Honestly, if you had told a Bears fan back in August that we’d be sitting here in mid-January talking about a home playoff game in the second round, they probably would’ve laughed you out of the room. But here we are. The energy in Chicago is basically vibrating off the walls right now.
After that heart-stopping, comeback win against the Packers last Saturday—shoutout to Caleb Williams for that fourth-and-8 dime to Rome Odunze—everyone is asking the same thing. Who do Bears play next week? The answer is locked in. The Chicago Bears are set to host the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round. This isn't just another game; it’s a battle between a surging young quarterback and a high-octane offense that’s been lighting up the league all year.
When and Where to Catch the Action
Forget your Sunday afternoon plans. This one is a primetime special. The NFL finalized the schedule, and the Bears and Rams are the main event for the weekend's slate.
- Date: Sunday, January 18, 2026
- Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. CT (6:30 p.m. ET)
- Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
- TV Channel: NBC
- Streaming: Peacock / NFL+
The weather forecast is already looking like "Bears Weather." We’re talking classic Chicago cold. While Puka Nacua and Jared Verse have been saying all the right things about "embracing the chill," playing on the lakefront in January is a whole different beast than the climate-controlled comfort of SoFi Stadium.
📖 Related: Aston Martin F1 News: Why the 2026 Hype is Finally Getting Real
Why This Matchup is Actually Terrifying (and Exciting)
The Rams aren't your typical five-seed. They just finished dismantling the Panthers 34-31 in the Wild Card round, and their offense is currently ranked at the top of the league. Sean McVay has this unit humming.
But the Bears? They’re the "Cardiac Kids" of 2026.
Ben Johnson, in his first year as head coach, has completely flipped the script in Chicago. He inherited a 5-12 team and turned them into an 11-6 division champion. The way they clawed back from a 21-6 deficit against Green Bay proved this team doesn't know how to quit.
The Caleb Williams Factor
Caleb Williams is playing like a guy who’s been in the league for a decade. In that Wild Card win, he put up 25 points in the fourth quarter alone. He’s finding his rhythm at the exact right time. His chemistry with Odunze and Keenan Allen has become the backbone of this offense. If the Rams' secondary can't contain the scramble drills, it's going to be a long night for Los Angeles.
✨ Don't miss: Young O.J. Simpson: What Most People Get Wrong About His Early Years
The Defensive Anchor
On the other side of the ball, you’ve got Grady Jarrett. The Bears signed him back in March, and he’s been the "glue" for this defensive line. He’s going to be the guy tasked with making Matthew Stafford uncomfortable. If Jarrett and the front four can’t get home, Stafford is going to pick the secondary apart.
Keys to a Bears Victory
If the Bears want to advance to the NFC Championship game (a sentence I still can't believe I'm writing), they have to do three things.
First, they have to survive the first quarter. Against the Packers, they started slow and paid for it. You can't give a McVay-led team a two-score lead and expect to "magic" your way out of it every week.
🔗 Read more: Cowboys vs Packers: Why This Rivalry Always Breaks the Internet
Second, the run game has to exist. D'Andre Swift needs to keep the Rams' defense honest. If the Bears become one-dimensional, the Rams' pass rush will pin their ears back and hunt Williams.
Third, use the "12th Man." Or the "4th Phase," as the team calls it. Soldier Field was literally shaking during the Green Bay game. The noise levels in a Divisional home game are going to be historic.
Looking Ahead: The Road to Super Bowl LX
If Chicago wins this, they move on to the NFC Championship on Sunday, January 25. They’d face either the San Francisco 49ers or the Seattle Seahawks.
It’s a wild time to be a Chicago sports fan. We haven't had a postseason win like that Packers game since 2010. The city is hungry. The team is young. And for the first time in a long time, it feels like the Bears actually belong on this stage.
Make sure your snacks are ready and your lucky jersey is washed. Sunday night is going to be a ride.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the secondary markets like Ticketmaster or StubHub immediately if you're trying to get into the stadium—prices are skyrocketing.
- Download the official Chicago Bears app to get real-time injury updates on the active roster before kickoff.
- Ensure your Peacock or NFL+ subscription is active by Saturday if you plan on streaming the game to avoid last-minute login headaches.