WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Having spent his college career in South Bend, Indiana – about an hour and 40 minutes from Soldier Field in Chicago – Rams running back Kyren Williams is no stranger to playing in the cold, or the elements.
So there he was, dashing through the snow toward the end zone twice across three red zone trips for the Rams' offense against the Bears' defense, those four- and five-yard touchdown runs difference-makers in an eventual 20-17 overtime win delivered by kicker Harrison Mevis' game-winning 42-yard field goal.
"Oh, it was everything," Williams said of being able to impact that game the way he did. "People talk about the weather, people talk about the things that they think that you can't do until you go in there and do them. So to me, that's exactly what it was. I knew exactly what this team was capable of. I knew, man, we weren't worried about no dang cold, I tell you that, that's for sure."
Williams finished the game with 21 carries for 87 yards in addition to those two touchdowns, his efficiency key to sustaining drives for L.A.'s offense when it went to the run game.
Of course, that's not the only way he's able to impact games.
His contagious play energy is a big reason why he was voted a team captain heading into this season, and that leadership-by-example doesn't go unnoticed.
"I think he's a stud in terms of his great energy," head coach Sean McVay said. "He's a lead by example guy. He's got this authentic energy. He has this consistent belief and this 'never say die' attitude. He's got this mental and physical toughness. He is so authentically and refreshingly himself. I think that's why it resonates with his teammates. He never asks anything of his teammates that he's not willing to do. He's done a hell of a job."
The Rams will need that production and example once again from both Williams and running back Blake Corum against the Seahawks, who had the NFL's No. 1 scoring defense for the 2025 season.
"I guess getting the feel for a game," Williams said, when asked what the challenge is facing a team a third time as a running back. "I think the first game, they were showing a little bit different than the second game, and then third game, I'm sure they're going to have a change-up somewhere and somehow. But I think that's our big goal this week, is just being able to play fast and play with the understanding, play with a clear mind to know that this is our job. This is what we had to do. There's not much other adjustments that we have in practice for, so it's just going out there and just being who we are, and just playing to the best of our ability."
