The Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams are set to face off in the divisional round of the 2025 NFL playoffs after each eked out a fourth-quarter comeback in the wild-card round.
The Rams started the NFL’s playoff action with a 34-31 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Los Angeles entered the game as heavy favorites but found itself in a back-and-forth contest during which there were four, fourth-quarter lead changes.
The final one came with 38 seconds remaining, as Matthew Stafford found Colby Parkinson for a game-winning touchdown to send the Rams to the divisional round.
Meanwhile, the Bears trailed by as many as 18 points against the Green Bay Packers before exploding in the fourth quarter of their divisional rivalry game. Chicago scored 25 points in the final quarter to edge Green Bay 31-27 in a game where the Packers missed two field goals and an extra point.
Who will win the Bears vs. Rams playoff game? Here’s a breakdown of the odds and matchups to watch as each team looks to book passage to the NFC championship game.
Bears vs. Rams divisional round odds
The Rams are favored to beat the Bears on the road in the divisional round, according to the BetMGM NFL odds.
Spread: Rams (-3.5)
Moneyline: Rams (-190) | Bears (+155)
Over/under: 51.5
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Bears vs. Rams matchups to watch
Matthew Stafford vs. Bears pass rush
The Bears struggled to get consistent pressure during the 2025 NFL season, logging the league’s sixth-lowest pressure rate (31.6%), per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. That could pose trouble for them against Stafford and the Rams.
Stafford has been one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks when kept clean this year, per Pro Football Focus. The 37-year-old veteran has completed 71.7% of his passes for 3,855 yards, 41 touchdowns and eight interceptions across 18 games (postseason included), which is good for a 120.2 passer rating.
Add in that the Rams have allowed the league’s second-lowest pressure rate (27.4%) and it seems like Montez Sweat and Co. will be facing an uphill battle in trying to slow down Stafford.
Puka Nacua vs. Kyler Gordon
The Bears are likely going to try to throw the kitchen sink at Nacua in an effort to keep him in check. As such, several different cornerbacks – including Jaylon Johnson and Nahshon Wright – will likely get a chance to cover the All-Pro wide-out during Sunday’s game.
That said, Nacua should have a decided advantage when going up against Gordon. The 26-year-old returned to Chicago’s lineup in the wild-card round after a five-week absence due to a groin injury and the Packers made it a point to pick on him. Gordon was targeted a team-high 10 times and allowed four catches for 82 yards and a touchdown during the game, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
Gordon played 35 of his 44 defensive snaps in the slot against the Packers, per Pro Football Focus, so the Rams can expect him to align there frequently. Nacua is fresh off a game during which he played 18 snaps in the slot, marking his highest total in a game at the position since Week 5. Sean McVay may look to exploit that mismatch as Gordon continues to round into form while recovering from his injury.
Theo Benedet vs. Rams defensive front
Second-round rookie Ozzy Trapilo emerged as Chicago’s starting left tackle over the final six weeks of the regular season. The Boston College product suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in the team’s win over the Packers, however, which will knock him out for the rest of the postseason.
As a result, the Bears will have to turn to Benedet to man the left tackle spot. The undrafted rookie made eight starts at the position this season and allowed 26 pressures across 333 pass-blocking snaps this season, per PFF. By comparison, Trapilo allowed 15 pressures across 283 pass-blocking snaps.
Caleb Williams could face a small uptick in blindside pressure if Benedet continues to play at such a clip. Chris Shula may look to expose this lone weakness in Chicago’s offensive line by pressuring off the left side or by having the team’s top pass rusher, Jared Verse, line up across from Benedet throughout Sunday’s contest.
Early prediction for Bears vs. Rams
Los Angeles Rams 34, Chicago Bears 26
The Bears figure to put up a good fight against the Rams, as has been a staple in Ben Johnson’s first season in Chicago, but Los Angeles has a significant offensive advantage in this one.
The Bears simply don’t have the caliber of pass rush needed to generate pressure against Stafford. That will give the potential NFL MVP plenty of time to throw and allow him to pick apart a Chicago defense that will struggle to fully contain Nacua and Davante Adams.
Add in that the Bears allowed the sixth-most rushing yards per game (132.6) during the regular season and that the team has surrendered an average of 385 yards and 29.3 points over its last three games and this seems like a tough spot for Dennis Allen’s stop unit.
Still, the Bears should remain competitive in this one. They have a strong home-field advantage at Soldier Field and should be able to move the ball, as the Rams have had an up-and-down defensive season (Los Angeles has allowed an average of 30 points per game over their last five outings).
That may at least position Williams and Co. for a chance to mount another fourth-quarter comeback. This time, they will fall short and set the Rams up to face a divisional foe in the NFC championship game.