Can Sean McVay overcome Soldier Field demons?

Back in 2018, one of the more important football games of the modern era took place when the Los Angeles Rams took on the Chicago Bears. On that Sunday night, it was Sean McVay’s offense going up against Vic Fangio’s defense.

The Rams had scored 30 or more points in 10 of their previous 12 games up to that point. Fangio’s Bears gave McVay, Goff, and co. one of their most miserable experiences in the NFL. The Rams were held to six points as Jared Goff threw four interceptions. It’s also the last time that the Bears won on Sunday Night Football.

Last season, the Rams played the Bears at Soldier Field, attempting to avoid an early-season stumble out of the gate. The Rams went 1-for-4 in the red zone and lost 24-18. It was the second of what would only be five wins for the Bears in 2024.

McVay’s last two wins at Soldier Field came in December of 2015 and 2016 as an offensive coordinator in Washington. Washington won both games.

However, the Rams have always had their demons at the stadium on the lake. In 1985, the Rams played the Bears in the NFC Championship. Dieter Brock threw for 66 yards and Eric Dickers was held to 46. It’s the only playoff game since the merger between the Rams and Bears. To make the loss sting worse, the Rams won at Soldier Field the next season and were the second of two losses for the Bears in the regular season.

Since Soldier Field opened in 1971, the Rams are 5-11-1 and have lost four straight going back to 2003. They are 1-5 after the month of December, their only win coming in 1973 when they won 26-0. Lawrence McCutcheon rushed for 152 yards on a day when it was still 45 degrees.

Throughout their history, these are the games that the Rams have lost. Good Rams teams have come up empty because they’ve had to play on the road in cold-weather playoff games.

• 1967: Lost 28-7 to the Green Bay Packers in 13-degree weather as 3-point favorites after winning in LA.
• 1969: Lost 23-20 to Minnesota Vikings in 11-degree weather.
• 1974: Lost 14-10 to Vikings in 29-degree weather after winning in regular season.
• 1976: Lost 24-13 to Vikings in 19-degree weather. Tied in regular season.
• 1983: Lost 51-7 to Washington in 28-degree weather.
• 1985: Lost 24-0 to Bears in 36-degree weather.
• 1986: Lost 19-7 to Washington in 35-degree weather.
• 2020: Lost 32-18 to Packers in 35-degree weather.
• 2024: Lost 28-22 to Philadelphia Eagles in 34-degree weather.

Good Rams teams have come up empty because of having to play on the road in cold weather in the playoffs. Seasons like 1974 and 2024 end up as forgotten seasons in which they may have won the Super Bowl had they won those games. The Rams had dominant teams in the mid-70s and lost to the Vikings three times.

These are the games that have plagued the Rams and McVay throughout history and his tenure. The Rams played the Packers four consecutive years at Lambeau Field late in the season. They lost all four of those games. One of those was a playoff loss while two others could have put the Rams in a better position for seeding.

How the Rams will perform in the cold weather and on the road on Sunday has been a major talking point, especially when it comes to Matthew Stafford. However, the bigger question is whether McVay can call a winning game in these conditions. Can McVay lean on the run game and call a physical brand of football? While McVay is 4-1 at home in the playoffs, he is only 4-3 on the road. The Rams lost to a Ben Johnson-led offense in the playoffs in 2023.

After falling short to the Eagles in the cold weather last season, the Rams built their roster for this moment. They built one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum rank first and third in rushing success rate. The Rams have the best run-blocking offensive line in the NFL and statistically the best of the last 30 years. They have the highest run-stop win-rate in the NFL after getting gashed against the Eagles.

Back in 2021, it was Matthew Stafford that needed to overcome his playoff demons. This season and Sunday are much more about McVay overcoming his.