Los Angeles Rams Win The Super Bowl

What a game! 

Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp holds the trophy.

The Los Angeles Rams defeated the upstart Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20 to win Super Bowl LVI on their home field at SoFi Stadium as wide receiver Cooper Kupp, the Super Bowl MVP,  hauled in two touchdown passes, including the game winner from quarterback Matthew Stafford (283 passing yards, three TD passes and two interceptions) with 1:25 remaining in the game. 

 

 

Kupp had eight receptions for 92 yards and the two scores in the game along with a huge seven-yard run on fourth down-and-one yard to go on their own 30-yard line with 4:36 left to play in regulation. Two Bengals penalties (holding and pass interference) helped the drive once the Rams got into the "red zone." Stafford connected with Kupp for the winning touchdown from one yard out and then the defense took over and squelched the Bengals offense as QB Joe Burrow was pressured and threw an incomplete pass on fourth down. 

Burrow passed for 263 yards and had one touchdown pass (a controversial 75-yard strike to wide receiver Tee Higgins) in the loss. Higgins hauled in the 75-yard scoring pass after getting away with a face mask against Rams defender Jalen Ramsey that knocked him to the ground, leaving Higgins uncontested for the catch and score to put Cincinnati ahead, 17-13 on the first play of the second half.  Higgins (four receptions for 100 yards) also had a six-yard TD reception from running back Joe Mixon on the option play that got the Bengals to within 13-10 with 5:47 left in the first half. 

The Rams scored first for a 7-0 lead when Stafford hooked up with WR Odell Beckham, Jr. on a 17-yard scoring pass with 6:22 remaining in the opening quarter. Beckham would later leave the game with a knee injury on a non contact play and did not return. Following the L.A. touchdown, Cincinnati got a 29-yard field goal from Evan McPherson to make it 7-3 but then Stafford threw for an 11-yard score to Kupp and a 13-3 advantage early in the second quarter. The score was 13-10 in favor of the Rams at the half. 

 

Bengals QB Joe Burrow and Rams QB Matthew Stafford meet up after the game.

After the big play to start the second half, the Bengals defense came up with another turnover as Stafford threw his second interception in the game off a deflection that eventually led to a 38-yard field goal and a 20-13 lead for Cincy with 10:15 remaining in the third quarter. Rams kicker Matt Gay drilled a 41-yard field goal with 5:58 left in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 20-16, setting the stage for the fourth quarter drama. 

 

 

 

The Rams defense came up big when it counted most, sacking Burrow seven times (including two each for Aaron Donald and Von Miller) in the game and pressuring him into the incomplete fourth down pass to seal the victory for the Rams.  

 

  

      CONGRATULATIONS to the LOS ANGELES RAMS - SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS!