Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears Picks and Prediction for Sunday, January 18, 2026
It’s a NFC Divisional Playoff matchup in the Windy City as the Los Angeles Rams travel to take on the Chicago Bears Sunday night and we have you covered with our Rams vs. Bears prediction. Los Angeles advanced with a 34-31 win over the Panthers on the road last Saturday, failing to cover the line as a 10.5-point underdog, in their previous contest. Chicago rallied to beat Green Bay 31-27 at home in their previous contest, winning outright as a 2.5-point underdog, last Saturday. In the all-time regular season series between the teams, the Bears own a 54-38-3 advantage, including a 24-18 win at home in the most recent meeting September 29, 2024. The teams split two previous postseason meetings with the Bears taking a 24-0 win at home in the NFC Championship Game January 12, 1986 in the most recent matchup. Read more about this Rams vs. Bears prediction! Don’t get sacked this football season! Try our NFL Picks!
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Rams Trying to Earn Berth in NFC Championship Game
Los Angeles had their ups and downs in the wild card round in the elements against Carolina but managed to find a way to pull out the victory last week. The Rams improved to 13-5 on the season and now have to deal with some harsh weather if they hope to reach the NFC Championship Game. Against Carolina, Los Angeles led 7-0 after one quarter, 14-0 early in the second quarter and 17-14 at the half. The Rams were still up 20-17 after three quarters and found themselves down twice in the fourth quarter, the last at 31-27 with 2:39 remaining, but drove 71 yards in seven plays, capped by a 19-yard TD pass to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds to play, to earn the win. Los Angeles owned a 411-333 advantage in total offense, owned a 31:46 to 28:14 edge in time of possession and forced two turnovers while committing one in the contest. Both teams finished with 21 first downs in the game.
The Rams are 1st in the league in passing offense with an average of 268.1 yards per game through the air and 7th in rushing offense with an average of 126.6 yards per contest. Los Angeles is 1st in the league in scoring offense with an average of 30.5 points per contest while they are 10th in scoring defense by allowing an average of 20.4 points per game. Matthew Stafford has hit 388 of 597 passes for 4,707 yards with 46 touchdowns against eight interceptions. He has been sacked 23 times on the season. Kyren Williams leads the team on the ground with 259 carries for 1,252 yards and 10 scores on the season. Blake Corum (145 carries, 746 yards, six TD) is the second back in the system. Puka Nacua (129 catches, 1715 yards, 10 TD) is the team’s leading receiver. Davante Adams (60 receptions, 789 yards, 14 TD), Williams (36 grabs, 281 yards, three TD), Davis Allen (24 receptions, 208 yards, three TD), Colby Parkinson (43 grabs, 408 yards, eight TD) and tight end Tyler Higbee (25 catches, 281 yards, three TD) are all valuable options in the passing game. Joshua Karty is 23 of 26 on extra point attempts and 10 of 15 on field goal attempts with a long of 51 this season. Harrison Mevis is 39 of 39 on extra point attempts and 12 of 13 on field goal attempts with a long of 52.
Key Injury Report for Rams:
- Defensive end Desjuan Johnson (illness) is questionable.
Chicago Hoping Home Field Leads to Victory
Chicago staged another fourth quarter rally to down the Packers for the second time in three weeks to advance to the divisional round. The Bears improved to 12-6 on the year as they seek to punch their ticket to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 2010. Against Green Bay, the Bears trailed 7-3 after one quarter, 21-3 at the half and 21-6 after three quarters before rallying. The Bears got within five and trailed 27-16 with 6:36 remaining but came back again. Chicago scored two touchdowns in the final five minutes, taking the lead on a 25-yard TD pass from Caleb Williams to DJ Moore with 1:43 to go. The Bears saw the Packers drive as far as the Chicago 23-yard line but held on for the win. Chicago owned a 445-421 advantage in total offense, picked up 24 first downs while allowing 21 and owned a 32:41 to 27:19 margin in time of possession to help overcome committing the game’s two turnovers.
On the season, the Bears are 10th in the league in passing offense with 225.1 yards per game while they are 3rd in rushing by averaging 144.5 yards per contest. Chicago is 9th in the league in scoring offense with an average of 25.9 points per game while they are 23rd in scoring defense by allowing 24.4 points per contest. Caleb Williams is 330 of 568 passing for 3,942 yards with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions while ranking third on the team with 388 rushing yards and three scores. Tyson Bagent (three of four, 47 yards, seven rush yards) is the backup. D’Andre Swift leads the team with 223 carries for 1,087 yards and nine scores on the year. Kyle Monangai contributes 169 carries for 783 yards and five scores as the second back. Rome Odunze (44 receptions, 661 yards, six TD) and Olamide Zaccheaus (39 catches, 313 yards, two TD) are among the team’s leading pass catchers in terms of receptions. DJ Moore (50 grabs, 682 yards, six TD), Swift (34 receptions, 299 yards, TD), Luther Burden III (47 catches, 652 yards, two TD) along with tight ends Colston Loveland (58 grabs, 713 yards, six TD) and Cole Kmet (30 catches, 347 yards, two TD) are solid targets in the passing game. Cairo Santos is 39 of 39 on extra points and 25 of 30 on field goal attempts with a long of 54 this season. Jake Moody is three of three on extra point attempts and eight of nine on field goal attempts with a long of 48 this season.
Key Injury Report for Bears:
- Cornerback Nick McCloud (groin) is out.
- Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (back) is questionable.
- Wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) is questionable.
Rams vs. Bears Pick
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Joe Duffy | +1,910.00 |
| 2 |  Sean Higgs | +1,338.00 |
| 3 |  Bryan Power | +905.00 |
| 4 |  Joseph D'Amico | +756.00 |
| 5 |  Ben Burns | +519.00 |
Spread Pick for Rams vs. Bears
- Bears +4 (4 units)
Weather is going to be a factor here, whether one wants to admit it or not. The temperature at kickoff is expected to be in the mid-teens with winds expecting to kick up to 20 miles per hour, leaving a wind chill projected to be around four degrees. Temperatures will drop as the evening wears on and that could take a toll on the Rams, who are a warm-weather team that plays in a dome. We saw Los Angeles struggle in Carolina and the weather in Charlotte was in the low-to-mid 70s at kickoff. The Rams should win this game but after seeing them nearly fall to Carolina in better conditions is cause for concern. Take the points and the Bears in this contest.
Over/Under Pick for Rams vs. Bears
- Over 48.5 (4 units)
Los Angeles saw the over post an 11-7 mark in their 18 games this season. On the road, the Rams have seen the over post an 8-2 mark and scored at least 26 points in seven of those contests. Los Angeles has hung at least 33 points in six of their 10 road tilts. The Rams enter this game having gone over the total in seven straight games after going over the number last week. Chicago has seen the over post a 9-8-1 mark in their 18 games on the year. The Bears stayed under the mark in six of their nine home games on the year. Chicago went over the mark in their postseason opener last week as well. With both teams coming off big offensive performances, take the over in this contest.
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