NFL safeties rarely command the spotlight, and in the aftermath of the Bears’ season-ending loss, the focus will largely fall on the final interception thrown by Caleb Williams.
But for Los Angeles Rams safety Kam Curl, that play marked a defining moment — and one he says was the result of preparation and coaching.
When Chicago lined up in an empty formation with two extra pass protectors, Curl recognized the situation immediately, a recognition rooted in a midweek meeting with defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant.
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“He put a little nugget in my ear,” Curl told The Athletic. “They were trying to take a shot. It was like an inside scissors or a snake concept, and I knew I had the corner on the outside. I’d seen the receiver (DJ Moore) break in. I met him, and (Williams) threw the ball. And I had to go and get it.”
Curl’s interception gave MVP candidate Matthew Stafford the opportunity to move the Rams into field-goal range, sealing the win and sending Los Angeles to the NFC championship game.
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After the game, Curl said the Rams’ secondary had something to prove.
“We heard a little noise about our secondary but we came to show them what we can do,” he said.
The Rams will now travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
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