The Los Angeles Rams won over the Carolina Panthers in the first round of the NFL playoffs, and while they're now on the doorstep of the NFC Championship, they have to travel to face the Chicago Bears.
Facing the Bears won't be easy, regardless of the site of the matchup. But, for the Rams, playing in Chicago has not gone well for a long time.
As Blaine Grisak of TurfShowTimes notes, not only have the Rams not won in Chicago since Sean McVay became the head coach, but they haven't won on the road against the Bears since 2003.
Rams must snap 23-year streak to beat the Bears
"The Rams have not won in Chicago since 2003," Grisak notes. "They are 0-2 in Chicago under Sean McVay."
While the McVay against Ben Johnson narrative is a fun one to anticipate for this matchup, the more concerning matchup will be the Rams paying in Chicago.
Their last win over the Bears on the road came in 2003, during a 23-21 victory on November 16th. But in the 22-plus years since, the Rams have not won in Chicago.
In 2009, they lost 17-9, in 2012, they lost 23-6, in 2018, they lost 15-6, and most recently in 2024, the Rams lost 24-18 to the Bears in Chicago.
Over the last 22 or so years, the Rams are 0-4 against the Bears in Chicago. While it's not a lot of matchups, the history is a concerning trend for the Rams.
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Not only are the Rams losing these games, but other than their 2024 matchup, every other loss has been a low-scoring one.
In three games since 2003, and before 2024, against the Bears, the Rams' offense scored just 21 total points, while the Bears put up 55 points.
Their 2024 performance was a lot better, but it was still a bad loss and further extended the Rams' struggles in Chicago for another year.
While the Rams can beat the Bears, this 20-plus-year streak is a concerning one that doesn't bode well for the Rams' chances of beating the Bears in Chicago in the NFC Divisional round.
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