Graphic by Raj Brodie
Renee Lu
Sports Reporter
Game Info
When: 6:30 pm ET Sunday, February 13th
Channel: NBC
Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
In a year where the NFL had no dominant teams, and any team that was dominant one week was just as likely to stumble the next week, everyone was told to expect the unexpected, and that’s what happened. The Cincinnati Bengals are representing the AFC, following a 4-11 season one year ago, and after beating out great AFC opponents like the Titans and the Chiefs, they deserve this Super Bowl appearance. The Rams are representing the NFC after going all in this year. Having traded for Matthew Staford and Von Miller, as well as signing Odell Beckham Jr., their efforts have finally paid off.
Bengals Offense vs Rams Defense
This season, the Bengals’ offensive line has had issues protecting Joe Burrow. In the playoffs alone, he has taken 11 sacks. The Bengals’ offensive line will have their hands full because they will have to defend a Rams pass rush consisting of Aaron Donald and Von Miller. They also have Jalen Ramsey on the back end who will have his hands full, likely covering Ja’Marr Chase, who has had a monster rookie season and a great postseason with 20 receptions off 27 targets for 279 yards. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has already been great in this playoff run and has made history being the first-ever, first overall pick to make the Super Bowl in his 2 first seasons. Burrow has been great this postseason, leading a shocking 18-point comeback against the Chiefs and leading the Bengals on a game-winning drive against the Titans. They also have other great weapons, including Tee Higgins, who has 14 receptions on 23 targets for 209 yards and running back Joe Mixon, who had 190 yards on 53 carries. The Rams defense needs to figure out how they’re going to defend all those weapons, and it’s going to be no easy task. Aaron Donald and Von Miller need to be a factor in this game because if they let Joe Burrow light it up and throw under no pressure, it will be a lot harder for the Rams to win. The one big question for the Bengals’ offense is will their tight-end CJ Uzomah. He sprained his MCL in the win against the Chiefs, and although their head coach Zac Taylor says it looks encouraging that he could play in the Super Bowl, if he doesn’t play, it will be a big loss for the Bengals offense.
Rams Offense vs Bengals Defense
It is key for the Rams offense to get off to a quick start and not to give up that lead. In their last game, they let the 49ers get out to a fast start, and if not for a clutch interception by Travin Howard, they would have been in major trouble. In their game before against the Buccaneers, they almost blew a 17 point lead. And after the Bengals came back from down 18 points, we know that their defense is capable of making adjustments and shutting down the opposing offense. Still, shutting down the Rams offense won’t be easy, as they have Odell Beckham Jr, Cam Akkers, and Cooper Kupp, who leads the NFL in receiving yards, receptions, and touchdowns. It’s also important that the Rams don’t make any mistakes like Cam Akkers fumbling the ball in a crucial moment, or Matthew Staford throwing an interception. In the Bengals’ whole playoff run, they have led in turnover differential. In the last 3 games, they got interceptions in key moments in the last few minutes, either win the game or set Joe Burrow up to lead a game-winning drive.
Special Teams
This playoff season, special teams have been the deciding factor. In the last seven playoff games, five have been decided by field goals. These two teams match up well, and if this game comes down to a walk-off field goal, the Bengals’ rookie kicker Evan Mcpherson has been more accurate than Rams kicker Matt Gay and arguably more clutch as well. Evan Mcpherson has kicked 2 straight game-winning field goals to get the Bengals to the Super Bowl, while Matt Gay has missed 2 field goals in this Rams playoff run that could have cost the Rams their games and subsequently their season. One was a 47-yard attempt against the Buccaneers with 6:36 left in the 4th, and the other was against the 49ers where with 1:50 left in the second quarter, he missed a 54-yard attempt.
Betting
Even Though the Rams are playing at home, technically the Bengals are the home team because it’s the LA Chargers (AFC team) hosting the Super Bowl. The Rams are currently 4 point favorites, and the line has been increasing in the Rams’ favor since the match-up was set. These teams match up well, and because no team has a major advantage over the other, it will likely be a very close game, and a field goal might decide who wins. Take the Bengals to cover the spread.
The over-under for total points started at 50 points but has slowly crept down and is currently at 48.5 points. In a year where offense is everything, and more points are being scored than ever (the Rams are averaging 28 points per game in this playoff run, and the Bengals are right behind them with 24 points per game), bettors are becoming more inclined to bet on the over. Still, we have to keep in mind that it’s the Super Bowl, and slow starts are possible. If the line gets below 44 points, take the over, but anything above would be a toss-up.
