Most Chicago Bears fans assumed that Theo Benedet would step in and start at left tackle against the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round game after Ozzy Trapilo was lost for the season in the Wild Card round. But as Lee Corso famously coined, not so fast my friend!

The NFL on FOX crew previews Divisional Round matchups between the Houston Texans and New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears.

Months after team president Kevin Warren announced the Bears were solely focused on building a new stadium on their 326-acre property in Arlington Heights, he switched course in an open letter to fans in December,

The Bears defensive end was hit with the biggest fine of the season after his sack of Jordan Love in the wild-card round playoff win by Chicago.

See who's in and who's out for the Divisional Round matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears on January 18, 2026.

Here are four key matchups to watch for as the Chicago Bears host the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC divisional playoffs.

It was a bit of an unexpected struggle for the Rams in their playoff opener against Carolina, as they needed a late touchdown to secure the win. Drama was the name of the game in Chicago as well. The Bears overcame three quarters of uninspired football with 25 fourth-quarter points to secure their second improbable come-from-behind win over Green Bay in four weeks.

Chicago Bears pass-rusher Austin Booker was hit with a massive fine for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers QB Jordan Love.