Bears and Rams advance to divisional round with comeback wins to open NFL playoffs

Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears are heading to the NFC divisional round following another comeback victory.

All-Pros Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua helped the Los Angeles Rams advance with a last-minute win.

The NFL playoffs kicked off Saturday with two wacky, wild-card games.

The Bears (12-6) trailed the Green Bay Packers 21-3 at halftime and 27-16 with just under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter before Williams threw a pair of touchdown passes. His 25-yard TD toss to D.J. Moore put Chicago ahead 31-27 with 1:43 remaining. Then Jordan Love’s desperation heave into the end zone from the Bears 28 was knocked down as time expired to secure Chicago’s first playoff win since the 2010 season.

Williams finished with 361 yards passing, two TDs and two interceptions for the No. 2 seed Bears, who will host the Rams (13-5) or Philadelphia Eagles next weekend.

In the opener on wild-card weekend, Stafford threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson in the final minute and the Rams rallied to beat the Carolina Panthers 34-31 in a game that was much closer than expected.

The Rams were double-digit favorites on BetMGM Sportsbook against the Panthers (8-10). They jumped to a 14-0 lead but couldn’t take advantage of first-half turnovers and allowed Carolina to get within 17-14 at halftime.

The Rams are back in the divisional round for the second straight season. Last year, they were 13 yards away from eliminating Philadelphia before a sack and an incomplete pass ended their season with a 28-22 loss.

No. 5 seed Los Angeles will face No. 1 seed Seattle if the Eagles lose to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Bryce Young’s 7-yard TD pass to Jalen Coker put the Panthers ahead 31-27 with 2:43 remaining but Stafford drove the Rams 71 yards in two minutes. Parkinson made an outstanding, tightrope catch for the winning score and the defense held.

Behind coach Dave Canales and improved QB Bryce Young, the Panthers have reason to be optimistic about the future after winning a weak NFC South and nearly pulling off a major upset.

The Packers (9-8-1) finished the season with five straight losses. They were 9-3-1 before All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons tore his ACL in a loss to Denver on Dec. 14.

No. 5 Buffalo Bills (12-5) at No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4).

No. 6 San Francisco 49ers (12-5) at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles (11-6).

No. 7 Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at No. 2 New England Patriots (14-3).

Monday

No. 5 Houston Texans (12-5) at No. 4 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7).

The Denver Broncos (14-3) are the AFC’s No. 1 seed and the Seattle Seahawks (14-3) got the top seed in the NFC. Each team earned a bye and will host the lowest remaining seed next weekend.

___