CHICAGO — The Los Angeles Rams are headed to the NFC Championship Recreation to play the Seattle Seahawks, regardless of what coach Sean McVay referred to as “some dangerous teaching” by him in Sunday night time’s 20-17 extra time win over the Chicago Bears.
The Rams’ offense, which led the league in offensive DVOA throughout the common season, struggled to get right into a rhythm for a lot of the sport.
“Offensively, man, I didn’t do an excellent job for our group tonight,” McVay stated after Harrison Mevis kicked a 42-yard discipline objective to win the divisional spherical sport. “However I assumed our guys had been capable of overcome it.”
After scoring a landing on their opening possession to cap a 14-play, 85-yard drive, the Rams had recorded simply 174 yards on the finish of the third quarter. In keeping with ESPN Analysis, it was their fewest yards on the finish of the third in a sport this season.
“I didn’t like the texture for the circulation of the sport that I had outdoors of the primary collection, the place our guys did an amazing job,” McVay stated. “Defensively, it stored us in it regardless of how poor of a job I did for our group. However like I stated, I am actually grateful for this group with the ability to discover a means, keep it up and have the ability to overcome some dangerous teaching by me tonight.”
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who threw for a league-leading 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns throughout the common season, accomplished 20 of 42 passes for 258 yards towards the Bears. Stafford did not throw a landing for simply the second time in his playoff profession, based on ESPN Analysis. It was the primary time Stafford didn’t throw a number of passing touchdowns in a playoff begin for the Rams.
“I positively did not get into an amazing rhythm at present,” Stafford stated. “There is not any query about that. I had some alternatives within the move sport, just a few issues that made it robust. Clearly, I may very well be higher.
“However playoff soccer is about profitable the soccer sport. Performed nice, threw for a bunch of yards final 12 months within the snow and we misplaced, in order that s— sucks. So, I am pleased to have performed just a little bit worse at present and going dwelling with a win. So, we’ll take that.”
On Sunday, Stafford registered 11 off-target throws, tied for his most as a member of the Rams (since 2021), based on ESPN Analysis.
Regardless of the offense’s struggles for many of the contest, Stafford rallied the Rams for his fifty fifth profession profitable drive within the fourth quarter or extra time, which is 11 greater than the next-closest participant since he entered the NFL in 2009. Security Kam Curl arrange the profitable drive after he intercepted a move from Bears quarterback Caleb Williams with 6:47 left in extra time. The Rams drove 54 yards in 10 performs and received it on Mevis’ discipline objective.
The victory despatched the fifth-seeded Rams to the NFC Championship Recreation for the primary time since Los Angeles received Tremendous Bowl LVI throughout the 2021 marketing campaign. They are going to play subsequent Sunday at No. 1-seeded Seattle, which beat the San Francisco 49ers 41-6 on Saturday night time to advance.
“[We’ve] obtained to be at our greatest,” McVay stated of the Seahawks. “You watched that sport final night time. They’re firing on all cylinders. They give the impression of being actually good, and I am excited to have the ability to dive into this tape and determine how we will enhance.”
The Rams break up the season collection with the Seahawks, profitable 21-19 at dwelling in Week 11 and dropping 38-37 in extra time at Seattle in Week 16. The Rams led the second matchup 30-14 within the fourth quarter.
Rams extensive receiver Puka Nacua, who had 5 catches for 56 yards versus the Bears, stated it felt becoming that L.A. will return to Seattle subsequent week for an opportunity to maneuver on to the Tremendous Bowl.
“I believe there is not any means the soccer gods would quite have or not it’s than for us to return up there and see the All Father [Cooper Kupp] and get an opportunity to proper our wrongs,” Nacua stated. “So, it will likely be an amazing problem for us, and we’re excited for it.”
