Rams, Bengals took different paths in assembling Super Bowl contenders
Cincinnati rebuilt through draft while L.A. made dramatic trades,
Here it is — an unexpected Super Bowl matchup.
And the most intriguing storyline heading into the season's final game might be how differently these teams were built.
The AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals were constructed in a fairly typical way for rebuilding teams: through the draft and with a touch of free agency. The NFC'S Los Angeles Rams took an unconventional approach, assembling talent through dramatic trades and bold moves.
Here's the breakdown:
TEAM BUILDING
Two years ago, the Bengals were 2-14. They were awful, and they set out on a conventional path of rebuilding through the draft. They had already picked up a few starters (if not stars) in the 2019 draft, landing contributors like offensive tackle Jonah Williams, tight end Drew Sample and linebacker Germaine Pratt. In 2020, they drafted star quarterback Joe Burrow, wide receiver Tee Higgins and linebacker Logan Wilson, their leading tackler this season. Last year, they got receiver Ja'marr Chase and kicker Evan Mcpherson.
Burrow, of course, was the key in leading the AFC North winners to the Super Bowl after back-to-back upsets of the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs.
The Rams, on the other hand, opted not to build through the draft, trading away many of their valuable picks to rack up namebrand stars.
Their aggressive approach paid off with a flashy roster, from quarterback Matthew Stafford to cornerback Jalen Ramsey to linebackers Leonard Floyd and Von Miller to receiver Odell Beckham Jr., all acquired via trades or free agency.
The Stafford move — an off-season blockbuster trade that saw the Rams send quarterback Jared Goff and a trove of draft picks to the Detroit Lions — was a gamble that has already paid off. Stafford was one of the best quarterbacks in football against the blitz, and he came up big in important games. Sure, he committed a few too many turnovers — tying for the league lead with 17 interceptions — but he was often able to recover and put the Rams in position to win.
STAR RECEIVERS
The Bengals received plenty of criticism after taking Chase with the No. 5 overall pick last spring instead of opting for an offensive lineman. While they needed help on the line, they opted to pair Chase with Burrow, his former teammate on LSU'S national championship-winning team.
As it turned out, it was a brilliant decision. Chase caught 81 passes for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns, and his addition helped put the Cincinnati offence over the top.
The offensive line remains a problem, but the Bengals can (and should) address that during the off-season. This year, Burrow was sacked an Nfl-leading 51 times during the regular season — and nine times in the divisional round win over the Titans.
Still, the passing attack is set.
For the Rams, Cooper Kupp developed into one of the best receivers in the league. Kupp amassed one of the most statistically dominant seasons in league history, leading the NFL in catches (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16). And Beckham has, by all appearances, been a better teammate than he was in Cleveland and has become a valuable option for Stafford, catching touchdowns in five of the Rams' final seven regular season games.
THE RIGHT PASS RUSH
The Bengals added to their pass rush with the free agent signing of Trey Hendrickson, who finished with 14 sacks and 27 quarterback pressures during his first season in Cincinnati.
The Rams were already in great shape with Aaron Donald, one of the best defensive tackles in NFL history and a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. But they kept adding there, too. By getting Floyd last year and Miller in a November trade, they can put great pressure on virtually any quarterback.
YOUNG HEAD COACHES
Cincinnati's Zac Taylor is 38 and has already been a head coach for three years. His young mind — and young coaching staff — have been a key part of the Bengals' resurgence.
It's amazing to think that Sean Mcvay, 36, has been the Rams' head coach for five years.
Mcvay, who will be coaching in his second Super Bowl, is a great play-caller and a better leader. He took over a team that had 10 straight losing seasons and has turned it into a mainstay near the top of the NFC West standings — with five straight winning records. And in this Super Bowl, he'll have an offence led by Stafford instead of Goff.
DEPENDABLE RUNNING BACKS
Because of injuries during his first four NFL seasons, Cincinnati's Joe Mixon missed 14 games but still produced two 1,000yard campaigns. This season, he stayed healthy for 16 games, rushing for 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Mcvay had to keep shuffling his running backs because of injuries, but the backfield is now in good shape. The Rams ranked 25th in rushing yards this season, but Cam Akers — who was expected to have a breakout season — is back on the field after an Achilles' injury during the summer, and Sony Michel is also contributing. The running game remains vital for Mcvay.