Rams kicker Harrison Mevis swept his leg and sent the football through the uprights, ending the Chicago Bears’ season in an overtime Divisional Round defeat. A gut-wrenching end to a truly magical year. 

A year that featured twelve wins, including seven fourth-quarter comebacks, a division title, and the team’s first playoff win in fifteen years, cut short with one kick. 

But as the players trudged off the white field with their heads low, knowing they were just a handful of plays away from victory, they weren’t met with silence or boos. They were met with applause. 

The 60,000 die-hard fans at Soldier Field stuck around on a cold, flurry-filled night to give their team a standing ovation. A thank you to the team for giving them a season they will always remember. 

THE LEADUP

Going into the match, the Chicago Bears came off a miraculous Wildcard victory over their rival Green Bay Packers, 31-27. They trailed 21-3 at halftime and stormed back to take the win, a win unlike any other the city had seen before. 

Their opponent in the next round, the Los Angeles Rams, were believed by many to be a Super Bowl contender, but had barely escaped Carolina with a 34-31 win against the Panthers. 

With this in mind, and the fact that a team from warm California was coming to frigid Illinois, where the temperature would be in single digits, there was much optimism that the Bears could keep their Cinderella run going all the way to the NFC Championship for a date with the Seahawks in Seattle. 

FROZEN IN ICE

Early on, though, this optimism appeared to be misplaced. On their opening possession, the Bears moved quickly down the field with a big catch-and-run from receiver D.J. Moore, but the drive immediately stalled as quarterback Caleb Williams sailed a pass that wound up in the arms of Rams defensive back Cobie Durant for a fourth-down interception. 

The Rams used this momentum to glide down the field with precision passes from MVP candidate Matthew Stafford. They capped off the drive with a touchdown run from running back Kyren Williams that gave them the first points of the night. 

Chicago managed to bounce back, however, as they drove down the field once again and scored on fourth down this time. Williams connected with Moore on a strike to the endzone, evening the contest at seven apiece. 

But after those drives, the scoring slid to a halt. The icy winter air coated the field with a thin layer of snow that stopped both offenses in their tracks. Chicago’s defense finally stepped up after being gashed all season, keeping a high-powered Rams offense in check. 

Sideline view of Soldier Field during the NFC Divisional Round game between the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois (Michael Reaves / Getty Images).

The Rams pulled out all the stops to ensure they were prepared for the weather. They brought 2,000 pounds of cold-weather equipment, had copious amounts of hot chocolate and chicken broth on the sideline, and some players even jammed cayenne peppers into their socks. Whatever it took to get the win. Despite these efforts, they scored only a field goal for the rest of the half.

Unfortunately for Chicago’s defense, the other side of the ball couldn’t do much better as the hands of Bears receivers turned into solid ice, letting numerous balls fall to the grass. The offense also only managed a field goal, making the score 10-10 at the half. 

BACKS AGAINST THE WALL

The second half was much of the same, a defensive showdown. Punt after punt after punt, neither offense could gain much traction. 

Even after Williams threw another pick at midfield, Los Angeles still punted, unable to gain a single yard. 

For most of the game, Chicago’s defense successfully put pressure on Stafford with defensive backs blitzing off the edge, leading to four sacks and a multitude of errant throws. But in the fourth quarter, they found a way to exploit it. 

Chicago Bears defensive back Kyler Gordon (6) sacks Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during the second quarter of the NFC Divisional Round game on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois (Matt Marton / Imagn-Images). 

Through short, quick passes, the Rams marched 91 yards down the field and took back the lead with another touchdown run for Kyren Williams. 

The pressure was back on the Bears to mount a scoring drive. They answered the call with a big scramble from Caleb Williams and several bulldozing runs from the duel threat of running backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.

But as they got to the goal line, they could not bulldoze through the Rams’ wall of defenders. Another failed fourth-down conversion from just two yards out. Rams football with 3:06 on the clock. 

