Bears bold predictions for Divisional Round clash against Rams

The Chicago Bears continue to write new chapters to their remarkable season and now they host the powerful Los Angeles Rams in the divisional playoffs. The Bears and quarterback Caleb Williams delivered a remarkable fourth quarter in their 31-27 triumph over the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round. Williams led the Bears to 25 points in the final quarter and earned a memorable comeback victory.

The Bears have been manufacturing fourth-quarter comebacks throughout the year, earning regular-season wins against the Bengals, Giants, Vikings and Packers before their dramatics in the Wild Card game. It may not be the advisable way to play the game, but it has worked for Williams and head coach Ben Johnson.

The Rams registered their own comeback win over the Carolina Panthers in their Wild Card matchup. QB Matthew Stafford threw for 304 yards and threw 3 TD passes in the 34-31 victory. His game-winning TD pass to tight end Colby Parkinson came with 38 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter.

Winning a game against the Panthers (8-9) on the road is one thing; beating the Bears (11-6 in the regular season, 1-0 in the postseason) in Chicago on a 11-degree night is quite another. It will be a major challenge for the team from Southern California that plays indoors at SoFi Stadium to play their best game on the lakefront in Chicago.

Bears, Williams must start quickly and QB will throw for 3 TDs

The Wild Card game against the Packers was a disaster for the first 30 minutes. Chicago trailed by a 21-3 score at halftime and it looked like the Bears’ offense was frozen solid.

Williams needs to get the Chicago offense going in the early going and at least keep the game close for the first half. Williams completed 24 of 48 passes for 361 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, and those numbers were good enough to help the Bears survive and advance.

He has a trio of wide receivers in D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III to make plays. He also has rookie tight end Colston Loveland to serve as both a red zone and 3rd-down weapon.

Williams hit Moore with a 25-yard TD pass in the final two minutes to give the Bears the late victory. Prior to that, he connected with Odunze on a 27-yard completion on a 4th-and-8 play that allowed them to retain possession and score a touchdown that brought them within 3 points. It was the kind of throw that only the most elite quarterbacks could make.

If running backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monanagai can run the ball effectively, that will make life much easier for Williams. Swift ran for 1,087 yards and 9 TDs during the regular season while Monangai added 787 yards and 5 scores, and both are capable of accelerating through small cracks and making sizable gains.

Bears defense must limit Stafford to less than 225 yards

Head coach Ben Johnson does not toss...