NFL play-off predictions: Divisional Round game picks including 49ers @ Seahawks
Rob Staton: Bears
The Bears have some magic right now and the Rams haven’t been playing their best football in weeks. I think Soldier Field will rock and Chicago will make the NFC Championship.
Mike White: Rams
The Chicago Bears’ renaissance has been nothing short of remarkable, and Ben Johnson deserves tons of credit for it. So does Caleb Williams, who in his second year defied much of the (justified) criticism of his rookie season.
However, this is a Rams team that many have been crowning champions-elect for weeks, and for good reason. Whether it’s offensive guru Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford’s experience and MVP credentials, or Puka Nacua’s magic hands, they have all the ingredients for another Super Bowl run. The predicted Arctic conditions may be a bit offsetting, but it still puts the Aries number at four points.
Phil McGeoghan: Coaches
I’m a big fan of Sean McVay. His mind, the way he works, his game plans and also his sense of humour. Desire to be open. All of these are important in football.
He admires his men for his personality and his relationships with the players. Davante isn’t arguing that Adams isn’t one of the best to do the job. He doesn’t act like he doesn’t admire Matthew Stafford as he takes one of his no-look shots. These things really build culture.
That’s why they won Super Bowls, that’s why people don’t leave unless they get promoted and get better jobs, because McVay is such a good guy and such a brilliant offensive mind, so I’m picking Sean McVay and the Rams for those reasons.
Paul Higham: Bears
Only four quarterbacks in the last 20 years have thrown for 140-plus yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter of a playoff win, and two of them collided at Soldier Field.
So this could actually be determined by whether Matthew Stafford, who has 29 fourth-quarter touchdowns this season, or Caleb Williams are holding the ball at the end of the game after their thrilling late-season lead last week.
Williams has been doing this all season long, and watching last week it seemed inevitable that the Bears would come roaring back to win, even though they were well behind. It gives you a funny feeling that something special is going on in the Windy City.
