The Chicago Bears had to wait almost a full 24 hours after their wild-card game win to find out who they’d be playing.
In the NFL’s dynamic bracket playoff format, the No. 2-seeded Bears, with their win over the Green Bay Packers, earned a matchup with the highest remaining seed in the conference other than the No. 1 Seattle Seahawks. The No. 5 Los Angeles Rams are the highest-seeded team remaining in the NFC after the No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles‘ Jan. 11 loss.
Advertisement
Chicago will host the Rams for its second playoff matchup this year, with a spot in the NFC championship game on the line. It will be the third time in history that these two teams have met in the playoffs. The last occurrence was in January 1986, when the Bears shut out the Rams, 24-0, to win the NFC title en route to the franchise’s lone Super Bowl victory.
NFL NEWS, TAKES, FANTASY ADVICE: USA TODAY Sports has you covered with our NFL vodcast
1 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
1 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
2. New York Jets – Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
3 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
3. Arizona Cardinals – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State
4 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
4. Tennessee Titans – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
5 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
5. New York Giants – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
6 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
6. Cleveland Browns – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
7 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
7. Washington Commanders – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)
8 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
8. New Orleans Saints – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
9 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
9. Kansas City Chiefs – David Bailey, DE/OLB, Texas Tech
10 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
10. Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
11 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
11. Miami Dolphins – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
12 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
12. Dallas Cowboys – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
13 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
14 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
14. Baltimore Ravens – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
15 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
16 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
16. Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
17 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
17. Detroit Lions – Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (Fla.)
18 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
18. Minnesota Vikings – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
19 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
19. Carolina Panthers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
20 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
20. Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
21 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
22 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
22. Los Angeles Chargers – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
23 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
23. Philadelphia Eagles – Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
24 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
24. Buffalo Bills – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
25 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
25. Chicago Bears – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
26 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
26. San Francisco 49ers – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
27 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
27. Houston Texans – Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
28 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
28. Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
29 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
29. Rams – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
30 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
30. New England Patriots – Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M
31 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
31. Denver Broncos – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
32 / 32
2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
32. Seattle Seahawks – Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State
Who will Bears play next?
The Bears will play the Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs. As the No. 2 seed in the NFC, Chicago will host the fifth-seeded team.
Advertisement
The NFL has yet to announce whether Bears vs. Rams will take place on Saturday, Jan. 17 or Sunday, Jan. 18.
NFL PLAYOFF FORMAT: How the NFL playoffs work for the 2025-26 postseason
Updated NFL playoff bracketAFC
The Buffalo Bills are into the divisional round after defeating the Jaguars. They will play the Broncos if the Patriots defeat the Chargers on Jan. 11.
NFL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE: When is each game of the NFL playoffs scheduled?
NFC playoff bracket
(This story will be updated with new information.)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2025 NFL playoff bracket: Who will Bears play in divisional round?