NFL Game Of The Week: Cincinnati Bengals Vs. Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl LVI

The AFC champion Bengals will travel to SoFi stadium on 2/13 to take on the NFC champion Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI. The Rams lost to New England in their last Super Bowl appearance in 2020, while the Bengals will be returning to the title game for the first time since losing to San Francisco in 1989. The Rams will be the second team in NFL history to host the Super Bowl in their home season, following last season's Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay. 

The Bengals rallied from a 18-point deficit (tying the record for biggest comeback in an AFC Championship) to take down defending AFC champion Kansas City 27-24 on Sunday for their first playoff win since 1990. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow completed 23-of-38 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns with one interception, and rookie kicker Evan McPherson hit a 31-yard field goal with 9:22 left in overtime to seal the win. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw three touchdown passes, but Cincinnati's defense also intercepted him twice, including Von Bell's key pick in overtime that ultimately lead to McPherson' game-winner. 

The Bengals completed their turn around from last season's 4-12 finish by winning eight of their last 10 behind the arm of second-year star Burrow, who's rookie season ended with a torn ACL and MCL in Week 11. The former Heisman winner and No.1 pick overall in 2020, Burrow completed 366-of-520 passes for 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns with 14 interceptions in the regular season. Burrow's four touchdown passes in the postseason put him at 38 for the year, tied for fifth among league quarterbacks. 

Rookie wideout Ja'marr Chase (101 REC, 1,734 YDS, 14 TDS) is his top target. Chase set a Bengals rookie record for most receiving yards in a regular season with 1,455 and most receiving yards in a game by an NFL rookie with 266 in a Week 17 win over there Chiefs. Tee Higgins (88 REC, 1300 YDS, 6 TDS) Tyler Boyd (77 REC, 890 YDS, 6 TDS) and tight end CJ Uzomah (62 REC, 628 YDS, 6 TDS) are all weapons in a Bengals passing attack that is averaging 257.6 yards per game this season (8th). Uzomah suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee during the first-half of the AFC Championship game, but has vowed to play in the Super Bowl. He's listed as "questionable" on the Bengals' injury report. 

Despite Cincinnati's passing explosion, their offensive line has struggled, giving up 51 sacks during the regular season, the most in the NFL. They'll need to do everything they can to protect Burrow against a ferocious Rams pass rush which recorded 50 sacks during the regular season, good for third in the league. Burrow has been sacked 12 times during the postseason, but the Chiefs only managed to get to him once during the conference championship.  

Running back Joe Mixon (344 ATT, 1,395 YDS, 14 TDS) is another offensive threat the Rams will have to account for on Sunday. The fifth-year back also caught 42 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns during the regular season. This could be a trouble spot for the Bengals who will be a facing a Rams team that is tough against the run. Mixon has only scored once during the playoffs, and is averaging 3.5 yards per carry over the last eight games, including the postseason. The Bengals are more of a pass-oriented team, averaging 100.3 yards per game on the ground (23rd) and 25.3 rushing attempts per game (20th), but getting Mixon going will help set-up play action and keeps the Rams secondary in check. 

Linebacker Logan Wilson lead the Bengals in tackles during the regular season with 100 (57 solo). Safety Vonn Bell was not far behind with 97 (64 solo). Wilson also intercepted a team-leading four passes. The Bengals recorded 42 sacks this season, good for ninth in the league. Cincinnati has struggled against the pass, giving up 247.7 yards per game though the air (26th), but they have been strong against the run, giving up 106.2 yards per game on the ground, good for eighth. 

In his first season in Los Angeles following more than a decade in Detroit, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed 72-of-100 passes for 905 yards and six touchdowns with one interception in their three playoff games, following a regular season in which he threw for 4,886 yards and 41 touchdowns. Stafford threw 17 interceptions (tied for most in the league) during the  regular season, but has thrown just one in the playoffs. 

Stafford's favorite target and good buddy is wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Kupp finished the regular season with 145 catches for 1,947 YDS and 15 touchdowns, leading the team and the league in touchdown catches and receiving yards. Van Jefferson (55 REC, 881 YDS, 6 TDS), Tyler Higbee (70 REC, 675 YDS, 5 TDS) and newly acquired Odell Beckham Jr. (46 REC 541 YDS, 6 TDS) are a few of Stafford's other favorite dangerous receivers. The Rams are averaging 275.4 yards per game through the air (5th). 

Darrell Henderson Jr. (149 ATT, 688 YDS, 5 TDS) and Sony Michel (232 ATT, 923 YDS, 4 TDS) have split the load at running back for a Rams rush that has been relatively pedestrian on the ground, averaging 98.3 yards per game (25th). Michel's 121 yard game against Jacksonville in week 12 was the first of only two 100-yard rushing performances by a Rams back this season. Henderson suffered an MCL sprain in the Rams' week 15 win over Minnesota, and second-year back Cam Akers (59 ATT, 254 YDS) has stepped in to replace him, getting the bulk of the carries in the post-season. 

Safety Jordan Fuller leads the defense with 113 tackles (63 solo) while the always dangerous Aaron Donald leads the team with 14 sacks. Troy Reeder (104 tackles, 54 solo) and Von Miller (42 tackles, 32 solo) are just a few of the other Rams who make-up a ferocious pass rush that will look to exploit the Bengals' sack-prone offensive line. Los Angeles is weakest against the pass, giving up 238.1 yards per game (21st), but they finished the year tied for third in interceptions with 19, including a team-leading four by cornerback Jalen Ramsey. They have recorded four interceptions in their three playoff wins. The Rams are one of the best in the league against the run, allowing 98.2 yards per game (5th). 

Prediction

Both teams feature outstanding quarterbacks who have each teamed with their talented receiving cores to put up big numbers. Stafford is interception prone, while Burrow can be sacked before he has a chance to get the ball to someone like Chase. Cincinnati, even with all of their offensive weapons, won't have enough to get past the Rams' pass-rush. Los Angeles gets a Super Bowl win at home. 

Rams 30-Bengals-21

 




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