It was a game that felt like a summary of the Rams’ entire season. Back and forth, sometimes overtly stressful other times impressively fluid, with momentum swinging like a pendulum. When the dust settled and the confetti rained down, the best team ultimately won. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20, to win Super Bowl LVI. Star wide receiver and Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp took home the game’s MVP award.
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The Rams’ offense looked potent for most of the first half. Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr. were matchup nightmares for the Bengals secondary, putting up two touchdowns early. However, Beckham left the game late in the second quarter after a non-contact knee injury. He would not return to the game and his absence was felt immediately. The Rams struggled to get anything going offensively for most of the second half. Then, down by four points with less than four minutes to go in the final quarter, Cooper Kupp took over.
On the Rams’ game-winning offensive drive alone, Kupp had four catches for 39 yards, including the final touchdown. He finished with eight catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns to ice the cake on his historic season. After winning the receiving triple crown in the regular season, Kupp becomes the eighth wide receiver to win Super Bowl MVP. Defensive end Aaron Donald sealed the victory with crucial pressures on Bengals QB Joe Burrow in the final minutes of the game. Donald, a future Hall of Famer, cements his legacy with the long-coveted championship ring. The Rams become the second consecutive team to win the Super Bowl in their home stadium after the Buccaneers did it last season. This is the second Super Bowl title for the franchise, the first coming back in the year 2000.
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For the Bengals, this loss doesn’t take away from their impressive season. Cincinnati wasn’t even considered a playoff team, let alone a title contender, entering the season. The emergence of Joe Burrow has put this Bengals franchise back on the map. When your quarterback can lead you to the Super Bowl in just his second professional season, your team is in good hands for the future. But please get this man someone who can block on the offensive line. The Rams sacked Burrow seven times, leading to one crucial injury scare and, ultimately, a devastating end to a magical season. At times, Cincy felt like a team of destiny, but Los Angeles simply had too much star power.
The 2021-22 Los Angeles Rams were a team constructed for one purpose – bringing home a championship. They’d been writing the script for years, trading away future draft picks in mass to get premiere talent. Back in 2019, they acquired All-Pro corner Jalen Ramsey from the Jaguars. Last offseason, they sent Jared Goff and several picks to Detroit for quarterback Matthew Stafford. They also traded for All-Pro pass-rusher and Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller back in November. Less than a month later, they brought in Odell Beckham Jr. All four played key roles in Sunday’s victory. Mortgaging their future seems to have paid off for the franchise.
Thus concludes the 2021-22 NFL season. As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments section below! Lastly, in case you missed it, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers Wins 4th MVP Award.
