The NFC side of the Divisional Round Bracket in the NFL Playoffs is set, with a trip to the NFC Championship Game at stake next Sunday between the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears. Based on what both teams have shown as of late, it could be one of the highest-scoring matchups in the playoffs this January.
Let’s dive into our NFL playoff predictions for the Rams vs Bears game at Soldier Field.
Puka Nacua Eclipses 120 Receiving Yards
If the Bears’ pass rush had issues generating pressure on Jordan Love—especially with Green Bay missing its starting center and right tackle—it will not get any easier against this Rams offense. Los Angeles finished the regular season ranked fifth in ESPN pass-block win rate (69 percent) and allowed the fourth-lowest pressure rate (32 percent). What we also saw in the Wild Card Round was Green Bay going after Jaylon Johnson in coverage; the Bears’ cornerback allowed 75 receiving yards and a 95.8 quarterback rating on six targets.
Related: NFL Defense Rankings after Divisional Round
You can bet that head coach Sean McVay will also look to take advantage of Johnson in the Divisional Round. It is a matchup Puka Nacua can win far more often than Green Bay’s receivers did, as evidenced by him ranking in the top five in yards per route run versus both man and zone coverage. Nacua also led the NFL in yards after catch (666) during the regular season. We are expecting 120-plus yards and a touchdown from him on Sunday.
Caleb Williams Throws for 280+ Yards, 3+ Touchdowns
One thing Los Angeles excels at defensively is generating pressure. The Rams ended the regular season ranked eighth in ESPN pass-rush win rate (40 percent), with the fourth-highest pressure rate (26.3 percent) and the 10th-highest sack rate (7.4 percent) in the NFL. The issue here, however, is that the majority of the Chicago offensive line is outstanding in pass protection.
Read More: NFL Power Rankings after Wild Card Weekend, Ranking the Playoff Teams
Joe Thuney (second), Drew Dalman (eighth), and Jonah Jackson (T-10th) all rated among the 10 best interior offensive linemen in the NFL for ESPN’s pass-block win rate. Meanwhile, right tackle Darnell Wright (95 percent) ranked fourth among tackles. Williams should have time to throw in this one, attacking a secondary that has allowed a 6.1 percent passing touchdown rate, 234 passing yards per game, and 7.1 yards per attempt in the last seven contests. This is the kind of matchup where Williams can put up monster numbers.
Rams, Bears Combine for 30+ First-Half Points
If you could not tell, we are expecting the Rams vs. Bears game to be a shootout. Neither defense is particularly well-equipped to stop the other. There is a chance that Chicago’s penchant for generating takeaways could flip the script in this game, especially since Matthew Stafford has a 2.2 percent interception rate in the first half of games this season versus a 0.03 percent interception rate in the second half. We are anticipating that both quarterbacks will dial up explosive plays early, and both should be successful. In a game with a total over/under of 51.5, our projection is that both teams will be more than halfway there before the second quarter ends.
Matthew Stafford Leads Fourth-Quarter Comeback for a Win
Caleb Williams led the NFL in fourth-quarter comebacks (six) during the regular season and has recorded seven game-winning drives including the Wild Card Round. Chicago is used to being the team that rallies for a victory. In the Divisional Round, it will be the Rams who pull off the late-game heroics. Trailing by three points with under four minutes left in the game, Matthew Stafford will lead a methodical drive capped off by a go-ahead touchdown with under two minutes remaining. Williams’ efforts at an answer will end with a game-sealing interception.
