WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – After the Rams won a nail-biter in the wild-card round, they will travel to Chicago this weekend with a trip to the NFC Championship Game on the line. Two high-powered offenses with exceptional offensive minds leading the way will square off in frigid temperatures to determine who will advance to take on either the 49ers or Seahawks in the next round.

Ahead of the matchup, Rams head coach Sean McVay, quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receivers Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, outside linebacker Jared Verse, defensive coordinator Chris Shula, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur and special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica spoke with local media about their preparation for the divisional round matchup. Here are the most significant quotes and talking points from those press conferences.

"It's one thing where you see (Bears quarterback Caleb Williams) play in time and in rhythm, good accuracy and anticipation. But then some of those second reaction plays where he's getting flushed to his right or getting flushed to his left and guys understand how to be able to work with him, those are the ones that are really scary." - McVay

McVay said that the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is "playing at a high clip," with his ability to understand concepts and read defenses, but the out of structure plays are the ones that can really change the game. Williams' ability to avoid sacks combined with Johnson's tendency to "use all five eligibles" to create favorable matchups have elevated this offense to one of the league's best, and McVay is acutely aware of the impact that can have. He complimented Chicago's ability to finish games and create explosives, both of which were pivotal to their comeback wild-card win over Green Bay last week.

In terms of the cold, McVay said "there's a couple things you have to be mindful of," but they have found ways to adjust to those circumstances in the past, and intend to do so again on Sunday. "I think you do have to have a feel, but I think the way that our guys play, I think it suits us well in any sort of conditions, and that's kind of what we've always said," McVay said. He joked that they would "get the biggest cold plunge ever" before practice to prepare for the cold before reiterating that they won't "waste our emotional energy on things that we can't control."

When asked if he's spoken with Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, who was a former offensive coordinator with the Rams and the brother of current OC Mike LaFleur, McVay smiled and said, "What do you think? ... We watch the tape, we do our work, and Matt is a very close friend of mine." LaFleur is very familiar with Johnson, having played his Bears three times this season and several times a year when Johnson was the offensive coordinator in Detroit.

"You just got to go figure out what the elements are, how it's going to affect the ball, go play... So you just kind of figure it out as you go. So each one is its own unique set of circumstances. I know that both teams are playing in it. You just go out there and execute the best you can." - Stafford

Stafford has a scuba suit that he's worn under his uniform during cold-weather games dating back to his days in Detroit. He plans to do so again on Sunday because it keeps him warmer, but "it's not skin-tight," he said. When asked if playing in that kind of outdoor, freezing environment is fun, Stafford said "I think so... That feels right when football's outdoors, you're playing it late in the year, it's cold, it means a lot. So I'm embracing it, I know our team is as well."

After spraining the index finger on his throwing hand during last week's wild-card win, Stafford said it feels "great" and doesn't expect the cold to affect how it will feel come game day.

The Bears led the league in defensive turnovers this season, and Stafford acknowledged that creating those plays is how that defense has "thrived" and has given them some points as well throughout the year. "I think it boils down to who their players are," Stafford said. "They've got a really good back end, talented back end that catches the ball when it's in their area. They do a nice job up front as well, affecting the pocket. So it'll be a big challenge for us."

The Rams are planning on getting some reinforcements, however, in Dotson, who has been out since Week 16. "He's a mountain of a man," Stafford said of Dotson. "He's a beast. When he was playing this year, I thought he was one of the best guards, if not the best guard in the league. if we can get him back, obviously that would be a huge boost. His physicality, his ability to go out there and play is great, but also just the energy he brings."

"I mean, there's going to be a little bit of rust, obviously, any time you take a little bit of time away from the game action. It takes you a little bit of time to get back into it. Like I said after the game, I don't think I played great, but I don't know how much I would attribute it to missing a few weeks, maybe some of it." - Adams

Adams caught five passes on 13 targets for 72 yards against the Panthers last week in his first game back from a hamstring injury. He wasn't satisfied with that performance when talking to reporters after the game and then again on Wednesday, and didn't attribute those struggles to his own health or Stafford's finger getting hit mid-game. He didn't know that the injury had happened until after the game, and didn't see a difference in his quarterback's play. "He's not wanting to make a big deal out of stuff like that," Adams said.

There is nothing Adams can do personally to help his teammates prepare for sub-freezing temperatures as a former Packer, but he said that everyone has "tricks of the trade." Adams has never worn sleeves in a game in his entire life, so he will be enduring the cold at Soldier Field without layers.

Adams reiterated how grateful he is to be in a position to play meaningful football in January, saying "We get to play a kid's game, for a king's ransom. So at the end of the day, I'm grateful for all the opportunities."

"Not only do they lead the league in turnovers, they capitalize on them on offense. It's been one of the major reasons to their success, so our guys are aware of that. We're aware of it every week. Everyone's always preaching taking the ball away, there's 32 teams doing the same thing. They just happen to do it at a high clip, they've been coached well and the guys are executing." - LaFleur

The Bears' 33 defensive takeaways led the league in 2025, and the Rams' offense is aware of the impact that can have on Sunday. "That back half sure finds a way to get to the ball," LaFleur said, but they aren't worried about how the cold may affect Stafford's ability to throw it.

