Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears now have all of the pertinent details they need heading into their NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams, and they made it clear they are looking forward to the opportunity.
It is a fitting matchup on several levels, including the ties between the two franchises, who squared off during the 2024 regular campaign in a Week 4 matchup the Bears won.
This time, there is much more at stake.
NFL Finalizes Details for Bears Divisional Playoff Game vs Rams
Bears React to NFL Decision
Following the conclusion of the Houston Texans’ Wild Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night, the NFL announced the networks and times for every game in the upcoming Divisional Round.
The Bears will host the Rams on Sunday, January 18, at 5:30 p.m. CT on NBC and Peacock.
“Sunday Night Football in Chicago [starry-eyed emoji],” the Bears posted in reaction on X on January 12.
Bears-Rams is the final game of the week, and it will have Shawn Hochuli’s crew officiating the contest. Hochuli called the fourth-most penalties during the 2025 regular season, per NFL Penalties.
Per The Football Database, the Bears committed the sixth-most penalties as a team.
Conversely, the Rams were the NFL’s least-penalized team during the regular season, though they committed nine of them for 83 yards against the Carolina Panthers during the Wild Card.
Bears-Rams by the Numbers
The Bears are 7-2 at home this season, including the playoffs. This is technically a primetime game, in which the Bears went 3-2, again, including the postseason. They went 7-5 against the NFC, but went 0-1 against the NFC West, losing 42-38 to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17.
The Rams were also 7-5 in the conference, but won their lone matchup against the NFC North, defeating the Detroit Lions 41-34.
Detroit notably swept Chicago this season, holding them to 21 points or fewer in both meetings.
The Bears led the NFL in interceptions during the regular season, while Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford–who made it clear that his sprained finger will not keep him from playing on Sunday evening–had the fourth-best interception rate among QBs with at least 500 attempts.
Stafford, the betting favorite to win MVP, has thrown 9 interceptions in 17 regular-season and one playoff game.
Eight of them have come on the road.
Moreover, Stafford has been followed by a narrative of struggles in cold-weather games and contests with rain or snow. In his 17th NFL season, Stafford has had success in all types of games.
However, he is 55-63-1 on the road and 36-43 outdoors in his career. Still, he is 12-10 against the Bears.