• NFL’s final four is set: After victories on Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots are moving on to play for a trip to the Super Bowl. • Rams survive one more Chicago miracle: The Los Angeles Rams held off the Chicago Bears’ last stand at Soldier Field, kicking a field goal in overtime to win a thrilling game, 20-17. They’ll face off against divisional rival Seattle for a trip to the Super Bowl. • Patriots going on to face Denver: The Patriots forced a ton of turnovers and shut down CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans, playing through the snow and rain to win their divisional round matchup 28-16. They’ll play the Denver Broncos for the right to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. • Conference title games next week: The Patriots will play the Broncos at 3 p.m. ET Sunday and the Rams and Seahawks will face off at 6 p.m. ET. For a game that wasn’t very exciting for 90% of the time, the ending of the fourth quarter and overtime made it up for it. The Los Angeles Rams outlasted the Chicago Bears 20-17 in overtime in a game dominated by the tough conditions at Soldier Field on Sunday. Snow fell, temps kept dropping and both teams struggled. The two teams combined for 11 total punts with the Bears electing to go for it on fourth down six times. It was a 10-10 game through three quarters but Rams running back Kyren Williams broke the deadlock after his second TD of the game with just under nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. In overtime, the Bears defense got a big stop to open the extra period but a Williams interception gave the Rams the ball right back. But as Caleb Williams has done all season, his clutch gene came through, leading to a miraculous 14-yard heave (offically 14, it was more like 40 after Williams scrambled backward) to tight end Cole Kmet to tie the game up with 18 seconds left. From there, Matthew Stafford and the high-powered LA offense found a way to set up Harrison Mevis with a 42-yard field goal to win the game. The Rams now have a date with Sam Darnold and the Seahawks in Seattle next week with a trip to Super Bowl LX on the line. It wasn’t always pretty, but the New England Patriots have found a way to get past the Houston Texans to set up an AFC conference championship matchup against the Denver Broncos. With rain and then snow falling heavily in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the Patriots beat the Texans 28-16 in front of a vociferous home crowd at Gillette Stadium. While much has been said about New England’s offense, led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye, it was the defense that really sealed the deal for the Patriots in this divisional round win. New England’s defense hurried and harried Houston’s C.J. Stroud as the quarterback struggled throughout the entire game. The 24-year-old threw four interceptions, was sacked three times and completed just 20-47 passes on a disappointing night on the road. And with the defense doing their job, Maye stepped up when it mattered. Despite being sacked five times by an incredible Houston defense, Maye still managed to throw three touchdown passes to guide New England back to the conference championship. With a Bo Nix-less Denver Broncos up next, Patriots fans might just be thinking that this year could be their year. Score: Patriots 28, Texans 16. Harrison Mevis made his NFL debut on November 9. Less than a year ago, he was in the United Football League. A year before that, he went undrafted out of Missouri, despite holding the SEC record for the longest field goal at 61 yards. The Rams signed Mevis to their practice squad midway through this season. Head coach Sean McVay then hosted a competition between him and the Rams’ existing kicker Joshua Karty. Mevis won. “I don’t know when my time is going to come, but I’m going to be ready,” Mevis said at the time. And he was. Mevis sent the Rams to the conference championship with his 54-yard field goal in overtime. Facing a Bears team that seemed to be one of destiny, LA turned to their Thiccer Kicker – as Mevis is affectionately known – and his thighs broke the tie. the thicker kicker for the win pic.twitter.com/qfQPtzemoU We are now a week away from knowing who will be representing the NFC and AFC in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on February 8. Here is the schedule for next Sunday - The Rams make the 42-yard field goal and advance to the NFC championship game! THE RAMS WIN IN OVERTIME TO ADVANCE TO THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP. pic.twitter.com/m1fmmEZUGX Final: Rams 20, Bears 17 THERE’S THE SEAN MCVAY WE ALL KNOW! Stafford to Davante. What a completion!LARvsCHI on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/URAajRUqBW The Rams are driving and after a Puka Nacua 16-yard reception, LA are in field goal range. Next score wins and Chicago is up against the wall. Score: Rams 17, Bears 17 It looked like a series of miracles was going to result in a Bears magical OT win. But instead, Williams’ throws his third interception of the night, the most he’s had in any game this season. The throw to DJ Moore was caught on a dive by Kamren Curl. KAM CURL PICKS OFF WILLIAMS IN OT.LARvsCHI on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/hpVRSPWjaD The Bears went 36 yards on 10 plays including a gutsy fourth-and-inches. But now the Rams have a chance to walk it off. Score: Rams 17, Bears 17 The Bears go for it on fourth-and-inches and pick up a first down as they march past midfield. The next score in this game wins… Score: Rams 17, Bears 17 There will be some questions asked about Sean McVay’s playcalling in the fourth quarter and to start