It wasn’t pretty, but the Los Angeles Rams managed to keep their season alive with an overtime win over the Chicago Bears in the NFC Divisional Round.
The Rams’ offense has been great all year but actually struggled in this game, with the defense needing to make some big plays to help them out.
That including three interceptions, the third of which came in overtime and saved the game. After the Rams offense went 3-and-out, the Bears were driving and were close to field goal range for the game-winning kick.
They decided to take one more shot down the field though, and that backfired as Kam Curl perfectly jumped DJ Moore’s route and intercepted Caleb Williams’ pass. That allowed the Rams offense to get another chance, and they were able to get into field goal range themselves for the game-winner by Harrison Mevis.
While Moore appeared to stop running his route, Curl still made an incredible play and broke down what he saw to make it happen, via Underdog NFL:
“Obviously it started out with the formation. My dog AP [Rams assistant head coach and passing game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant], man, the little meetings we be having on Saturdays, you know, we got a little tail on the shots they like to take. Usually the shots go in one direction. So, when I seen the stem of the receivers, I knew I could open my hip and work that way and I had my eyes on Caleb, I knew I had my corner who was going deep behind me and just took my shot to slice under it and go get the ball… Really just comes down to instincts. Like I said, when I seen that ball, it was the opportunity to help my team win the game.”
Curl added that he wasn’t surprised to see the Bears going to Moore with the game on the line:
“That’s DJ Moore, he’s a good player. I feel like in those situations, overtime situations, you’re going to your best players. I read it right and it all fell in my hands the way I was supposed to.”
It wasn’t just the interception as Curl had an incredible game overall, leading the Rams with 13 total tackles.
L.A.’s defense had been struggling in recent weeks but came up big when the team needed it, with Curl leading the way for his team.
Harrison Mevis: Means a lot to send Rams to NFC Championship Game
It came down to a game-winning kick from Mevis to send the Rams to the NFC Championship Game, and he drilled it. After the win, he discussed what it meant to make a kick of that magnitude.
“It means everything, and all the work that I’ve put in to get to this point, it’s pulled through,” Mevis said.
