Super Bowl LVI Will be Bengals vs. Rams (Just Like Everyone Predicted)
Super Bowl LVI will be the Super Bowl match-up nobody thought would happen when the season began in September.
The upstart Cincinnati Bengals stunned the Kansas City Chiefs in a 27-24 overtime thriller, earning their first Super Bowl assignment since the 1988 season when the Boomer Esiason-led Bengals lost to Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers 20-16 in Super Bowl XXIII.
Facing the Bengals in two weeks will be the LA Rams, who become the second straight team to host a Super Bowl in their own building. That became possible after the Rams erased a 10-point deficit to shock the 49ers 20-17.
There is plenty to chew on between now and Super Sunday, but first let’s take a quick look at what we witnessed on Sunday.
IT IS US! pic.twitter.com/Kr3N7hT68y
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 31, 2022
The Bengals became just the second team in NFL history to comeback from a deficit of 18-points or more to win a conference title game. They trailed the Kansas City Chiefs 21-3 in the second quarter, with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes playing nearly perfect football. Mahomes tossed three touchdowns in the first half, and the game appeared to be on its way to turning into a route.
Things started to settle down for the Bengals late in the first half when Samaje Perine took a screen pass from quarterback Joe Burrow, and weaved his way through defenders to the end zone for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 21-10.
In response the Chiefs were in position to tack on points before the half, but Head Coach Andy Reid elected not to kick a field goal with five seconds left that would have given K.C. a 14-point halftime lead. Instead Mahomes dumped a pass off to Tyrek Hill, who was quickly gang-tackled to end the end without points for the Chiefs. That miscue proved to be the turning point.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JANUARY 30: Defensive end Sam Hubbard #94 of the Cincinnati Bengals tackles quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs late in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 30, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
In the second half, the Bengals defense was the star. Before the Chiefs kicked a game-tying field goal at the end of regulation, the Bengals held the Chiefs to only 34-yards of offense in the second half. Mahomes was running for his life, and couldn’t find any open receivers down field. Credit Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo for making incredible adjustments in the second half.
The Bengals trip to LA quickly started coming to fruition when B.J. Hill tipped a Mahomes pass at the line of scrimmage and picked it off at the Kansas City 30-yard line with 2:23 to go in the third quarter. A few plays later Ja’Mar Chase was in the end zone for the touchdown on a 2-yard reverse to make it a 21-19 ballgame. The Bengals tied it on a two-point conversion via a pass from Joe Burrow to Trent Taylor.
The Bengals took their first lead of the day with 6:04 to go in the game on a 52-yard field goal by Evan McPherson.
Now it was up to Mahomes, and the former Super Bowl MVP couldn’t get his team into the end zone. In four plays inside the Bengals 10-yard line, all in the final 90 seconds of regulation, Mahomes was sacked twice forcing a Harrison Butker field goal to force overtime.
In OT, Mahomes threw up a lollipop that was intercepted by Vonn Bell. Burrow efficiently moved the Bengals 42-yards on nine plays to set up McPherson with a 35-yard field goal, which he drilled to send the Begnals to the Super Bowl.
SHOOOOOOOOOTER SENDS US TO LA!
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 30, 2022
Visit https://t.co/KpeqK4RKUm for more highlights. pic.twitter.com/vb03jFYigS
Burrow is trying to become the first quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy, National Championship in college football and Super Bowl in NFL history.
Meanwhile in LA, the connection between Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Cooper Kupp proved to be too much for the San Francisco 49ers to handle in the fourth quarter.
The Rams struggled offensively for much of the evening, trailing by as much as 10-points, 17-7 as the final stanza began.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 30: Odell Beckham Jr. #3 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts in the final moments of the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game at SoFi Stadium on January 30, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Then Stafford turned things into overdrive for LA. The former Detroit Lions quarterback was a perfect 5-of-5 on the Rams opening possession of the fourth quarter, which culminated on an 11-yard touchdown strike to Cupp that cut the Niners lead to 17-14.
After Jimmy Garappolo was unable to get San Francisco moving on its next possession, the Rams continued to stay hot, and even a little lucky. On Stafford’s first pass with 9:55 to go, he was nearly picked off by Jaquiski Tartt. But the safety couldn’t corral the ball, and it fell in and out of his hands. On the next play, Satfford hit former Giant Odell Beckham Jr. for a 29-yard gain. A few plays later Stafford hit Cupp again, this time for 16-yards, and went back to Beckham again for seven yards, before LA settled for a game-tying field goal.
At this point the Niners had no answers. Another three and out by Jimmy G and company paved the way for the Rams comeback. The biggest pass of the night coming when Stafford hit Cupp in stride for a 25-yard gain to the San Francisco 12-yard line. The Rams would later kick a field goal to take a 20-17 lead.
🗣 WE AIN’T DONE YET! pic.twitter.com/pejfjcpMqg
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 31, 2022
Garappolo threw one last pass in desperation from San Fran’s own 22-yard line that was picked off to seal the deal for the Rams.
The Rams are back in the Super Bowl for the second time in four years under Head Coach Sean McVay.
This will be the first time the Rams and Bengals meet in the Super Bowl. The Rams are 1-3 all time in the Super Bowl; their lone victory coming in 1999 against the Tennessee Titans. The Bengals are 0-2 in the Super Bowl, with both losses to the 49ers.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 30: Cooper Kupp #10 of the Los Angeles Rams catches a touchdown in the second quarter against Jaquiski Tartt #3 of the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game at SoFi Stadium on January 30, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 30: Matthew Stafford #9 and Cooper Kupp #10 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrate after an 11 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game at SoFi Stadium on January 30, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JANUARY 30: Safety Vonn Bell #24 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates after intercepting the Kansas City Chiefs during overtime of the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 30, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JANUARY 30: Head coach Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates with the trophy after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24 in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 30, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