With their season on the line, the Bears’ defense matched the Rams’. They forced another punt that gave the Bears’ offense one last shot with 1:50 to play at the 50-yard line. 

Once again, a few good plays got the Bears close to paydirt until they got stuck. They faced a 4th and 4 at the Rams’ 14-yard line with 27 seconds remaining. Eerily similar to the end of the second game between the Bears and Packers, in which the Bears faced a 4th and 4 at the North endzone down by seven in the final minute. 

This play was even bigger than that one. The division wasn’t on the line, the season was. Last time, Williams managed to loft a pass to wide-open receiver Jahdae Walker in the endzone for the game-tying score. 

In a year full of miracles like that one, the Bears needed another to keep their hopes alive. The crowd was quiet, nervously waiting.

Williams took the snap and dropped back. Pressure in his face immediately. He scampered backwards as four Rams charged after him. 

Not until he reached the 40-yard line did he finally heave the pass into the endzone. The ball hung in the air for what felt like forever. 

In the corner of the endzone, there were only two players with a shot at the ball. Bears tight end Cole Kmet and Rams defensive back Cobie Durant, who already had two picks on the night.

In a 50/50 battle, Kmet came out the winner.

Touchdown. 

Absolute pandemonium. 

The Chicago Bears had done it again. Another last-second score. With the extra point from kicker Cairo Santos, the game was tied at 17. 

The Rams took a knee, and this game was headed to overtime. 

A QUIET END

Chicago won the coin toss and elected to kick, meaning Los Angeles would get first crack at scoring points. But yet again, they failed. 

Chicago got the ball back, only needing a field goal to win. They sauntered toward the endzone, piling up short passes and runs to midfield again. 

But they got a little too greedy. Williams’ deep pass was intercepted by Rams defensive back Kamren Curl, making a diving catch. On the play, it appeared as though Moore stopped running his route on the play, but regardless of fault, the Rams had the football back, and they made no mistake. 

A couple of dimes from Stafford led the Rams into field-goal range, where kicker Harrison Mevis sent his team to the NFC Championship with a 42-yard boot. A bittersweet climax to an emotional playoff battle and a remarkable season for the Chicago Bears.

Los Angeles Rams kicker Harrison Mevis (92) celebrates with his teammates after kicking the game-winning field goal against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times).

A TIME TO REFLECT

As the year comes to a close, there is much to be happy about in Chicago. The team had accomplished more than even the biggest of fans expected them to and has a bright future ahead with a plethora of stars in the making. 

Quarterback Caleb Williams improved greatly under first-year Head Coach Ben Johnson and young talents such as receiver Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland showed flashes of promise, leading the offense to be one of the best in the NFL.

The defense under first-year Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen, while giving up plenty of yards and points, also led the league in takeaways with veteran safety Kevin Byard tallying a league-leading seven interceptions and young cornerback Nahshon Wright having eight takeaways of his own. 

Johnson stated after the game that, “They all believed all year long that we could find a way to win each and every week.” Even though they could not find a way to win against the Rams, it is clear that a winning culture is beginning to come back to Chicago. The city is hungry. And only time will tell whether this new fire will result in the ultimate prize: the Lombardi trophy. 

The post Out of Magic: Rams Knock Bears Out of Playoffs in Overtime 20-17 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

And even after seeing what happened last night, some fans probably still can’t believe it.

On Dec. 20, in utterly insane fashion, the Chicago Bears knocked off their most hated rival, the Green Bay Packers, 22-16, to extend their division lead.

If you told a Bears fan, a Packers fan, or any NFL fan that the game would’ve ended the way it did, they probably wouldn’t have believed you. They especially wouldn’t have believed you if you said that when the Packers took a ten-point lead with five minutes remaining. 

THE FINAL MINUTES

Let’s set the scene. It’s a Saturday night in Soldier Field. Another windy one in the Windy City, with temperatures in the mid-20s and gusts of wind in the low 30s. Green Bay kicker Brandon McManus has just squeaked in a field goal to give his team a 16-6 lead on the road. 

