The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL Divisional Round Sunday Recap: Patriots handle Texans, Rams outlast Bears in OT
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Jan 19, 2026 The recap kicks off with the Patriots securing their spot in the AFC Championship after a bizarre win against the Texans. The Rams' thrilling overtime victory over the Bears is scrutinized, highlighting Chicago's defensive strategies and painful turnovers. Caleb Williams' potential shines despite costly mistakes, raising questions about his development. Key coaching decisions on fourth downs are debated, while New England's varied pressure tactics are praised for shutting down the Texans' offense. The analysis wraps up with reflections on the Bears' promising future and what's next for the Patriots.
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Bears Defense Carried The Game
- The Bears defense dominated most of the game and disrupted the Rams' early game plan with aggressive pressure and DB play.
- Small moments and unlucky bounces decided the outcome despite a remarkable defensive performance.
Small Moments Felt Monumental
- Robert Mays revisits several pivotal 'sliding doors' moments like Rome dropping a goal-line catch and a fourth-and-two call that could have flipped the game.
- Those near-misses and decisions made the loss feel especially crushing despite overall success.
Weigh Going For Two Versus Overtime
- Consider going for two in high-variance games to avoid overtime when short-yardage is reliable.
- But weigh short-yardage performance before deciding, since failing there can backfire.