By Darin I am not sure I ever thought it would be possible for an NFL quarterback to throw a 40+ yard TD dart when their team faced a fourth-and-four situation on their opponent’s 14-yardline with less than 20 seconds left, and the season on the line. Then again, who would even imagine this?
On January 18, 2026, during the NFC Divisional Round game in Chicago, Bears QB Caleb Williams most certainly made the improbable a reality.
For years, Chicago fans have prayed for a quarterback who could deliver “the moment.” On Sunday night, January 18, 2026, Caleb Williams gave them one that will be replayed in Soldier Field lore for decades—even if the scoreboard didn’t land in their favor. In a bone-chilling, snowy battle that felt like classic NFC playoff football, the Los Angeles Rams managed to outlast the Chicago Bears 20–17 in an overtime thriller.
The Game of Inches and Ice
The matchup was a defensive “rock fight” from the jump. Both teams struggled to find a rhythm in the sub-zero wind chill, entering halftime locked at 10–10. The Rams finally seemed to seize control late in the fourth quarter when Kyren Williams punched in his second touchdown of the day, giving Los Angeles a 17–10 lead with less than nine minutes remaining.
After a gut-wrenching turnover on downs at the goal line, it looked like the Bears’ “storybook” season under first-year coach Ben Johnson was coming to a quiet end. But with 1:50 left and no timeouts, Caleb Williams took the field for one last stand.
“The Heave”: A Play for the Ages
What happened next was pure, unadulterated magic. Facing a 4th-and-4 from the Rams’ 14-yard line with only 27 seconds on the clock, the pocket collapsed instantly. Williams was forced to retreat, backpedaling nearly to the 40-yard line as Rams defenders closed in.
In a play that defied physics, Williams launched a “fadeaway” prayer while falling backward. According to Next Gen Stats, the ball traveled a staggering 51.2 air yards on what was technically a 14-yard touchdown pass. It hung in the snowy air for what felt like an eternity before dropping perfectly into the arms of Cole Kmet in the back corner of the end zone. The stadium exploded as the extra point tied the game at 17–17, sending the contest into overtime.
The Aftermath
Ultimately, the magic ran out. Despite the Bears winning the toss in overtime, an interception by Rams safety Kam Curl set up “The Thicker Kicker,” Harrison Mevis, for a walk-off 42-yard field goal.
While the Rams head to Seattle for the NFC Championship, the significance of this game for Chicago cannot be overstated. The Bears didn’t just compete; they proved they have a superstar capable of the impossible. The “Heave at Soldier Field” may not have won the game, but it signaled the definitive start of a new era in Chicago football.
