Super Bowl weekend is finally amongst us! Once again, the NFL season has flown by before we knew it. This year was filled with unpredictable outcomes, an aging era of QB’s, and a new era of football. Two greats in Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger called it a career, a day football fans felt would never come. The NFL has a bright future with a spectacular class of young QB’s already taking this league by storm such as Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, and more. We will get our first look at Joe Burrow on the biggest stage Sunday night against the Rams as he looks to lead Cincinnati to their first Lombardi trophy.
Super Bowl 56 headlines two QB’s hoping to cap off a tremendous story. This is the first Super Bowl in NFL history where both QB’s are #1 overall draft picks. Rams QB Matthew Stafford is in his first season with the Los Angeles Rams after spending 13 years with the Detroit Lions. Entering this year Stafford was 0-3 in his playoff career, he is now 3-3 with three wins this postseason. Stafford certainly seems to have proven he was worth trading for 2 first round picks and QB Jared Goff. On the other side, Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow is in only his second season (first full season). Burrow tore his ACL, MCL, and any other ligament you can name in the knee less than a year ago. The Bengals franchise had not won a playoff game in 31 years prior to their Wild Card win against the Raiders a few weeks ago, now they are on the cusp of their first Super Bowl title. Joe Cool has completely transformed this franchise in only 2 years, something no Bengals QB could do since Boomer Esiason in the 1980’s. Burrow also looks to become the first QB in football history to win a Heisman Trophy, National Championship, and a Super Bowl.
This game has the potential to be an all-time Super Bowl, I have a feeling it will come down to key plays late in a tight game. Both secondaries are in for a tough task. The Bengals will have to deal with the best WR in football in Cooper Kupp, Odell Beckham Jr, and an elite QB in Matthew Stafford. As for the Rams, it has to be a little discouraging to know that sacking Burrow 9 times still might not be enough to win the game. The Bengals get the ball to everybody. Mixon, Perine, Boyd, Higgins, you name it. It is hard to game plan for them. The Rams cannot let Ja’Marr Chase have one of those games or they are in for a long night. Jalen Ramsey needs to lock up, that simple.
Sean McVay has shown time and time again he struggles with timeouts, clock management, playing conservative with leads late in the game, and not making key adjustments. The Rams would not be in this game if Buccaneers DC Todd Bowles didn’t call a cover zero on the final play of the NFC Divisional Round. The Rams blew a 27-3 lead within a quarter and a half. They also blew a late lead in Week 17 against the 49ers with the Division title on the line. The Bengals are a clear-cut second half team. All year long they have surged in the second half, making game-changing adjustments that have led to big time victories. That being said – I believe the Rams will jump out early, getting what is theirs on both ends of the football and head to the locker rooms at halftime with the lead. In the second half it will be a different story, just like it has been all year with these Bengals. The Bengals will find their rhythm and the Rams pass rush will begin to slow down as the game progresses. Matthew Stafford will throw a key game changing interception late in the 4th quarter, leading to the Bengals’ Evan McPherson kicking a game winning, Super Bowl winning kick.
Prediction: CIN (+3.5) Cincinnati Bengals: 31
Los Angeles Rams: 28
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