Land Shark leads 4 winners and 4 losers from Rams stunning victory over Bears

The 12-5 Los Angeles Rams were only 5-4 on the road this season. But they learned to travel well enough in the postseason, and now carry that two-game winning streak with them out of Chicago after a thrilling win in overtime over the Bears. So far, LA has claimed two wins by a field goal margin of victory,

Los Angeles is not winning any style points so far in the NFL playoffs. But it continues to win, and that's what counts. Still, fans love to see dominating play from all three aspects of the game. Unfortunately, they didn't see much of that on the frozen football field in Chicago.

A win is a win. While the outcome was what fans hoped for, the way LA got there created more questions than it answered. For fans, the mounting stakes make everyone nervous. Well, this win simply added more anxiety to their day. How so? Here are four losers and four winners from the divisional round. But quite frankly, the list could be doubled in size.

Land Shark leads 4 winners and 4 losers in Rams stunner over Bears

Loser 1 - Pass rush MIA

This was a game in which defensive coordinator Chris Shula had to realize that his secondary would struggle at times. But rather than signs that the pass rush understood how important it was to keep Bears quarterback Caleb Williams on his heels, the team did not get a single sack on the day.

The secondary showed up big. But the admirable pass rush was truly missing in action.

Loser 2 - Offensive play calling

Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford did not appear to have much of a chance of finishing the game at one point. He completed less than 50 percent of his passes, was sacked four times for a loss of 29 yards, and seemed to have trouble throwing the football.

Did his injured throwing hand give him trouble in the cold?

In any case, the Rams didn't seem to consider running the football until late in the game. A more even distribution of runs and passes throughout the game would have made this an entirely different type of game.

Loser 3 - Run defense

While the team did not surrender 150+ rushing yards to a single running back, the run defense seemed unmotivated and sluggish. The Bears averaged 144.5 rushing yards per game, and put up 160 rushing yards against Los Angeles. A struggling pass rush could have been rationalized if the defense managed to shut down the Bears on the ground.

But it really didn't do that either.

Loser 4 - Where did Davante Adams / Puka Nacua sneak off to?

The team rode the coattails of wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams to get to the playoffs. But neither player was particularly productive as a receiver in this one. The duo combined for just seven of 16 passes for 80 yards. Nacua did better one week earlier on his own.

Elite players have to find ways to show up in big games, but neither star receiver twinkled in this one.

Winner 1 - Kam Curl's timely interception

If you are an NFL defensive back, few plays are as rewarding as an overtime interception to stop the opposing offense. That was exactly what Kam Curl did in overtime for this one, and it set the stage for the offense to redeem itself, somewhat.

Winner 2 - Wide receiver Jordan Whittington

While wide receiver Jordan Whittington only caught a pair of passes thrown his way for 35 yards, he was the lone bright spot for an otherwise lackluster performance from LA's wide receivers. While a minor contribution, Whittington provided evidence that his quarterback was fine. That could lead fans to wonder what happened to the stars of this offense.

Winner 3 - Cobie Durant's two interceptions

Cornerback Cobie Durant, also known by fans as the Land Shark, was a dynamo in this one. It was clear that he was out to prove critics wrong, and he did exactly that. His first interception stopped a Bears' offensive drive and allowed the offense to put up the game's first touchdown. His second interception stopped another Bears rally.

Winner 4 - Harrison Mevis for the game winner

UFL kicker Harrison Mevis was not even on the team in September. He did not join the Rams roster until November 2025. But he was in Horns in January 2026, and kicked the field goal to send the team to the NFC Championship game.

It was a great win. But if you are a fan who sought answers about this team, you likely have more questions than ever. Still, two down means only two more to go. And as always, thanks for reading.