overtime. Another drive of no Matthew Stafford passing the ball (you know, the quarterback who threw 46 touchdowns this year). Let’s see if the Rams defense can come up big here. Score: Rams 17, Bears 17 What exactly are the rules in overtime in the playoffs? Both teams will get a possession in a 15-minute overtime period. If there’s a safety on the opening possession, then the game ends. If the score is still tied after each team has had a possession, the next team to score wins. Each team will start overtime with three timeouts. All replay reviews will be iniated by the replay official - no coach’s challenges. If the game is still tied after 15 minutes, we play on into another 15-minute period. The Bears have won the coin toss and elected to kick. Matt Stafford and the Rams will get the ball first. Caleb Williams just made the throw of his life that you’ll see on replay reels for years to come. On fourth-and-four from the 14, the Rams defense chases him back to the 40-yard line. Seemingly desperate and on his back foot, Williams launches the ball into the end zone, where it is CAUGHT by Cole Kmet to keep the Bears season alive. YOU CAN'T KILL THESE CHICAGO BEARS.LARvsCHI on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/4lxGJ6iP3m Actually, this is when Chicago thrives. The Bears have seven wins when trailing in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter this year — the most ever in NFL history. They haven’t won it yet. But you’ll never see a more exciting throw to send a game to OT. Score: Rams 17, Bears 17 Unbelievable! It’s a tie game with 18 seconds left! NO WAY. CALEB WILLIAMS HEAVES IT ON 4TH DOWN.LARvsCHI on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/JJymsDhen2 Score: Rams 17, Bears 17 A few plays into this drive and the Bears are moving the ball closer to the end zone. They’re down to the LA 14-yard line with 30 seconds left. But after a few incomplete passes, it’s fourth down. Here comes the season. Score: Rams 17, Bears 10 The Rams played it safe on that drive, maybe a little too safe. Running back Kyren Williams was handed the ball five times, mostly to keep the clock running and the Rams are going to punt the ball back to the Bears coming out of the two-minute warning. It is do-or-die time for Caleb Williams the Chicago offense here. They’ll get the ball at the 50-yard line after a rough punt by the Rams. Score: Rams 17, Bears 10 Finally, a position the Bears presumably feel comfortable in: Trailing late in the game with everything on the line. Got ‘em right where they want them, etc. etc. Not so fast. Down by a touchdown, Caleb Williams remembers he’s arguably the most athletic player on the field and scrambles downfield for 26 yards, dodging defenders in an explosive play. A 17-yard pass and a roughing the passer penalty put Chicago at the five yard line. The next three runs result in a gain of only three yards. And at fourth-goal on the 2-yard line, the Rams linebacker Omar Speights swats a would-be touchdown out of the air and leave the Bears empty handed. WHAT A STOP FOR THE RAMS DEFENSE.LARvsCHI on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/4KdwVR9TQH A major moment there and it might send the Rams to the NFC championship game. Score: Rams 17, Bears 10 FINALLY! POINTS! After a crazy 14-play, 91-yard drive, Rams running back Kyren Williams found the forgotten land of the end zone on a five-yard rush for his second TD of the game. Kyren Williams' second TD puts the @RamsNFL ahead!LARvsCHI on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/HkjLuDUvhB The long-winded drive featured a bit of everything – a play very similar to the Bills’ Brandin Cooks controversial interception call, a gutsy fourth down gamble. More of this please! PLEASE! Score: Rams 17, Bears 10 A scoreless third quarter brings us into the final 15 minutes of game time all knotted at 10. The fourth quarter opens with the Bears facing fourth-and-two. In an unexpected development, Ben Johnson does not go for it, opting instead to punt. Don’t deny us a chance to write about something other than a punt now, Ben! We’re sorry about what we said when it wasn’t working last week! This is the sixth-straight drive by either team with no points earned. Score: same as the last half a dozen posts Let’s wrap up how that third quarter went: At least it’s still tied and we have a promising fourth quarter ahead of us where someone, anyone, will have to do something, anything, to win this game. Here we go. Chicago gets the fourth started with … a punt. Sigh. Score: Rams 10, Bears 10 On second-and-15 after a false start, Caleb Williams tries to make something major happen, throws deep to Luther Burden II. But it’s intercepted by the Rams’ Cobie Durant, who also had an interception on the Bears’ first drive of the night. COBIE DURANT'S SECOND INT OF THE GAME.LARvsCHI on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/RhfvbROY93 Williams did not throw more than one interception in a game the whole regular season, but he had two in the win last week over Green Bay. As this game settles into a rather boring pattern of punts, could this be the moment that the Rams seize control of the game and drive down the field, taking advantage of the turnover? No. No it is not. The Rams immediately go three-and-out and are forced to punt. Truly this game has settled into a war of attrition. Score: Bears 10, Rams 10 Matthew Stafford was sacked for the fourth time tonight and came up grimacing a bit. Remember, he’s playing through a finger injury. Another three-and-out and the Bears get the ball back. Stay awake folks. We know it’s hard. These playoffs have generally promised exciting fourth quarters. Score: Rams 10, Bears 10