We just witnessed one of the best Super Bowls in recent memory with the Rams taking Super Bowl LVI. Both teams wanted to make history and very few players had even made it to the Super Bowl before.
Matthew Stafford was looking to end his postseason drought, and Joe Burrow was trying to be the first quarterback to be a Heisman winner, national champion and Super Bowl winner.
The Bengals made some big plays, but the Rams persevered. Matthew Stafford led a game-winning drive at the end of the fourth quarter, and Joe Burrow couldn’t bounce back with a drive of his own.
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The Rams were favored, but they did not cover the spread. Still, none of that matters when you end the year with a win in the Super Bowl.
This was a hard-fought game, but Los Angeles came out on top. So, how did the Rams beat the Bengals and win the Super Bowl? Here were some keys to the game that they knocked out of the park.
The Rams Abandoned the Run
You come into a big game with a game plan. For the Rams, that included running the ball to force Cincinnati to fill the box. This failed miserably. Cam Akers couldn’t consistently gain yards, and the Rams put themselves in bad positions repeatedly.
The Rams only had 43 rushing yards. This could have been the nail in the coffin, but they were willing to adapt. You have to credit Sean McVay for his decision to commit to the passing game despite two interceptions by Matthew Stafford.
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When the Rams lost to the Patriots a few years ago in this game, it was because they refused to adapt. They were not prepared for what the Patriots had in store, and it limited the offense all night.
In this game, the Rams pivoted and trusted their new quarterback, and they won the game because of him.
Every team wants to win in the trenches. The Rams tried, and they failed offensively. Unsteady, they won in the air, and that is why they are champions.
Credit the Defensive Line
A key to winning this game was to always pressure Joe Burrow. The Rams had to force quick decisions with the pass rush without bringing blitzing players. When you have Aaron Donald and A’Shawn Robinson, that is easier to do.
Donald had an elite game, and he made the big play on fourth down to put this game on ice. He registered two sacks and was consistently in Burrow’s face.
However, it wasn’t all Donald. Von Miller had a major impact off the edge. He also had multiple sacks in this game. The Rams traded for Miller for this moment, and he lived up to the hype. Once again, he played a pivotal role in a Super Bowl win.
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Reports came out that Donald would consider retirement with a win. If that was his last game in the NFL, he can safely say that he went out on top. He was a dominant force, and his ability to attack the interior of the offensive line was crucial.
The Bengals will have to invest in their offensive line. Outside of Jonah Williams, every player is replaceable at the moment.
Defense wins championships, and that was proven in this game. Credit Donald and the defensive front for limiting what the Bengals could do offensively. You can only do so much against Joe Burrow, but the sack production was crucial.
Cooper Kupp Took Over
Kupp had the second-most-productive season in NFL history as a receiver. Everyone knew that he was going to be the leader in targets for the Rams. However, he had a somewhat tame first half. At least, he was tame by his standards this year.
When OBJ went down, it became more important for Kupp to step up. No other receivers were able to produce consistently. Despite everyone knowing who was going to get the ball, Kupp still won on anyone guarding him.
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He scored two touchdowns and was the main target on the final drive of the game. He made catch after catch on his way to winning Super Bowl MVP.
You want to trust your best players in the biggest moments. That is exactly what the Rams did in the fourth quarter. Win or loss, they were going to give the ball to Cooper Kupp. The routes weren’t elaborate or unique.
He simply won by doing what he’s done all year. It was a fitting end to an amazing season by Kupp.
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