Los Angeles Rams Have a Hollywood Ending in Super Bowl LVI

Rams overcome upstart Cincinnati Bengals, hoist the Lombardi in LA

On a beautiful afternoon in Inglewood, California, Super Bowl LVI was played in the newly constructed Sofi Stadium. The Los Angeles Rams, champions of the National Football Conference (NFC), were fortunate enough to have the Super Bowl located in their home stadium. Their opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals, champions of the American Football Conference (AFC), were the darlings of the postseason, defying all expectations for a young team enroute to a Super Bowl berth.

Going into the game, everyone blossomed over the quarterback battle — and rightfully so. Matthew Stafford of the Rams and Joe Burrow of the Bengals were each taken number one overall in their respective draft classes and have been slinging the ball with sheer determination throughout their respective careers. Stafford was repeatedly told he couldn’t win “the big one” after zero playoff wins in 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions, while Burrow was coming off ACL and MCL surgery on his left knee after an injury last season.

On the coaching side, it was a master versus an apprentice. Sean Mcvay, head coach of the Rams, had Bengals current head coach Zac Taylor employed as quarterbacks’ coach during the Rams’ 2018-2019 Super Bowl run, which ended with a loss to the New England Patriots.

The Bengals won the opening coin toss and deferred the ball to the second half, meaning the Rams got the ball out of the gate. The Bengals defense stuffed the Rams on their opening drive with local San Jose native Chidobe Awuzie leading the charge. On the Bengals opening possession, they got to midfield before being faced with a 4th down and 1, which would result in an incomplete pass from Burrow intended for standout rookie Jamarr Chase.

The Rams would take advantage of this field position and within a few plays were in the end zone for the opening score thanks to Odell Beckham Jr. The Bengals would respond with a 46 yard pass from Burrow to Chase, who beat all-pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The Bengals then had to settle for a field goal, leaving the score 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Rams were able to extend their lead off a long crossing route from Odell Beckham Jr. before losing him to a torn ACL. The play led to a touchdown off-play action from Stafford to Cooper Kupp, the NFL offensive player of the year. The Rams then muffed the snap on the extra point, leaving the score at 13-3. Not to be outdone, the Bengals closed the half riding the back of Oakland native Joe Mixon, who amassed several touches on the drive ending with a touchdown pass on a trick play from Mixon to Tee Higgins. The score heading into the break was 13-10 in favor of the Rams, with neither team setting a consistent pace on offense.

Chaos ensued in the beginning of the second half. On the first play from scrimmage, Burrow hit Higgins for a 75-yard touchdown, beating Ramsey. Crucially, Higgins grabbed Ramsey’s facemask and a penalty was not called, leaving Rams players, coaches and fans irate. On the ensuing Rams drive, Stafford threw an interception on a pass intended for rookie Ben Skowronek, taken away by Awuzie. The Bengals would add a field goal to make it 20-13 midway through the third quarter.

After losing Beckham Jr. in the second quarter, the Rams needed role players to step up and Brycen Hopkins got hot at the right time.. Three receptions later and the Rams cut the lead to 20-16 as the third quarter ended. Both defenses had come to play, sacking each opposing quarterback multiple times, resulting in both being nicked up with leg injuries for the rest of the game. The defensive slugfest continued as the Super Bowl wound down, with Aaron Donald, Von Miller and Ernest Jones getting sacks left, right and center. As the game clock dwindled, Stafford force-fed the ball to Cooper Kupp, getting down to the eight yard line as the two minute warning hit.

The final stretch of the game caused a lot of controversy. On third and goal from the eight yard line, Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson was called for a questionable defensive holding penalty that resulted in a first down for the Rams. Bengals corner Eli Apple was then called for an obvious pass interference penalty in the end zone on the next play, giving LA the ball at the one yard line. Stafford then connected with Kupp for his second touchdown, giving the Rams a lead they didn’t relinquish.

Cincinnati tied a record in a Super Bowl by giving up seven sacks, which came back to haunt them in the end. After getting stuffed on third and one from midfield, Donald pushed back and rushed Burrow on fourth down resulting in an incomplete pass. The Rams won Super Bowl LVI, the Hollywood ending from a rise to the occasion from Matthew Stafford. Cooper Kupp was named Super Bowl MVP, Van Jefferson and his wife had their third child right after the game and Taylor Rapp proposed to his girlfriend. A great night all around for the champions of the NFL’s self-proclaimed “Best Season Ever.”