After a thrilling Wild Card victory over the Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Bears awaited their Divisional Round opponent as the Sunday games played out.
When the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Philadelphia Eagles the next day, Chicago's next opponent was set. Soldier Field will be welcoming the Los Angeles Rams to town on Sunday for an NFC Divisional Round showdown.
In his first comments on the matchup, Bears head coach Ben Johnson didn't beat around the bush:
“I’ve got nothing but respect. They are damn good.”
It is hard to put it better than that. A simple, yet true response. Johnson knows this Bears team is in for a test, and on both sides of the ball, nonetheless.
Rams present a huge challenge to the Bears, but multiple advantages might come into play
The talking point this week is going to be quarterback Matthew Stafford's performances in outdoor stadiums, particularly when the weather is cold. This year, he hasn't been at his best, tossing five of his eight interceptions on the season in just two games played with the temperature below 50 degrees.
As good as Stafford has been this year, it's been those colder games that have given him trouble. Otherwise, he's been downright dominant, going for 46 passing touchdowns on the year. It's been a remarkable campaign for the former no. 1 overall pick by the Detroit Lions.
That cold weather though... it's going to be a factor.
What else will be a factor in this matchup is the home-field advantage. By now, many of us have seen all the reports of Soldier Field literally shaking during last weekend's Wild Card win over the Packers.
With the weather being frigid and Soldier Field as loud as ever, that's going to have an effect on the league's no. 1 offense. The Bears are going to need every advantage they can get because, as Johnson said, this Rams team is very good.
Los Angeles led the league in yards per game and points per game this season, but they've also got an underrated defense, particularly against the run, where they rank 12th as a unit. That defensive line is the best thing this Rams defense has going for it, so the Bears' top-tier offensive line will be in for a test.
One other ray of hope for the Bears is that L.A. has allowed 327 yards per game defensively. They are absolutely beatable. And, the Bears put up just under 370 yards of offense per game during the regular season.
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The Rams, on paper, are quite scary when you look at Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Davante Adams. But, factoring in the frigid temperatures and home crowd, maybe, just maybe, Chicago has a shot to upset.