Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie stole a tipped pass the following play, Stafford’s second interception in short time. Leave it to Burrow to unleash a bomb toward receiver Tee Higgins down the left sideline, and Higgins capitalized for a 75-yard touchdown after Rams All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey lost his footing on a play Ramsey seemed to have expected a flag on for a facemask. Cincinnati couldn’t convert before halftime but needed just one play in the third quarter to unload. Stafford heaved a prayer on third-and-14 later in the drive, and Bengals safety Jessie Bates III instead intercepted in the end zone.
Facing third-and-9, with 3:54 to play in the first half, Beckham dropped a pass and clutched his left knee. Beckham attempted a crossing route akin to one on which he’d earlier raced upfield to net a 35-yard gain. He’d strike again as Kupp faked a block before hauling in an 11-yard touchdown in the second quarter.īut the momentum swung shortly before halftime. The Rams were on the board first, Stafford hitting fellow 2021 acquisition Beckham on an airborne 17-yard touchdown with 6:22 to play in the first quarter. He said the “up and down” game resembled the Rams’ inconsistent season and perhaps they even hearkened to Stafford’s high-octane but mistake-prone performances in a season replete with 41 touchdowns but 17 interceptions.Īnd yet, like his regular-season wave, Stafford built a cushion early and would deliver late when he mattered most. Stafford completed 26-of-40 passes for 283 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. The victory provided at least short-term validation for the Rams’ all-in approach, with the club having traded a slew of draft picks to acquire Stafford, outside linebacker Von Miller and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season became the first team to do it. With a strong presence of Rams fans in the crowd of 70,048, the team became only the second to win the Lombardi Trophy in its home stadium.
It was the Rams’ second Super Bowl title in franchise history, with the first coming in 2000. “For the offense to be able to find a way and Aaron to finish it off,” head coach Sean McVay said, “is poetic.”
But would the Bengals answer? Three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald ensured Cincinnati wouldn’t when he wrapped up Burrow on 4th-and-1 to seal the win with 39 seconds to play. Quarterback Matthew Stafford found star receiver Cooper Kupp for the go-ahead, 1-yard touchdown with 1:25 to play. The Los Angeles Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl 56 Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
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