If you’re staring at your TV right now wondering who plays sunday night football today, you’re actually looking at one of the biggest NFC matchups we’ve seen in years. It’s a cold Sunday, January 18, 2026, and the NFL Divisional Round is wrapping up with a massive collision between the Los Angeles Rams and the Chicago Bears.
Forget the standard regular-season vibes. This is playoff football in the Windy City. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 PM ET (5:30 PM CT), and honestly, the atmosphere at Soldier Field is already looking pretty intense.
The Primetime Matchup: Rams at Bears
Tonight isn’t just about two teams; it’s about two very different eras of quarterbacking. You’ve got the veteran, Matthew Stafford, trying to squeeze one more Super Bowl run out of his arm, going up against Caleb Williams in his first real high-stakes playoff home game.
The Bears earned this spot after a gritty 31-27 win over the Green Bay Packers last week. Meanwhile, the Rams handled business against the Carolina Panthers, winning 34-31. Now, they meet in Chicago with a trip to the NFC Championship Game on the line. The winner gets a date with the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks next week.
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Quick Game Info
- Matchup: Los Angeles Rams (No. 5 seed) vs. Chicago Bears (No. 2 seed)
- Time: 6:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM CT
- Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
- Channel: NBC
- Streaming: Peacock
Why This Game is Basically the Ticket of the Year
There is a lot of talk about the weather. It’s Chicago in January. Reports from the ground suggest temperatures are hovering in the teens, and there is a genuine chance of snow during the game.
Sean McVay, the Rams' head coach, told reporters earlier this week that they "always adjust," but playing in a dome-like environment in LA is a far cry from the frozen turf of Soldier Field. The Bears’ defense, which has been top-tier at home this season, is likely licking their chops. They rank sixth in total yards per game, and while their secondary has had some lapses, the cold usually acts like a twelfth man for the pass rush.
On the other side, the Rams' offense is actually the best in the NFL right now, averaging 394.6 total yards per game. It’s the classic "immovable object vs. irresistible force" scenario. If Stafford can keep his hands warm enough to zip those intermediate routes to Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, the Bears might be in trouble regardless of the temperature.
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Who Else Played Today?
If you missed the afternoon slot, you missed a bit of a "sloppy but entertaining" game. The New England Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 28-16 at Gillette Stadium.
That game was a total turnover fest. Drake Maye fumbled four times (luckily the Pats recovered two), but C.J. Stroud struggled even more, throwing four interceptions. With that win, New England officially punched their ticket to face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship.
So, as we look at who plays sunday night football today, the Rams-Bears game is the final piece of the puzzle. Once that clock hits zero tonight, we’ll know exactly what the Final Four looks like for Super Bowl LX.
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Key Players to Watch Tonight
- Caleb Williams (QB, Bears): The spotlight is never off him. After the comeback against Green Bay, fans are expecting magic. He needs to take care of the ball in the cold.
- Kyren Williams (RB, Rams): In weather like this, the ground game is everything. If the Rams can’t run the ball, Stafford’s life becomes miserable.
- Montez Sweat (DE, Bears): He’s been a nightmare for offensive lines all year. If he can get to Stafford early, the Rams' rhythm will break.
- Marcus Jones (DB/RS, Patriots - Context): While he played in the earlier game, his pick-six today showed how much special teams and defense matter in the Divisional Round. Expect the Bears to try for a similar spark.
How to Watch and What to Expect
If you don't have a cable box, you're mostly looking at Peacock. It’s the exclusive streaming home for NBC's Sunday night broadcast. You can also catch it on the NBC Sports app if you have a provider login.
Basically, expect a low-scoring first half. Both teams usually take a minute to feel out the wind and the turf conditions in Chicago. The spread is tight, with the Rams actually being slight 3.5-point favorites in some spots despite being the road team. That tells you a lot about how much Vegas trusts Matthew Stafford’s experience over Caleb Williams' youth.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Check the Weather: If you're betting or playing daily fantasy, keep an eye on the wind speeds at Soldier Field right before kickoff; anything over 15 mph significantly impacts deep passing.
- Sync Your Stream: Peacock can sometimes lag about 30 seconds behind the live radio or social media updates. If you’re following a live thread, turn off your notifications to avoid spoilers.
- Watch the Injury Report: Keep an eye on any late scratches. We already saw key players like Dalton Schultz go down in the earlier Texans-Patriots game, and the cold makes hamstrings very twitchy.
The winner of tonight's game heads to Seattle. The loser goes home. This is why we watch.