The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI on Sunday. This was the Rams (16-5) first NFL title since the 1999 season, with Kurt Warner and the ‘greatest show on turf’. Also, it was their first representing Los Angeles since 1951.
The Rams dominated most of the first half, with wide outs Odell Beckham Jr. and Cooper Kupp scoring the first two touchdowns of the game. Beckham easily beat cornerback Mike Hilton on a corner pattern for the 17-yard score. The Bengals responded in the late stages of the second quarter with a trick play that led to a touchdown pass by running back Joe Mixon to Tee Higgins and an interception by Jessie Bates III.
Beckham, one of the Rams best receivers, was assisted off the field and left the game in the second quarter with a non-contact knee injury and did not return. The Rams had a three point lead at the half, 13-10.
The Bengals got off to a fast start in the second half with a 75-yard touchdown and a pick within the first 22 seconds, which changed the trajectory of the game. Higgins caught the touchdown in the first 12 seconds of the third quarter, beating All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and clearly tugged Ramsey’s face mask on the play, making the score 17-13. 10 seconds later, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie picked off the pass from quarter back Matthew Stafford. Kicker Evan McPherson tied Adam Vinatieri’s post season record with his 14th field goal, a 38-yarder. At the end of the third quarter, the Bengals led 20-16.
The fourth quarter was filled with suspense about who was going to leave the field victorious. After a drove that was 15 plays long, with four runs and 10 passes, Kupp scored a crucial touchdown, giving the Rams a three point advantage with 1:35 to go. The nail biter ended with a fourth down sack by Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald on Bengals signal caller Joe Burrow. Burrow was sacked a Super Bowl record-tying seven times. Early in the fourth quarter, Rams outside linebacker Von Miller sacked Burrow on a third down. As Miller spun Burrow down, Burrow’s right foot got pinned underneath him. The injury was not as severe as it looked.
“I was disappointed in my performance overall,” said Burrow, the NFL Comeback Player of the Year who was 22 of 33 for 263 yards and a touchdown. That’s going to propel us into next year … we’re not satisfied with what we did this year”.
Here are some of the stats for the key contributors of the game
Los Angeles Rams:
• Matthew Stafford: 26/40 pass attempts, 283 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions
• Cooper Kupp: eight receptions, 92 yards, two touchdowns
• Odell Beckham Jr.: two receptions, 52 yards, one touchdown
• Cam Akers: 13 rush attempts, 21 yards
• Aaron Donald: four tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, three quarterback hits
Cincinnati Bengals:
• Joe Burrow: 22/33 pass attempts, 263 yards, one touchdown
• Tee Higgins: four receptions, 100 yards, two touchdowns
• Ja’Marr Chase: five receptions, 89 yards
• Joe Mixon: 15 rush attempts, 72 yards
• D.J. Reader: one sack, one tackle for loss, three quarterback hits
Rams pass catcher Cooper Kupp was named Super Bowl LVI MVP. Kupp was also named NFL’s offensive player of the year on Thursday. He is only the eighth wide receiver to win this honor and the first since the New England Patriots Julian Edelman in 2019. Kupp was magnificent in 2021, averaging 114.5 receiving yards per game while tallying 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns — all NFL highs, making him the first player to achieve the receiving triple crown since 2005.
Rams coach Sean McVay, who just turned 36 years of age, is the youngest Super Bowl-winning head coach, but this is not his first rodeo. The Rams came to the Super Bowl looking to redeem themselves after losing the big game in 2019 against the New England Patriots. That game saw head coach Sean McVay making his Super Bowl debut as the youngest ever to coach a team in the Super Bowl, according to the NFL.
“We always talk about there’s something special about being a part of something bigger than yourself,” McVay said. “These guys play for one another.”
