Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams received a significant update from the NFL on Sunday, well after they eliminated the Carolina Panthers from the NFC playoffs in the Wild Card Round.
The Rams had to wait until the Houston Texans defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers for final word from the league office on their Divisional showdown against the Chicago Bears next weekend.
Now, they know when exactly and how fans can watch.
NFL Finalizes Details for Rams-Bears Playoff Game
GettyLos Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay looks on against the Carolina Panthers.
The Rams took care of their business, but the NFL waited until the conclusion of Texans-Steelers to announce the time slots for all four of the Divisional Playoff games, including LA versus Chicago.
According to the NFL in a post on X on January 12, the Rams will face the Bears at 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT) on NBC and Peacock.
The game will technically be in the primetime slot for the NFL.
McVay and the Rams were 1-3 in their evening games during the regular season, notably losing their final two in back-to-back weeks against the (in order) Seattle Seahawks on “Thursday Night Football” and Atlanta Falcons on “Monday Night Football.”
The Rams won their lone contest on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The league also announced that Shawn Hochuli will be the head referee for Sunday’s game.
Hochuli called the fourth-most penalties during the regular season, per NFL Penalties, which could work in the Rams’ favor. The Rams were the NFL’s least penalized team, while the Bears were called more than all but five other teams, per The Football Database.
However, the Rams committed nine penalties in their win over the Panthers, and they must be wary of an opportunistic Bears defense in a game where the weather could be a big factor.
The Rams and Bears will know what could lie ahead with a win as the final game of the week.
Rams By the Numbers
GettyLos Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay calls plays against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Bears led the NFL in interceptions. For McVay and the Rams, quarterback Matthew Stafford–the betting favorite for the 2025 MVP, per Vegas Insider–had the fourth-best interception rate among QBs with at least 500 pass attempts this season.
However, eight of Stafford’s nine picks (including the postseason) were thrown in road games/outdoors.
Still, this is the NFL’s No. 1 offense of the Rams against the No. 29 defense for the Bears.
In terms of scoring, the Rams’ offense still led the pack, while the Bears’ unit ranked 23rd during the regular-season slate. Given the weather and Stafford’s injury, the Rams might be wise to turn to their 12th-ranked rushing attack over leaning on their top-ranked passing game.
The Bears ranked 22nd against the pass and 27th against the run, which could allow the Rams to keep them off balance throughout the contest.
Defensively, the Rams ranked 10th in scoring and 17th overall.
The Rams were better against the run (12th) than the pass (19th), while the Bears’ offense ranked sixth overall and ninth in scoring. Chicago had the NFL’s third-best rushing attack and ranked 10th as a passing offense.
Rams Get Final Decision From NFL Before Divisional Playoff Game vs Bears