Patience is a virtue: sometimes you have to wait half a recovery call. And yet, I don't think the Rams are complaining after beating the Cincinnati Bengals (23-20) at home to win their first Super Bowl in Los Angeles.
After the second half opened with one of the worst no-calls in Super Bowl history and a five-minute, 10-point swing, the momentum of the game seemed to turn the Bengals' way. Odell Beckham Jr. was out, Matt Stafford played scared and it looked like the Rams were about to let the game get out of hand at their home stadium.
And then the last trip. How do you pick a play from those final minutes? Is it the defensive makeup call for Tee Higgins' outrageous no-name face mask on Jalen Ramsey (or is it the face mask itself)? Is Cooper Kupp's jet sweep the 4th and 1st? Kupp's game-winning catch to complete a 4:48 drive in 15 games that gave the Bengals less than 90 seconds to try to build a winning drive?
It's hard to single out a single moment from the trailer now dubbed the game of the game, but Stafford and Kupp's ability to get on the field and make the plays when it matters most after being held against a second-half field goal of the game, possibly with the help of the referees at a very momentous moment, was the turning point in tonight's thriller.
Obviously, we can't overlook Aaron Donald's explosive inside run that ended in a game-ending sack despite a desperate last-second shot from Joe Burrow that landed near a receiver - Donald's overall performance today was incredible. . But Kupp, whose unlikely trip here in the postseason was well documented, will take home the MVP trophy after playing for eight receptions, 92 yards and two touchdowns after the WR2 OBJ was eliminated with a knee injury. at the end of the first half.
Kupp, a 28-year-old receiver who was selected in the third round of the eastern Washington draft, capped a remarkable year in which he received the Triple Crown, which led the league in receptions, miles and touchdowns, with the Super Bowl. MVP conquered. Only Jerry Rice had achieved this feat in 1989.
"I just can't find the words," Kupp said as he was presented with the MVP trophy. "I'm so thankful for everyone."
Joe Burrow and Stafford also feared injury, but neither missed a snap. Cincinnati's offensive line struggled throughout the game (no big surprise), allowing seven sacks on Burrow, including two from Von Miller and Donald. On the other hand, the L.A. It looked abysmal: They were averaging less than 2 yards per attempt, and the Rams entered the fourth quarter down two turnovers (and an unfortunate PAT drop). But you can't rule out Matt Stafford, I think. And the referees have to make amends.
