The Los Angeles Rams are on to the NFC Divisional Round for the second consecutive year, and this time, they won’t have to deal with the juggernaut Philadelphia Eagles. Head coach Sean McVay and company are headed to the Midwest to face Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears after narrowly defeating the Carolina Panthers during Wild Card Weekend.
The Rams put up 34 points in the win in Carolina. However, their offense did stagnate in the middle section of the game, and part of that could be due to Kevin Dotson being out of the lineup. Dotson suffered a sprained ankle during Week 16’s overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks that cost the Rams the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Dotson has been critical to the Rams’ success this season, as they are 11-3 in games that he both started and finished. They are 2-2 in games he has either missed outright or left early. And McVay is feeling good about Dotson being in the lineup this weekend, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
Sean McVay said they're optimistic about OL Kevin Dotson playing against Bears
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) January 12, 2026
The Rams seem to be getting healthy at the perfect time, as with Dotson’s return, only Rob Havenstein will be injured from the team’s fully healthy starting lineup. Having 10 out of 11 starters healthy for the Divisional Round — and potentially all 11 if the Rams continue to win — is exactly where a team with real championship aspirations needs to be.
L.A., for the first time since winning the Super Bowl in 2022, are absolutely contenders. They might even be seen as favorites alongside the Seahawks. But they are going to need all hands on deck to get past a pesky, clutch and exciting Bears team.
Rams get good news on Matthew Stafford
The Rams got the win over Panthers in the Wild Card round thanks to Matthew Stafford finding Colby Parkinson for a game-winning touchdown on a two-minute drill drive.
It wasn’t an elite showing for Stafford all around, as he completed just 57.1% of his passes for 304 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
Stafford hit his finger on another player’s helmet in the first half, causing his second half to look particularly shaky.
“I got a finger bent back,” Stafford explained. “They saw it on the TV on the sideline. I didn’t know exactly what had happened. It wasn’t pleasant. Wasn’t great. We’ll see what it is. I was obviously able to finish the game and throw it decent. Once the ball is snapped, the adrenaline is pretty good so we’ll hopefully just keep it going.”
Stafford underwent X-rays after the game and they fortunately came back negative.
