Rams beat Bengals at Superbowl LVI

The 2022 Superbowl was one of the more anticipated Super Bowls in NFL history, featuring the Los Angeles Rams vs the Cincinnati Bengals. Both teams have young superstars, such as Cincinnati QB Joe Burrow and Rams WR Cooper Kupp. 

The Bengals had three Pro Bowlers: wide receiver Jamaar Chase, running back Joe Mixon, and defensive end Trey Hendrickson. The Rams had four Pro Bowlers: Kupp, kicker Matt Gay, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, and defensive linemen Aaron Donald. 

Going into the game, the Rams were projected to win by four points, and they prevailed 23-20. This was the second year in a row that one of the teams ended up playing at their home stadium because last year the Tampa Bay Buccaneers played in their home stadium and also won beating the Chiefs 27-24.

In the beginning of the game both teams came out flat on their first drive, but then a quiet 10 minutes in the first quarter, QB Matt Stafford found Odell Beckham Jr in the endzone for a touchdown. The Bengals fired back but could only manage to kick a field goal on their drive. 

Early into the second quarter Stafford found Kupp for a 11-yard touchdown pass, but the holder muffed the snap which led to the Rams only being up 13-3. Later on in the second quarter Mixon found Tee Higgins wide open in the end zone for a trick play, making the score 13-10 going into halftime. 

The first play out of halftime Burrow heaved it on the first play for a touchdown to Higgins The Bengals got a stop in the next drive and managed to kick a field goal on their possession making the score 20-13 Bengals. In the Rams next drive Gay kicked a field goal and made the score 20-16. 

The Rams then got a stop and drove down with a minute left to go and Stafford found Kupp in the endzone, to take the lead 23-20. The Rams managed to stop the Bengals on the next drive and ended up winning the game.

Many fans were rooting for the Bengals and former Heisman trophy winner Burrow, who is a fan favorite among the league because of his outgoing personality and because he beat Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game. 

Many NFL fans were getting sick of seeing the Chiefs in the Superbowl, and when Burrow beat the Chiefs, people started calling Burrow, “America’s Quarterback,” “I really wanted Burrow to win it because they are such a young squad and Burrow seems like the most likable guy on the Bengals,” sophomore Luke Trentadue said.

The Rams had a team that had a lot of likable players on their roster as well, such as Stafford. Many people felt for Stafford because he wasted most of his career with the Detroit Lions, but he got traded to the Rams last year and made history. “I really wanted Stafford to win it because of how bad his team was. His career was wasted in Detroit and only one year in Los Angeles he ended up winning. I was happy for the guy,” junior Ben Perleberg said.

The Rams also have Odell Beckham Jr,  veteran linemen Andrew Whitworth as well as Aaron Donald and Von Miller, two guys who have always wanted the best for themselves and their team. “I wanted the Rams to win because of Matt Stafford, I think he deserved it the most out of anyone in that game, and the Bengals will definitely be back because of how talented they are,” junior Anthony Sardina said.