Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford celebrates after the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Staff Writer Haley Aguayo
The 2022 Super Bowl marks the second consecutive year the home team will not only play in the Super Bowl but win it as well. With a shock to the world, Tom Brady announced on Feb. 1 that last year’s Super Bowl win in Tampa would be his last. Now without an obvious winner, who would people root for? The Heisman winning quarterback led underdogs from Cincinnati or LA’s dynamic legion of athletes?
Despite failed trick plays and two interceptions, it was ultimately the Los Angeles Rams who prevailed in the last few minutes of the game to make them the ultimate hometown heroes. Not only to LA but to Dallas as well with the notable alumni position held by QB Matthew Stafford, graduate of Highland Park High School.
The Rams took first control of the game when Stafford, under pressure, threw to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for the first touchdown. Beckham, who recently left the Cleveland Browns due to lack of passer rating, made a triumphant comeback in LA, so it was no surprise he made the first TD of the game.
Bengals kicker, Evan McPherson, put a few points on the board for his team when he made a field goal. McPherson was also one of the many athletes who stayed on the field during halftime to watch the halftime show.
A second TD made by the Rams was Stafford to WR Cooper Kupp, a play that boosted many fantasy teams throughout the 2021 season. Though, thanks to a bad snap, an extra point was not made, making the score 13-3 in favor of the Rams.
WR Tee Higgins made the first TD for the Bengals carrying the score to Rams 13-10 Bengals, finishing off the first half. Before half though, Beckham was helped off the field after a knee injury which led many people to wonder if the Rams could still come out on top without the extra help from a key player.
The halftime show was extraordinary as it was the first rap halftime show ever. West Coast Rappers Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Kendrick Lamar took the stage, followed by Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent and Eminem. ESPN released an article calling it “the best halftime performance of all time.”
To start off the second half, in the first 10 seconds, Higgins made a second TD bringing the score to 17-13. About 20 seconds later, “the Cincinnati Bengals have a touchdown and a takeaway” commentator Al Michaels calls out after Stafford throws an interception to Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, a former defensive player for the Dallas Cowboys.
To continue with no major turnovers, Rams kicker, Matt Gay, and K McPherson both made field goals and brought the score up to 20-16.
With many flags on the play in the final quarter, it seemed like it would never end but Kupp put that theory down by making the third and final TD of the night for the Rams, bringing their score up to 23-20 in the last two minutes of the game. Former Bengals wide receiver and now sports commentator Cris Collinsworth said, “In a pressure situation, I don’t know if I have ever seen anybody be better than Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp, they had no choice,” of their last minute attempt to win.
Kupp, a major asset throughout the season, was named the Super Bowl MVP shortly after the game concluded.
This was the third time the Bengals have made it to the renowned game, and a win would’ve made it their first but nonetheless their stats are maintained at 0-3. Though Joe Burrow and company have nothing to be ashamed of as they held a higher score for most of the game.
This is the second Super Bowl NFL’s youngest coach, Sean McVay, has led his team to, but their first win with the coach and their second win as a franchise.
By no means was this anything shy of a great game and a tremendous demonstration of athleticism in American football.
