The Rams are Super Bowl Champions after coming from behind to beat the Bengals 23-20
Los Angeles Rams #9 Matthew Stafford (QB) throwing a pass to an open receiver downfield. Photo by Jevone Moore.
INGLEWOOD, CA - Matthew Stafford had to rally the Los Angeles Rams to come from behind and beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 to become Super Bowl Champions at SoFi Stadium.
Stafford completed 26 of his 40 passes for 283-yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Cooper Kupp caught eight passes for 92-yards two touchdowns, and Odell Beckham Jr. had two catches for 52-yards and one touchdown.
Joe Burrow finished the game completed 22 of his 33 passes for 263-yards one touchdown, and Tee Higgins led the Bengals in receptions with four catches for 100-yards and two touchdowns.
The Rams took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter after Stafford threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Beckham Jr. in the endzone. The Bengals trail 7-3 after their kicker Evan McPherson kicked a 29-yard field goal.
Los Angeles Rams #10 Cooper Kupp was named the MVP in Super Bowl LVI. Photo by Jevone Moore.
Kupp scored his first touchdown of the game in the second quarter, when Stafford threw an 11-yard touchdown pass, making the score 13-3, with 15:21 left on the clock before halftime.
The Rams fans during the second quarter held their breath as Beckham Jr. had to leave the game after hurting his knee trying to reach back for a pass from Stafford.
Los Angeles Rams #10 Cooper Kupp was named the MVP in Super Bowl LVI. Photo by Jevone Moore.
Tee Higgins had the Bengal trailing the Rams 13-10 at halftime after running back Joe Mixon threw a 6-yard touchdown.
The Bengals struck quickly on their first possession of the third quarter when Burrow threw a pass to Higgins, who grabbed Jalen Ramsey by the face mask and threw him down went 75-yards for the touchdown to give them a 17-13 lead.
San McVay, Ramsey, and the Rams couldn't believe that the officials missed the offensive pass interference by Higgins.
Los Angeles Rams #10 Cooper Kupp (WR) 1-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford. Photo by Jevone Moore.
McPherson kicked a 38-yard field goal to give the Bengals a 20-13 lead. The Rams trailed 20-16 at the end of the third quarter when Gay kicked a 41-yard field goal.
The moment of truth for the Rams came late in the fourth quarter when Stafford and their offense marched down the field and went 79-yards, and Kupp made a 1-yard touchdown catch on the right side of the endzone to give them a 23-20 lead with 1:25 left in the game.
Los Angeles Rams #99 Aaron Donald (DL) forced Cincinnati Bengals quarterback #13, Joe Burrow, to miss a pass on fourth and one. Photo by Jevone Moore.
Aaron Donald put the final nail in the coffin for the Bengals when he flushed burrow out of the pocket on fourth and one, had his arms around him, causing him to miss his receiver, and the Rams took over on downs.
Stafford would kneel to run out the clock, and the Rams became the second team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl in their home stadium.
Los Angeles Rams #99 Aaron Donald (DL) can now celebrate he is finally a (Super Bowl Champion). Photo by Jevone Moore.
McVay can put aside any doubts about being a great coach in the NFL, surround himself around great players, and coaches, who believed in each other, and build a championship team.
"For the offense to be able to find a way and Aaron to finish it off," head coach Sean McVay said, "is poetic."
Donald's eight years in the NFL and hard work finally paid off, and now can add to his resume, an NFL Champion.
"I'm just so happy, I wanted this so bad. I dreamed this, man. I dreamed this, and it's, like, surreal," Donald said. "It's the best feeling in the world. God is great."
What a great way for the Los Angeles Rams to end the season as Champions of the NFL