Why the NFL chose NBC for Rams-Bears divisional-round game

Chris Simms (from left), host Maria Taylor, Devin McCourty and Jason Garrett will be at Soldier Field on Sunday for NBC’s “Football Night in America” before the Rams-Bears game. Showtime is 5 p.m.NBC Sports

After the Packers-Bears wild-card game Saturday on Prime Video made history as the most-streamed NFL game ever, NBC will make less-heralded history with the Rams-Bears divisional-round game Sunday.

The home of “Sunday Night Football” has aired divisional playoff games before, but never in the 5:30 p.m. Sunday window, which traditionally has gone to CBS and Fox. Sunday late-afternoon games have the highest viewership, as evidenced by the 49ers-Eagles wild-card game last Sunday drawing 41.1…