If you’re refreshing your feed and asking who did the rams play today, you might be a little early to the party. Today is Saturday, January 17, 2026, and while the NFL Divisional Round is officially underway, the Los Angeles Rams aren't on the grass just yet.
They are cooling their heels.
After a gritty, cardiac-arrest-inducing 34–31 win over the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card round last weekend, Sean McVay’s squad earned themselves a spot in the final eight. But the schedule makers have them slated for tomorrow. Today belongs to the AFC's top seed and an NFC West rival, leaving Rams fans in a sort of restless limbo.
The Short Answer: They Play Tomorrow
To be blunt: the Rams didn't play anyone today. If you see people in Stafford jerseys screaming at a TV today, they’re probably just scouting the competition or stressed about their parlays.
The Rams are scheduled to face the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
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Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT) on NBC. It’s the "nightcap" of the Divisional weekend, and honestly, the vibes in Chicago are going to be freezing. We're talking classic playoff football weather—the kind that makes California teams a little nervous.
Why aren't they playing today?
The NFL splits the Divisional Round across two days to maximize those sweet, sweet TV ratings. Today’s slate features:
- Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos (4:30 p.m. ET)
- San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (8:00 p.m. ET)
The Rams get the benefit of an extra day of rest, which, considering Matthew Stafford’s age and the beating he took in Charlotte last week, is a massive win.
How the Rams Got Here (The Panthers Scare)
You can't talk about who did the rams play today without looking at the absolute dogfight they survived last Saturday. Playing the Panthers in the Wild Card round felt like it should have been a blowout on paper, but Bryce Young and that Carolina defense had other plans.
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Stafford was vintage. He threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns, but it was Puka Nacua who basically put the team on his back. 10 catches. 111 yards. Two touchdowns. The kid is a machine.
The game had four lead changes in the fourth quarter alone. That's enough to give any fan a grey hair or three. When the clock hit zero, the Rams walked off with a 34–31 victory, proving that while they might not be the most dominant team in the NFC, they are definitely the hardest to kill.
Scouting the Bears: The Sunday Matchup
So, since we know the answer to who did the rams play today is "nobody," let's talk about who they play tomorrow.
The Chicago Bears are the No. 2 seed for a reason. They’ve been playing lights-out defense, and Soldier Field in mid-January is basically a frozen tundra.
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The Matchup Nightmares
- The Pass Rush: The Bears' defensive line has been living in backfields all season. Stafford is going to need his offensive line to play the game of their lives.
- The Weather: It’s projected to be well below freezing. For a dome team like the Rams, that’s always the "X" factor. Can Kyren Williams find traction in the slush?
- Rest vs. Momentum: The Bears had a bye. The Rams have momentum. Usually, the "rust vs. rest" debate is a toss-up, but in the playoffs, I'd usually take the team that just won a nail-biter.
What You Should Do Today
If you were looking for who did the rams play today because you wanted to watch some football, you still should.
Watch the 49ers and Seahawks tonight. Why? Because the winner of that game could very well be the Rams' opponent in the NFC Championship if L.A. can pull off the upset in Chicago tomorrow. It’s a scouting day. Grab some wings, settle in, and watch your division rivals beat each other up while Stafford stays warm in a hotel room.
Actionable Prep for Tomorrow’s Game:
- Check the Injury Report: Keep an eye on the Rams' offensive line health. They’ve been banged up, and against Chicago, they need everyone.
- Download the Peacock/NBC App: The game is on NBC, so make sure your streaming login actually works before 6:29 p.m. tomorrow.
- Monitor Chicago Weather: If the wind pick-up is as bad as forecasted, expect a heavy dose of Kyren Williams and a lot of short, quick passes to Cooper Kupp and Nacua.
The Rams are one win away from the NFC Championship. Today is just the calm before the storm.