NFL Playoff Predictions: Divisional Round Picks Including 49ers @ Seahawks

Rob Staton: Bears

There is little magic on the Bears team right now and the Rams haven’t played their best in weeks. Soldier Field will rock and I believe Chicago will reach the NFC Championship.

Mike White: Rams

The Chicago Bears’ renaissance has been nothing short of remarkable and Ben Johnson deserves a lot of credit for it. As does Caleb Williams, who defied many of the critics of his (justified) rookie season in his second year.

However, this is a Rams team that many have been crowning champions-elect for weeks and not without good reason. Whether it’s offensive guru Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford’s experience and MVP, or the magical hands of Puka Nacua, they have all the ingredients for another Super Bowl run. The forecast arctic conditions may be fairly flat but would still take the rams by four.

Phil McGeogan: Rams

I’m a huge fan of Sean McVay. His mind, the way he works, his game plans, and also his sense of humor. His willingness to open up. All of these things are important in football.

Because of his personality and the way he treats players, he admires his teammates. He’s not pretending that Davante Adams isn’t one of the best to ever do it. He doesn’t pretend he’s not in awe of Matthew Stafford when he makes one of his no-look throws. These things really build culture.

That’s why they win Super Bowls, that’s why people don’t leave there unless they get promoted and get better jobs, because McVay is a good guy and he’s a brilliant offensive mind, so I picked Sean McVay and the Rams for those reasons.

Paul Higham: Bears

Only four quarterbacks have thrown for more than 140 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter of a playoff game in the last 20 years — and two of them crashed at Soldier Field.

So this could really be decided by whether Matthew Stafford or Caleb Williams, who have combined for 29 fourth-quarter touchdowns this season, finally has the ball after both pulled off thrilling late-game victories last week.

However, Williams has been doing that all season, and it seemed inevitable that the Bears would come back strong to get the win last week even when they were trailing by so much. It gives you a funny feeling that they have something special in the Windy City.