The crowd is deflated. The 60,000 fans who had been whipping white towels through the air for most of the game were now timidly holding those towels at their side. Their cold breaths were deep and heavy.

Fans likely had one, cohesive thought:

“This team is breaking our hearts again.”

Chicago’s young quarterback Caleb Williams led his offense out onto the field, but his unit had done little to inspire confidence to this point. The offense had scored just six points through 55 minutes of action against a defense missing its star pass rusher and losing even more starters to injury. 

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) prepares to throw a pass against the Green Bay Packers in the first quarter during the game on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois (Mike Dinovo / Imagn-Images).

The Bears were missing some playmakers of their own; receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III were both out due to injury, but this was still no excuse to lay an egg in the team’s biggest game all season. They simply had to play better. 

Williams began to march his team down the field, completing passes and scrambling for first downs, but a couple of incompletions and a holding penalty left them facing a 3rd and 20 at Green Bay’s 46. They weren’t even in field goal range. 

Williams dropped back to pass and bounced around in the pocket, looking for some kind of answer, but couldn’t find one. He was dumped into the beaten-down Soldier Field grass for a sack by rookie defensive tackle Warren Brinson, a likely death blow to Chicago’s chance.

Or perhaps not. 

Brinson grabbed Williams’ facemask. 15-yard penalty. Automatic first down. 

Chicago still had life, but didn’t do much with it right away. They failed to get another first down, partially because receiver D.J. Moore was so exhausted that he couldn’t get set in time for a crucial 3rd down snap. Can’t blame him too much. With all the receiver injuries, Moore was doing more heavy lifting than a bodybuilder during their winter bulk. 

The Bears were forced to settle for a 43-yard field goal from Cairo Santos, not easy in the bustling wind, but he still put boot to leather and nailed it for his third make of the day. 16-9. 1:59 to go. 

Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos kicks a field goal against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter in the game on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois (Patrick McDermott / Getty Images). 

With little time remaining, Chicago needed to get an onside kick. Before this, all NFL teams were 4-for-47 on onside kicks during the season, so about an 8% chance. Not great odds, but still worth a shot. 

Santos pooched the ball into the dirt and bounced toward Green Bay receiver Romeo Doubs, the man tasked with securing the kick. His eyes were on the ball, laser-focused on it. The ball bounced off his chest, and he scrambled for it. So did the Bears.

A rugby scrum ensued as everyone on the field fought for it.

Everyone held their breath.

The referee pointed.

Bear ball.

Pandemonium.

The crowd is back in it. By God, this team has a chance. 

Williams and the offense came back onto the field. They sliced and diced their way deep into the red zone, but the drive got stuck. A few incompletions meant a 4th and 4 at the Packers’ 6. This was the game. 

It was all too similar to when these two teams faced off in Lambeau less than two weeks ago. The Packers up by seven in the final seconds, and the Bears deep in their territory with a chance to tie. 

Last time, Williams threw a game-sealing interception. Would he do the same again? 

No.

This time, with pressure in his face from hungry Packers defenders, he threw up a prayer to the back corner in the endzone, where a wide-open Jahdae Walker leaped into the air for the game-tying score. 

Bears fans erupted in celebration. Walker, an undrafted free agent from Texas A&M, who hadn’t caught a single pass since the preseason, just scored the biggest touchdown of his life. 

But the game wasn’t done. Overtime awaited. 

OVERTIME

The Bears won the coin toss, and the Packers would get the ball first. They were led onto the field by their backup, Malik Willis. Packers starter, Jordan Love, had been knocked out with a concussion in the second quarter, but the Packers’ offense didn’t skip a beat. 

Willis played like he was the main man, making timely throws for 84 passing yards and killing the Bears’ defense with his legs when needed for 44 yards. His white jersey was still clean. 

He was also aided by backup running back Emmanuel Wilson, who went for 79 yards, replacing starter Josh Jacobs, who also left the game with a knee injury. 

Willis started the overtime period with a big 31-yard pass to receiver Jayden Reed, leaving the Bears’ secondary reeling and Packers fans thinking they still had a win in the bag. 

Facing a 3rd and 1, Willis tried once again to scramble for a first down, but this time, linebacker T.J. Edwards met him at the line and held him back. It was their turn to convert a 4th down. 

Willis lined up under center to take the snap, eyeing up the Bears’ defense. He should’ve kept his eye on the ball. 

In a nightmare play for Green Bay fans, Willis dropped the snap, turning the play into a complete mess. Wilson tried to pick up the ball to make something out of nothing, but couldn’t get back to the line. Chicago’s defense made a stand, and the offense got to trot back onto the field, with a chance to steal a win. 

A scamper from running back Kyle Monangai gave his team the ball at the Packers’ 46—closer to field goal range to give Santos a chance for the win. That wasn’t good enough, though. Chicago wanted to win right now. 

Williams extended the ball to Monangai, but didn’t let it go. He set his feet in the middle of the “C” at midfield. He reached back and launched a missile toward the endzone. He was going for it all. 

Moore, exhausted, was running toward it. He was tracking the ball with his eyes, Packers defensive back Keisean Nixon draped all over him. 

But as legendary quarterback Dan Marino once said, and as fellow legendary quarterback Tom Brady quoted while commentating the game, “There’s no defense against a perfect throw.” 

Williams put his hands in his warm pockets with the ball still in the air. Moore made the catch and scored the game-winning touchdown. 

Chicago Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore celebrates a game-winning touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in overtime with his teammates during the game on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois (David Banks / Imagn-Images).

By a score of 22-16, the Bears had done it: for the first time in over seven years, they had beaten the Packers at home. In a season full of big wins, this was by far the biggest. The monkey was off their back. 

They defeated Green Bay, the team that “owns” them, the team that had won twelve out of the last thirteen meetings, the team that always seems to break their heart at the last second, but not this night. It was Chicago’s turn to break hearts. 

GAME BALLS

After the game, head coach Ben Johnson gave out four game balls, two more than he usually does, but it’s fitting given how massive a win this was. 

Cairo Santos: This was his third game ball of the season. Santos made all three of his field goal attempts to keep the Bears in the game. 

Jahdae Walker: This was his first of the season, earned for stepping up to the plate and catching 2 passes for 21 yards, including the touchdown that sent the Bears to overtime. 

Josh Blackwell: He secured his second game ball of the season for recovering the onside kick that allowed Chicago the opportunity to tie the game. 

D.J. Moore: Earned a game ball for racking up 109 scrimmage yards and hauling in the game-winning touchdown. He got a game ball for the second week in a row. 

NEXT WEEK

Chicago returns to action next Sunday on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. This will be another primetime showdown on Sunday Night Football against a strong playoff team. 

The Bears will be tested again, but whatever the result of this test will be, one thing is clear. These are not the same old Bears. 

The post Never Let It Rest: Bears stun Packers 22-16 in overtime thriller appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Some 2300 kids, droning and buzzing like worker bees, shrieked with every goal, every scuffle, and every “67” reference, which there were a lot of.

Though the puck dropped at 10:30 a.m., as concession stands were closed and their metal folding windows were fastened shut, it felt like a playoff game.

“It’s just amped up like crazy,” Jen Van Otterloo, a third grade teacher at Heritage Christian School in North Liberty, said.

“The Best Field Trip Ever”, the Iowa Heartlanders’ theme for their December 10th game, turned into one of the best hockey games that most of the kids had probably ever watched. The Heartlanders took down the Kansas City Mavericks 5-4 in a dramatic overtime thriller, complete with momentum swings, fights, and brilliant goals.

“Kids for some reason, bring the energy tenfold,” Heartlanders superfan Marc Korver said.

