Jim Cornelison's national anthem gets Bears off to rousing start

Soldier Field got off to a rocking start as Jim Cornelison sang the national anthem before Sunday night’s Bears-Rams divisional playoff game.

Cornelison, who sings the anthem and “O, Canada” before Blackhawks games at the United Center, had a national audience when NBC broadcast his rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The Rams and Bears are meeting in the divisional round for a spot in the NFC championship game against the Seattle Seahawks, who won the night of Jan. 17. Los Angeles last played for an NFC title in 2022, the year the Rams won Super Bowl 56. Chicago hasn't been to a conference championship game since 2011, when it lost to the Green Bay Packers.

Both teams are coming off tough wild-card round battles to earn a spot in the divisional round. The Rams took down a frisky Carolina Panthers team on the road in a back-and-forth affair, while the Bears won a big comeback victory at home over their divisional rival Packers.

Contributing: USA Today Sports