Nik Gable
Reporter
It all comes down to this.
In what has been the longest NFL season yet, due to rich greedy owners squeezing every last dollar out of what is already a billion dollar company?we’ve arrived at the finale. The Cincinnati Bengals face off against the Los Angeles Rams in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. With regards to national attention, this year’s Super Bowl is pretty underwhelming due to the lack of national support and fandom for both teams. Neither team has had the historical success to be able to develop a big national fanbase like the Dallas Cowboys or Green Bay Packers have. Despite this, both teams have a chance to hoist the Lombardi trophy by Sunday night’s end.
Rams: How They Got Here
The Rams started their playoff journey with a convincing 34-11 win at home against the Arizona Cardinals. The key to their domination in this game was the ability to get turnovers;Cards Quarterback Kyler Murray threw two interceptions including a calamitous pick six.Â
The Rams then faced the reigning super Bowl champions and part-time model Tom Brady. Despite the incredible 27-3 lead they held the aforementioned male model Brady led a furious comeback to tie the game. With less than two minutes on the clock, Rams QB Matt Stafford almost lost them the game with a fumble (a common theme these playoffs), but it was recovered by LA. Stafford then threw a bomb to wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who caught the ball within field goal range. This led to a Rams game winning field goal.
LA came home and faced their fierce rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, in a wacky but wonderful NFC championship game. Despite Stafford trying his best to not let the Rams win by throwing it right to a Niners safety. Stafford also threw an interception in the end zone at the beginning of the game. Then, for some reason, Rams head coach and known offensive guru Sean Mcvay did his best to put the Rams at disadvantage by challenging two plays that were clearly never going to go his way. Despite all this, the Niners one upped the Rams in the game of “who’s trying to lose this game the most,” but sputtering on offense and not going for it on a crucial 4th down late in the game.
Bengals: How They Got Here
As the Bengals entered the playoffs, they hadn’t won a playoff game since 1991. They hosted the Las Vegas Raiders and despite some controversial calls, resulting in the refs being put out to pasture for the rest of the playoffs. The refs blew a whistle early on a Joe Burrow touchdown pass which resulted in the Raiders’ defense stop playing. They made a last-second play to stop the Raiders from scoring on the final play of the game to survive and advance 26-19.
Cincy’s reward for winning their first playoff game since 91’ was to go on the road against the number one-seeded Tennessee Titans. Three interceptions from Tennessee QB Ryan Tannehill and nine sacks on Bengals QB Joe Burrow later, the Bengals rookie kicker Evan McPherson kicked them into the AFC Championship game.
After a 19-16 win against the Titans, the Bengals were back on the road against the presumed best QB in the league, Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs had made back-to-back super bowls and were up 21-3 against the Bengals. The Bengals stormed back with a massive second half, something that they’d done the entire year. After taking a three point lead, and then having Chiefs head coach Andy Reid fumble the bag when it came to play calling in the redzone for the Chiefs late in the game, the game went into overtime. The Chiefs won the coin toss and assumably won the game, but the funk of Patrick Mahomes continued into overtime when he threw a pick on the third play. The Bengals moved the ball into field goal range and hit another walk-off kick.
Quarterbacks Preview
Matt Stafford was drafted number one overall in the 2009 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. He spent his first 12 seasons with the Lions, who never surrounded him with a defense or a rushing attack. In the offseason he was traded to the Rams and finally got his chance to be surrounded by both a defense and a rushing attack. Stafford threw for 41 touchdowns, and flourished in Mcvay’s offensive system. For the Rams to win the Super Bowl, Stafford needs to take care of the ball; has a tendency to throw the game away. He hasn’t done it much this postseason, but with his cannon of an arm comes the confidence to make every throw. If Stafford takes care of the ball, it’ll give them the best chance to win.
The last 24 months of Joe Burrow’s life has been a Hollywood motion picture. Burrow won the Heisman trophy and the national championship in 2019 with the Louisiana State University Tigers. This led to him being drafted number one overall, just like Matt Stafford. Just like Stafford, he went to a historically bad franchise in the Bengals. Yet unlike Stafford, Burrow led a massive turnaround in his first full season after tearing his ACL in his rookie season. Burrow’s intangibles are what stand out —his brain processes information fast and his line of scrimmage audibles are amazing. His toughness to stand behind an offensive line that has underperformed all year is impressive for someone who is coming off an injury. Burrow has been compared to great QBs of the past, which only fuel his legend. During the pre-draft process all prospective first-round QB’s get put through various tests and evaluations by interested teams. Burrow was given a psychological evaluation which yielded amazing results in the dissociative property category. Burrow has to basically be doing what he’s been doing all season but on steroids if the Bengals have a chance to win. The Rams amazing pass rush will hound Burrow and he has to dodge, duck, dip, and dive his way out of danger to buy a couple more half seconds to be able to throw the ball.
Matchups to Watch
Jalen Ramsey vs. Ja’Marr Chase: Rams Cornerback Jalen Ramsey is one of, if not the best, corners in the league. However,Chase has had one of the best statistical seasons as a rookie wide receiver ever,according to Pro Football Reference. What has helped Chase is his connection with Burrow that they forged back in college at their time at LSU. It’s to be determined whether Ramsey will actually cover Chase the whole game or just when the coverage lines them up. Chase is a physical receiver who is also a speed demon, so Ramsey and the Rams will be successful if they can stop him from getting going.
Aaron Donald vs. Bengals O-line: By all accounts, Aaron Donald is the best player in the NFL. He’s made eight pro bowls and been named to seven all-pro teams. His disruption in the run game and sleepless nights he causes offensive play callers only furthers his status as the best in the game. He is going against one of the worst offensive lines to be in a Super Bowl in a while. This is a mismatch of epic proportions. The Bengals will have to think of innovative solutions to thwart Donald and not let him wreak havoc.
Burrow vs. Raheem Morris: The cat and mouse game between Burrow and Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris should be interesting. Burrow is great at getting plays changed at the line of scrimmage while Morris will have to be creative in his coverage designs. The Rams won’t have to blitz much considering their defensive line studs can gain pressure. So how they use their pass coverage will be interesting to see.
Cooper Kupp vs. Bengals pass coverage: Cooper Kupp dominated this season and won the receiving triple crown (leading the league in receptions, yards, and touchdowns) in an expanded 17-game season. Kupp’s ability to get open against zone and man to man is unmatched. Kupp has not been stopped all year and single handedly led many fantasy football owners to league titles. The Bengals defense and thus their pass coverage as well has been pretty middle of the pack. Against the Chiefs they were able to contain Tyreek Hill, who is one of the league’s best deep threats. Kupp, like Hill, is also a deep threat and mainly operates in the slot. Bengals corner Mike Hilton has been one of the better slot corners in the league for a while, according to Pro Football Focus.Â
Sean McVay vs. Himself: Sean McVay is one of the smartest offensive minds to ever grace a NFL sideline. He’s also a big overthinker in big games —the two boneheaded challenges in the NFC championship game were worrisome. The offensive genius only mustered three points in the 2018 super bowl, while their defense gave up 13 points. If McVay can get out of his own way, his team will have a chance.
Prediction
 Bengals 27 Rams 24
I’m betting on Burrow getting it done (literally and figuratively) and figuring out the Rams defense. He’s played in so many big games throughout his time at LSU and now in the pros with the Bengals. He’s ended up on the winning end of all of those games and he’s going to end up on the winning end of this one.