He acknowledged that they do things to prepare for the cold weather, "but not with our guy," referring to Stafford. "He's been in it too long, he's been in that division." From a film standpoint, they are preparing for this game like they would any other, by gleaning what they can from games in different conditions and with varying personnel that will be active on Sunday.

"We obviously have great rushers and we want to let them go, but at the same time, you've got to be disciplined (against Williams). You've got to rush four as one, you've got to stay in your lane, all that type of stuff. We know at some point he's probably going to get out. We've got to be disciplined on the backend and plaster and stay on our man." - Shula

Williams has looked "calm" and "comfortable" no matter the situation. He could be checking it down in the pocket or sprinting into an off-platform throw near the sideline, but Shula said he always seems to be in control. The well-rounded group of pass catchers that he throws to "can make you pay" if they get the ball in space, with tight end Colston Loveland being their "go-to-guy" especially in recent weeks. "You feel like if you give too much attention to just one guy, then there's a bunch of other guys that can hurt you," Shula said. That means there will be an emphasis on team defense and communication "even more so" than usual.

With cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon going on Injured Reserve with a shoulder injury, Shula said "A couple guys got to step up," in their rotation. That includes midseason addition Roger McCreary and veteran Darious Williams (who was a healthy inactive last week), while Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and Cobie Durant will need to continue producing on the outside.

When asked about the cold, Shula said "I know we'll be ready to go no matter what the temperature is."

"It brings me back to a different time and a different place. Again, I grew up on the south side (of Chicago), and so I'm very, very familiar with playing the game, whether it be in the snow or the cold or the wind." - Kotwica

When Kotwica was promoted to special teams coordinator ahead of the team's Week 17 matchup against Atlanta, the team responded with a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown on Monday Night Football. "I like the intent of the guys," he said. "They responded very well (when I took over). When I think back, you don't have too much time because you're always looking forward. But did a great job coming out." He also likes what he's seen from the return game. "I think we've been a multiplier for our team," Kotwica said.

Kicker Harrison Mevis hasn't missed a kick since the coordinator change, and has only one miss all season. Kotwica likes his quick get-off and knows that, being a midwesterner himself, Mevis is used to kicking in the elements and will know how to handle it.

Kotwica is looking forward to the homecoming, and is not shying away from the frigid temperatures. He's also embracing the magnitude of the game. "Every play will be on a spotlight, not only in special teams, but on the offensive and defensive side of the game," Kotwica said. "But that's what we signed up for. That's what makes the game so great."

As Kotwica has tried to find a balance between what players have been taught and what he can teach them at this point in their careers, he's noted how helpful it is to have a wide variety of ages, personalities and experiences on special teams. Players like Jordan Whittington bring a bright energy, while Mevis has been "even-keeled," especially for a rookie.

"You get to (Williams), you have to wrap him up. It's not like any lunging. You can't jump at him. He's very athletic. He's very nimble. He's very able to get away from anything you bring to him. So you have to just keep running your feet when you wrap him up." - Verse

Williams has been escaping rushers "all season long," Verse said, and the Rams' front will have to be in constant pursuit to keep him contained and finish sacks. Still, the Rams "don't rush scared." They know their jobs and what lanes they are responsible for, and the responsibility of containing Williams in the pocket won't negate the effectiveness of how they rush the quarterback. "I can't get too high, I can't get too low, my job is just to get the quarterback off the spot," Verse said.

Last season, some members of the Rams' defense warmed up shirtless in a freezing December game against the Jets. Verse said the cold has never bothered him, being from Ohio and playing college ball in upstate New York for a few years, but that idea was brought about by former Rams outside linebacker Michael Hoecht, and Verse doesn't anticipate them repeating it. "It might be short sleeve like always, but shirtless, we'll have a conversation about that," Verse said.

The Rams have allowed some comebacks defensively this season, and the Bears have orchestrated them on offense many times. When asked what mindset they can use to avoid that, Verse said, "You can't become satisfied with anything in the game," positive or negative, and that's where he said L.A. has struggled in the past. His playoff mindset hasn't changed since last year, when he told the media that he never wanted his teammates to feel the way they did after losing in the divisional round to the Eagles almost exactly a year ago. That still drives him and his teammates.

"I think the continuity, I think communication in the back end (allows the Bears to create turnovers). Being able to be on the same page, I think the hand signals, but just the trusting in the person next to you. In this game of football, trust is required, especially on that other side of the ball, knowing where people are and understanding where you are in the football field. And they have great trust in each other. So it'll be an opportunity for us to work our technique and then show that we trust each other." - Nacua

The Rams have gone 1-3 in games where they lost the turnover margin, and that hasn't gone unnoticed by Nacua. "I think in the games that we've had, the outcomes that didn't come our way, it was in the turnover margin," he said. The Bears' secondary is full of playmakers who can swing that battle in their favor, but Nacua is going to do everything in his power to prevent that.

Nacua said he will "be wearing that jacket no matter what" on the sidelines, and will be using plenty of hand warmers. He reiterated that trust will be a major factor in unfamiliar elements, but pregame reps, finding "landmarks" on the field and understanding how the weather could affect the path of the ball will also help.