Amongst a sea of mostly black, gray, and gold, Korver stuck out not only for his age (decidedly not in grade school) but also his outfit.

Green and white striped zebra pants. A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hockey sweater. A half dozen bead necklaces and chains, some in team colors, some adorned with letters spelling out words like “puck” and “goal”. Yellow and black dreadlocks, and to cap it off, a backwards gray Heartlanders cap with antlers sticking out on either side. 

“More well known as the Antler Man” he said after introducing himself, then turned away from us. “116! Let me hear you! Let’s go!”

The 300 plus grade schoolers in the section began screaming in response.

“I think of just the enthusiasm of the crowd and the home team, the community it builds,” Shari Bozorgzad, the head of St. Vincent’s School in Keokuk, said. “They’re so excited.”

A few students were hockey buffs. Others were there watching their first ever game. All of them instinctively knew what to do.

When a Mavericks player went to the penalty box, they banged on the glass incessantly. With every bone crushing check, they cheered with a bloodlust that straddled the line between endearing and troubling.

There were homemade signs scattered throughout the crowd. Some on posterboard, some on scrolls of paper.

One banner said “Hartlanders” in kid handwriting with alternating yellow and black letters. Later during the game, each of the five kids holding it up received a black t-shirt. Another sign said “St. Vincent’s ♡s the Heartlanders”.

When we asked the St. Vincent’s students what their favorite part of the game was, the response was unanimous down the line: the fights. That sentiment was shared by the Heritage Christian kids as well.

Nobody dropped the gloves, but there were shoving matches, trips, slashes, interferences, and headlocks. Every time, the kids ate it up.

“It was a great environment and I think the guys really fed off that,” Chuck Weber, Iowa’s head coach and general manager, said.

But because they were still technically in school, the kids were at the mercy of the school day. When some groups began filing out in the third period to catch their bus home, Kansas City seized the advantage with two goals in 13 seconds to tie the game at 4-4.

“I’m almost worn out with these kids,” Korver told us before the start of the third period.

But as the game went to overtime and his section remained mostly intact, he found a second wind, leading “Lets go Landers” chants as if he was the conductor of an orchestra.

With kids jumping to their feet and screeching, then falling back into their seats after every missed shot, the chaos reached its peak with a snapped stick and a counterattack led by Heartlanders forward Elliot Desnoyers.

In the final minute of overtime, he surged down the right wing, took the puck across his body, and slotted it past Mavericks goaltender Jack LaFontaine to win the game for Iowa. 

He then dropped to one knee and glided across the ice towards Korver and the students, who pounded against the plexiglass in celebration.

The Heartlanders entered the day undefeated in morning games throughout their franchise’s five years and counting of operation. They kept it intact with a little help from the next generation of hockey fans.

“These kids are awesome,” Korver said. “They need to come all the time.”

The post The Iowa Heartlanders Field Trip Experience appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The 2017 edition of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Trophy Game did not disappoint whatsoever. The newest rendition of the rivalry game will go down as a classic battle between two hated rivals. While the game started off to a relatively normal 14-10 score at the halftime break, the pace quickly heated up in the second half.

A slow start did not deter either team from pouring on the points in the following half. Both offenses threw the other’s defense out of the game in the second half. This being despite the fact that Iowa came into the game with a nationally renown defense; only allowing Josh Allen and the Wyoming offense to only 3 points.

Prior to halftime, Stanley and the Iowa offense reestablished itself with a 91 yard, 10 play drive that ended with a Stanley to VandeBerg for a 17 yard touchdown. Matt VandeBerg missed majority of last season with a broken foot; this was his first touchdown catch following the injury.

With 7:21 remaining in the third quarter, Iowa took a commanding 21-10 lead with another 94 yard, 11 play drive. The drive was capped off with Wadley hurdling over the pile on the goal line for a 1 yard touchdown. However, Iowa State responded quickly, effectively, and immediately with 21 unanswered points, going up 31-21 with 11:46 remaining in regulation.

