The Chicago Bears seemed to be on the road to destiny for the 2025-26 season, as they made their way into the team’s NFL divisional playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, January 18, at home. But, it wasn’t meant to be, and the Bears fell to the Rams in a 20-17 defeat, giving the Rams the chance to advance to the NFC Championship game.
“Our guys fought the entire way, just like they have all season long,” Johnson said on Sunday, January 18, after the Bears’ loss to the Rams. “I thought this was very much like our team has been, and you’ve got to give the Rams credit… they ended up making a couple more plays than we did. That’s why it ended up going into overtime and they ended up coming out on top. Like I said, disappointing result. Our guys are feeling it right now.”
He also talked about how proud he was of the roster. “They all believed, man. They all believed all year long that we could find a way to win each and every week,” Johnson said. “So it’s disappointing like that. But I am proud of the group. It’s a special group. I said that a few weeks ago.”
He added, “I believe that to my core, that when you’re with a group of men for the last time in the locker room and you know it’s just not going to be the same going forward that. I appreciate all of them, the men and the women, coaches, players, support staff, everybody that had a role this season. It was a special year. This will be hopefully a feeling in this locker room that we won’t forget, and we’ll be able to use it as fuel going forward.”
NFL Issues Decision on Caleb Williams Incident in Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams Game
Every week during the NFL season, the league gives punishments to players for actions that took place during the previous week’s games. The NFL notes on their official website that these actions are “to protect players from unnecessary risk and preserve competitive balance and game integrity.” Before the season begins, the NFL and NFL Players Association agree on the set of game-related rules violations that result in these accountability measures.
On Saturday, January 24, the NFL announced their punishments for the week, and one Rams player was absent from the tally.
In the first quarter of the game, with 13:02 left, Chicago went for it on fourth-and-2 from the Los Angeles Rams’ 21-yard line. Williams overthrew his pass to tight end Colston Loveland, and that was intercepted by Rams defensive back Cobie Durant.
Why the NFL Could Have Punished Rams Player for Actions Against Caleb Williams
After that play, NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay, said that he believed that a personal foul should have been called on Rams defensive end Kobie Turner for his tackle on Williams. According to McAulay, it looked like a roughing the passer penalty on Turner.
There was no foul called during the game, but the NFL reviews incidents following each game for possible punishment, even if no foul was called. Well, Turner didn’t get punished for his hit against Williams.
The week’s biggest punishment, according to NFL research, went to Deommodore Lenoir of the San Francisco 49ers for his “use of the helmet” and “unnecessary roughness” during the team’s game against the Chicago Bears.
NFL Announces Caleb Williams Punishment Decision in Bears-Rams