The 2026 NFL Playoffs are underway and we got a fantastic first matchup of the Wild Card Round. The Los Angeles Rams beat the Carolina Panthers 34-31 to advance to the Divisional Round. LA jumped out to 14-0 lead but Carolina fought back and took this game down to the wire. Matthew Stafford found Colby Parkinson for a game-winning touchdown with 38 seconds left to help LA advance.
NFL playoff schedule: Who will the Rams play in the NFC Divisional Round?
The Rams won a wild one over the Panthers in the Wild Card Round. We break down who they will play in the Divisional Round of the 2026 NFL Playoffs
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Los Angeles Rams’ next playoff opponent
Sunday result: The 49ers beat the Eagles in the final NFC Wild Card game. That means the Rams will travel to face the Bears in the Divisional Round.
Saturday Packers-Bears result: The Bears beat the Packers on Saturday 31-27 after mounting a massive comeback. Chicago trailed 21-3 in the second quarter, but put up 25 points in the fourth quarter to complete the wild comeback. The Bears win means the Rams won’t know their Divisional Round opponent until Sunday evening. If the Eagles beat the 49ers, LA will travel to face Seattle. If the 49ers upset the Eagles, LA will travel to face Chicago.
The Rams will find out their opponent either Saturday night or early Sunday evening. The NFL re-seeds the playoff bracket for the Divisional Round, which means the top-seeded Seahawks face the worst remaining seed, and the two middle seeds face off. If the Bears beat the Packers on Saturday night, the Rams will face one of the Bears, Eagles, or Seahawks in the Divisional Round. That will depend on the outcome of 49ers-Eagles on Sunday. opponent until after the 49ers and Eagles play on Sunday. However, if the Packers upset the Bears, then the Rams know they’ll face the winner of 49ers-Eagles next week.
History vs. Chicago Bears
Record: 38-54-3 regular season, 1-1 postseason all-time
The Rams played the Bears a year ago, losing in Chicago 24-18. They haven’t met in the playoffs since 1986 when the Bears won 24-0 in the NFC Championship en route to their lone Super Bowl victory.
Early Divisional Round odds
Spread: Rams -4.5
Total: 50.5
Moneyline: Rams -190, Bears +160
Los Angeles Rams playoff history
This marks the second straight season the Rams have reached the Divisional Round. Last year they advanced before losing to the Eagles. The last time they won in the Divisional Round came in 2022, when they beat the Buccaneers en route to winning the Super Bowl. This will be LA’s 21st appearance in the Divisional Round.
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