The “Cardiac Bears” thought they did it again. The “Thicker Kicker” had different plans.

No. 5-seeded Los Angeles Rams flipped the script, taking down No. 2 Chicago 20-17 in their divisional round game Sunday night, surviving a major momentum flip to steal it in overtime.

Chicago, which has the most game-winning drives under two minutes this season in NFL history (7), looked to be on its way to eight when Caleb Williams did the unthinkable. On a fourth down with the season on the line, he somehow found tight end Cole Kmet to send the game to extra time.

Los Angeles got the ball first but had a lackluster drive off the back of Chicago’s miracle, leading the Bears to have their chance. But Williams giveth, he also taketh. He threw his third pick of the night, ending in LA taking it down for the winning field goal.

The win will see LA head to the No. 1 Seattle Seahawks next week in the NFC Championship Game. The AFC title game is between the No. 1 Bo Nix-less Denver Broncos and the No. 2 New England Patriots.

Let’s analyze the LA-Chicago game further with winners and losers:

WINNER: Rams’ defense

Sometimes top defenses can afford to bend, as long as it doesn’t break. That’s how the Rams won this game at the death. Every time LA needed a stop, it delivered. Chicago failed to convert three fourth downs in scoring territory, leaving a key nine points off the board.

LA also picked off Williams three times, with Cobie Durant snagging two and Kam Curl, who had a stellar individual game, bringing in the most important one in OT.

LA will face a shaky Sam Darnold next, who is also dealing with a noticeable oblique injury. Can the unit capitalize again?

LOSER: Ben Johnson, Bears

A rookie head coach made some rookie mistakes. After seeing how fellow NFC North coach Dan Campbell operated in the postseason with a risk-first approach, Chicago’s head coach fell down the same path.

In the playoffs, the points are the most important thing. With the new trend of ignoring field goals in good positions, Chicago left nine points off the board today. Had all three kicks gone in, the context of the game is much different and favors the Bears instead of them needing the miracle they luckily got.

Johnson enjoyed a positive first season with a relatively young Bears core, but these are the margins he’ll have to learn from if Chicago wants to go deeper — and not falter like Detroit.

WINNER: Harrison Mevis, Rams

Harrison Mevis had never kicked in the NFL prior to this season. He didn’t even start the year with LA. He joined the team in November and went 12-for-13 on his regular-season attempts.

With the game on the line tonight, the 23-year-old, dubbed the “Thicker Kicker” for weighing 245 pounds, sent LA to the penultimate contest with a 42-yard conversion.

He made his first attempt on the night as well, and made both extra points. That’s eight points alone, just one shy of what Johnson left on the board. That’ll be good for his confidence as the stakes amplify.

LOSER: Caleb Williams, Bears

For as miraculous as his touchdown throw was, this is the harsh duality of Williams. For his extremely impressive improvisations, there’s also the boneheaded mistakes that don’t always get punished.

But in the postseason when margins are everything, weaknesses get punished. And Williams was no exception.

He threw for 257 yards, two touchdowns and three picks on 23 of 42 completions, while also running for 40 yards on five tries (long of 26). The Bears needed a more stable performance off the bat instead of leaving it late once again. That’ll be Williams’ next step in Year 3.

Caleb Williams is a Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick who has already set franchise passing records and delivered big performances in the postseason with the Chicago Bears.

WINNER: Jaquan Brisker, Bears

The Rams’ offense predictably didn’t show off the electricity in cold conditions they aren’t used to. But a lot of stalwart individual play came from Chicago’s 2022 second-round safety.

Brisker elevated himself as a playoff riser with game highs in total tackles (14) and solo (eight), usually being at the heart of the key stops. He also had a sack, tackle for loss, QB hit and two passes defended.

Three of those came on consecutive plays to end an LA drive alone. Chicago may have lost, but it has a keeper at the back.

Unfortunately, LA’s offense did just enough to scrape by in tough conditions. It’ll hope the Seattle weather holds up better.

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