Rams fans stunned despite miraculous win as familiar struggles still haunt team

Harrison Mevis knows snow. And as expected, he was the hero in a game that loaded up hospitals around the country for emergency restarts to Rams fans' hearts.

The Los Angeles Rams refused to practice in a cold-weather climate to prepare for the chill and snow. The team refused to run the football, even though the Chicago Bears defense had prepared to stop the pass and chased Stafford all over the football field throughout the game. While the coaching staff has every right to decide what is best for the team, fans have every right to question those decisions.

That is particularly true in the aftermath of a game that ended in regulation time in a tie. This was a game that saw Los Angeles hold a seven-point lead until Bears quarterback Caleb Williams launched a 14-yard game-tying touchdown pass.

Los Angeles banked on a strong offensive effort, but the offense never seemed to thaw out. The trio of Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and Colby Parkinson combined for a paltry seven of 18 for 93 yards. Unfortunately, the offense continued to run the same plays. The defense spent more than 10 minutes more on the football field than the offense.

And yet, the team found one of the most unexpected ways to win.

LA Rams have work to do, again

Overtime. In sub-freezing temperatures, the very thought of overtime on the road is nightmarish. LA's defense had done enough to win the game, but the offense struggled. Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford could not even complete half his passes. The offense could run the football effectively when it chose to do so.

But it seldom chose to do so.

The offense seemed as baffled by the Bears defense as the fans were baffled by the offense's refusal to run the football. This was a game in which the visiting team seemed to have the game well in hand multiple times. And yet, the score at the end of regulation play showed neither team had the advantage. The Rams secondary had created two turnovers by interceptions and one by downs in regulation.

The secondary had a third interception in overtime.

The defense did not sack quarterback Caleb Williams. The run defense was not sharp. Truth be told, the defense struggled to tackle. Still, holding the Chicago Bears to 17 points in overtime is a feat that should be applauded.

The offense continues to struggle at making third-down conversions. The team seemed to struggle throughout the contest. But the team leveraged three interceptions to convert what was likely multiple scoring drives into points on the scoreboard.

There is plenty to love about this win. But the biggest takeaway from this one is that the offense has to do better. The Los Angeles Rams advance to face the Seattle Seahawks for the third time this season. Who will win? You decide.

The Rams won by three points. It was an ugly victory. It was nerve-wracking. It was a white knuckler from start to finish. But in the end, it was a win that sent the LA Rams to the NFC Championship Game. A 12-5 team from Los Angeles must face a divisional rival for the right to compete in a Super Bowl.

Deja vu.

As always, thanks for reading.