Jacob Park would throw for 347 yards and four touchdowns by the end of the game with Nathan Stanley throwing for 333 yards and five touchdown to battle. Following the 21-0 Cyclone run, the Hawkeyes would strike back and would eventually tie the game.

In the post-game interview, Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz spoke on the fourth quarter rally, saying, “The one thing we did all day offensively — we responded. They took the lead there, they just hit us with everything there in the second half. Our guys responded a couple more times.” And respond the Hawks would. The Hawkeyes were challenged again as Iowa State would attempt put the game away with a 38-31 lead with 4:36 remaining.

The thriller continued as Iowa would march back 81 yards in 7 plays to tie the game. Stanley completed a short pass across the middle to Wadley to tie the game for overtime. “It was a dog fight,” said Wadley, “We knew we were going to get their best effort.”

A dog fight perfectly describes the classic Ames matchup which took place on September 9th. However, the match would end in overtime. The Iowa defense showed up to force an Iowa State field goal which set up Stanley and the Iowa offense to take home the Cy-Hawk trophy.

Akrum Wadley ended the game with a strong statline, with 118 rushing yards and a touchdown on 28 attempts. Wadley also caught 72 passing yards and another touchdown on 4 receptions. Stanley and Wadley both needed large outputs to match Park with future NFL wideout Allen Lazard and Junior Hakeem Butler.

Next week, Iowa State travels to play Akron at 11 am central time on CBS Sports. The Iowa Hawkeyes return to Kinnick Stadium to take on the North Texas Mean Green on September 16th at 2:30 central time on ESPN2.

The post Iowa, Stanley “Ames” Past Iowa State appeared first on KRUI Radio.

After halftime the Hawkeyes came out and attacked the hoop early. Unfortunately while turnovers were the story of the first half, missed free throws were the headline in the second. Iowa shot a measly 41.2% on 7-17 shooting in the second half and 8-19 for the game. Add those 11 missed points to the 21 from turnovers in the first half and this game never goes to overtime, but, as the old saying goes, “that’s why they play the game.” While Iowa had its area of struggles, they were firing on all cylinders when it came to shooting the ball. “When you make 16 three’s and out rebound the opposing team, you’re supposed to win” Iowa Head Coach Fran McCraffery said after the game. The Hawkeyes shot 16-30 from three and 34-63 from the field.  Freshman Guard Jordan Bohannon led the attack notching another double-double to his young career with a game-high 25 points and 13 assists, after the game Coach McCraffery added that Bohannon is starting to “figure out the game.” While the season may be done for this year, figuring out how to be a big ten point guard is something that this team is going to need in the future.

Unfortunately, while Iowa was supposed to win this one, in the end, TCU came out on top 94-92. It was a heartbreaking overtime loss, but the loss the Hawkeyes might feel more moving forward is the loss of Peter Jok. No matter how much he, or his teammates, wanted Peter to walk off the court inside Carver Hawkeye Arena a winner after his last home game, Peter is a player that won’t soon be forgotten.  Over the course of his career at Iowa Peter hit on 216 three point shots, but what’s going to be missed the most isn’t his scoring, but the mentality he brought to the team. Redshirt-sophomore Nicholas Baer admitted that Jok, “is a bit of a goofball” after the game, but no one was short on compliments of Jok’s work ethic and how that correlated to his success. “He’s just a guy that’s always in the gym and our young guys have followed that lead” Coach McCraffery remarked after the game. No matter what ones thoughts on Peter might be, he deserved the round of applause from the fans that stayed after the game to give him his well-deserved send off.

For anyone that was worried that while this Iowa team is playing at a high level right now this break may lead to a setback, fear not. Coach McCraffery says they won’t take much time until they get ready for next season. For those of you that followed this season from beginning to end, know there were peaks and valleys, but there was always potential. If this team continues to grow and develop like they did this season, who knows how high the ceiling is.

The post Hawkeyes Bounced From NIT appeared first on KRUI Radio.