LOS ANGELES — Like most Tremendous Bowls, the main focus of Tremendous Bowl LVI might be on the 2 quarterbacks.
The Rams’ Matthew Stafford, who escaped Detroit a 12 months in the past and now has the Rams on the verge of a title, and Joe Burrow, the wunderkind who piloted the Bengals right here in his second season. The quarterback battle has loads of intrigue with two No. 1-overall draft picks squaring off for simply the second time (Peyton Manning vs. Cam Newton in Tremendous Bowl 50 was the opposite).
However this recreation goes a lot deeper than the quarterbacks. There are star extensive receivers, questions concerning the offensive strains and Aaron Donald, who could be the most effective participant within the NFL. With that in thoughts, let’s take a deeper dive into the matchups we’ll see Sunday night time in Tremendous Bowl LVI:
Bengals cross offense vs. Rams cross protection
It's arduous to not love what Burrow has completed in these playoffs. The second-year marvel has overcome poor cross safety to win three video games and get the Bengals right here. He was sacked 9 occasions within the divisional spherical towards the Titans, however nonetheless discovered a option to win.
Donald, the three-time NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months, leads a unit that was ranked third within the league with 50 sacks. Burrow was the most-sacked quarterback within the NFL, taking place 51 occasions within the common season. If the Rams can dominate the road of scrimmage, it will likely be arduous for Burrow to work his magic. Donald had 12.5 sacks this season, and he's joined on the road by former Tremendous Bowl MVP Von Miller, who has a sack in six of his previous seven video games.
The Rams ranked twenty second in cross protection however gave up simply 17 touchdowns, the second-fewest within the league. Jalen Ramsey could be the most effective cornerback within the NFL. It is going to be an interesting matchup if he covers Bengals rookie star receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Chase had 1,455 receiving yards within the common season, probably the most by a rookie within the Tremendous Bowl period. Within the postseason he has a rookie-record 279 receiving yards.
Edge: Bengals
Bengals run offense vs. Rams run protection
Can the Bengals take a number of the stress off of Burrow by operating the ball? The Bengals ranked twenty third within the common season in dashing yards per recreation and have probably not managed video games within the playoffs on the bottom, although they did rush for 116 yards within the AFC Championship recreation towards the Chiefs.
Joe Mixon is the Bengals’ lead again, and he had a robust season with 292 rushes for 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The Rams have a robust line of defense, led by Donald. Los Angeles completed No. 6 within the NFL in dashing protection this 12 months, and the yards might be arduous to come back by for Mixon and the remainder of the Bengals.
The Rams have been stout towards the run this postseason. They gave up 61 dashing yards to the Cardinals, 51 to the Buccaneers and held the high-powered 49ers’ dashing assault to 50 yards within the NFC title recreation.
Edge: Rams
Rams cross offense vs. Bengals cross protection
The Rams have probably the greatest offenses in soccer with coach Sean McVay on the controls. Stafford has match proper into the offense and has made performs within the passing recreation through the postseason.
However the potential star of this Tremendous Bowl within the Rams’ offense is Cooper Kupp. He led the NFL in all three main receiving classes — receptions (145), yards (1,947) and touchdowns (16) — within the common season. He's the primary participant in NFL historical past to tug off that feat and play for a Tremendous Bowl workforce. Solely Jerry Rice (1989 and 1994) and Drew Pearson (1977) have made it to the Tremendous Bowl in the identical season they led the league in receiving. Within the postseason, Kupp has 25 catches for 386 yards and 4 touchdowns. He can high Travis Kelce (31) for probably the most receptions in a single postseason with a giant recreation Sunday.
Former Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was a key in-season addition for the Rams and has given Kupp a pleasant complementary receiver on the alternative facet from him.
The Bengals ranked twenty sixth in cross protection this season however have created turnovers within the postseason. Cincinnati is plus-five in turnover ratio within the playoffs. They've six interceptions by six completely different gamers. Vonn Bell arrange their additional time win within the AFC Championship when he picked off Patrick Mahomes.
Defensive finish Trey Hendrickson has been a very good free-agent signing for the Bengals. He had 14 sacks this season and can absolutely draw probably the most consideration from the Rams’ offensive line.
Edge: Rams
Rams run offense vs. Bengals run protection
That is one space the place Cincinnati has a transparent benefit. Led by defensive sort out D.J. Reader, the Bengals ranked fifth in dashing protection within the common season. Coordinator Lou Anarumo’s group does an incredible job towards the run, and the Rams ought to have a troublesome time gaining yards on the bottom.
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Los Angeles was twenty fifth in dashing offense and scored simply 10 dashing touchdowns through the season. The Rams did get a postseason increase with the return of Cam Akers, who had torn his Achilles in the summertime. Akers got here again for the ultimate recreation of the common season, however had simply 5 carries in that recreation. He has had 54 within the three postseason video games.
With Akers out, the Rams have been led by Sony Michel down the stretch of the common season. Michel had 845 dashing yards and 4 touchdowns. Michel is making his second Tremendous Bowl look after going through the Rams three years in the past as a Patriots rookie.
Edge: Bengals
Particular Groups
Bengals rookie kicker Evan McPherson has turn into one of many breakout stars of this postseason. McPherson is 12-for-12 in field-goal makes an attempt within the playoffs, together with kicking clutch game-winners. McPherson has been unfazed by the stress of the playoffs, and if the sport comes all the way down to a kick, the Bengals have to be ok with it.
Bengals punter Kevin Huber is a dependable veteran, who averaged 46.4 yards per punt this season.
Rams kicker Matt Homosexual has not gotten as a lot consideration as McPherson, however he has been cash for the Rams in these playoffs. He hit two massive discipline targets down the stretch towards the 49ers within the NFC Championship and kicked the game-winner as time expired towards the Buccaneers within the divisional spherical.
Johnny Hekker averaged 44.2 yards per punt and will be counted on to flip the sphere for the Rams.
Brandon Powell is usually a harmful returner for the Rams.
Edge: Bengals
Teaching
It is a matchup between the 2 youngest head coaches by mixed age in Tremendous Bowl historical past. The Bengals’ Zac Taylor, 38, and the Rams’ McVay, 36, are among the many youngest coaches within the league, and now they're on the large stage.
For McVay, that is his second journey to the Tremendous Bowl. He and the Rams fell quick in 2018 towards the Patriots. McVay has already established himself as probably the greatest coaches within the NFL, and his assistants are getting employed everywhere in the league as head coaches.
A type of assistants was Taylor, who labored beneath McVay with the Rams till Cincinnati employed him away in 2016. Taylor gained simply six video games in his first two years however has taken the Bengals from final of their division to the Tremendous Bowl.
Edge: Rams
Intangibles
The NFL went 54 years with no house workforce taking part in within the Tremendous Bowl. Now, the Rams would be the second workforce in two years taking part in in its house stadium. It's debatable how a lot of a bonus it will likely be. SoFi Stadium has been overrun by opposing followers in regular-season video games. Bengals followers might take over the stadium. One benefit the Rams have had, although, is practising at their very own coaching heart and the familiarity that brings.
Many of the Bengals gamers weren't alive when the workforce final performed within the Tremendous Bowl in 1988. Lots of the Rams gamers have been right here three years in the past, which is a definite benefit.
Edge: Rams
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