Time is running out. With the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive line crumbling, there’s even less room. Now Caleb Williams is sprinting backwards with the football, a cardinal sin for an NFL quarterback. You never exit the pocket by drifting—or worse, running backwards. There is nothing but bad things waiting for you.
Instead, the Chicago Bears quarterback went. Williams sprinted backwards as Ball shotgun toward the Bears’ 14-yard line. Passed 25…30…35. Finally, at the 40, he found his footing and, facing two Rams pass rushers, launched a desperate spiral while backing away and collapsing to the Soldier Field turf.
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When Rams head coach Sean McVay talks about the football gods against you, what happened next is exactly what he describes: Watching Williams throw an impossible, mythical — maybe alien — pass that traveled 45 yards and into the arms of tight end Cole Kmet in the back of the end zone. His touchdown pass on 4th-and-4 with 18 seconds left erased the Rams’ 17-10 lead and pushed Los Angeles to the brink of the divisional playoffs on Sunday.
When the camera cuts to McVay, he appears to need a game official to take a standing count and ask if he can continue.
“Can you believe that’s where they performed?” McVeigh would ask reporters later.
Anyone in their right mind who has watched NFL games for decades would say no — except for the fact that Williams pulled off one of the most improbable fourth-and-8 plays in playoff history a week ago against the Green Bay Packers. Somehow this one is more difficult. It was also a byproduct of some action by McVay himself, who conservatively carried the ball four times into the teeth of the Bears defense before punting it away, giving Williams another possession late in the fourth quarter.
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Most people who make this mistake against the Bears end up losing. McVay’s Rams might have also been victorious had their defense not stolen the game in overtime and helped Los Angeles win 20-17 in frigid temperatures. prize? Heading into next week’s NFC Championship Game on the road, the Rams will face the Seattle Seahawks for the third time this season.
Afterward, McVay paced the locker room, praising the team’s resilience and telling them: “A lot happened in that game and you might be like, ‘Oh, man, maybe tonight’s not our night.'” But you didn’t fucking believe it. “
Of course, it’s not pretty. The snow and cold weather seemed to have an impact on Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who completed 20 of 42 passes, taking four sacks in the process and missing some unusually simple passes. Along the way, McVay struggled to get the Rams into a rhythm, getting into a running game in the fourth quarter and taking the ball away from Stafford. Then, in overtime, with the Rams getting the ball to start overtime, McVay threw a pass to Blake Curum on third-and-1 that resulted in a 2-yard loss, blowing up Los Angeles’ offense and swinging all momentum in Chicago’s favor.
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“No excuses [call],” McVay later said.
“Offensively, man, I didn’t do a great job for our team tonight. But I thought our guys were able to overcome it. I thought we were able to be at our best in the biggest moments and be able to string together some offense.”
McVay’s defense helped get him out of the Seahawks’ third downs multiple times, which should be an encouraging sign. From forcing a Bears turnover on Chicago’s first-and-goal from the 2-yard line, to stopping the Bears five times on fourth down in regulation, to intercepting Williams three times throughout the night – the Rams’ defense was clutch in the biggest moments for much of the night. Even Caleb Williams’ touchdown run was well executed by the Rams’ pass-rush front end, only to be offset by a fumble in the end zone from cornerback Kobe Durant, who lost Kmet on the play.
“I thought our defense played well, [but] It’s just that Caleb did better. [and Kmet] “It’s just that these two guys are better,” Stafford said. “That’s the way it is in football.” “
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The defense made amends where necessary. Durant challenged Williams twice that night, and Chicago’s drive to midfield in overtime changed the game when safety Kamren Curl intercepted Williams. On the ensuing drive, McVay got the ball to Stafford, who completed key passes to Davante Adams and Puka Nakua for the game-winning field goal.
“That’s what it takes to win in the playoffs,” Stafford said. “Sometimes the offense can go out and have a good day and find a way to win. Sometimes the defense can go out and, like today, let us keep the time like they did and then get the ball back on the final play.”
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The Rams will now travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks, who have split the season series with Los Angeles — including a 21-19 win at home by the Rams on Nov. 16 and then a 38-37 overtime victory in Seattle in Week 16. The latter led to McVay firing special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn after a series of turnovers throughout the season.