an explosive play.

A 17-yard pass and a roughing the passer penalty put Chicago at the five yard line. The next three runs result in a gain of only three yards. And at fourth-goal on the 2-yard line, the Rams linebacker Omar Speights swats a would-be touchdown out of the air and leave the Bears empty handed.

A major moment there and it might send the Rams to the NFC championship game.

Score: Rams 17, Bears 10

On second-and-15 after a false start, Caleb Williams tries to make something major happen, throws deep to Luther Burden II.

But it’s intercepted by the Rams’ Cobie Durant, who also had an interception on the Bears’ first drive of the night.

Williams did not throw more than one interception in a game the whole regular season, but he had two in the win last week over Green Bay.

As this game settles into a rather boring pattern of punts, could this be the moment that the Rams seize control of the game and drive down the field, taking advantage of the turnover?

No. No it is not.

The Rams immediately go three-and-out and are forced to punt.

Truly this game has settled into a war of attrition.

Score: Bears 10, Rams 10

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