Rams down Bengals in Super Bowl thriller
COOPER KUPP SCORED TWO TOUCH
downs and Aaron Donald spearheaded a fearsome defensive display as the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 to win the Super Bowl on Sunday (Feb 13).
Kupp scored a decisive touchdown with 1min 25sec remaining to give the Rams the lead at SoFi Stadium before Donald grabbed
the Rams’ record-breaking eighth sack of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow to seal a blockbuster victory.
Donald’s sack of Burrow was the dramatic final act of a gripping contest between
the star-studded Rams and the Bengals, whose bid to win a first-ever Vince Lombardi Trophy fell agonizingly short.
Wide receiver Kupp was named Super Bowl MVP three years after missing the Rams last appearance in a Super Bowl through injury.
The Bengals had stormed into a 20-13 lead early in the second half but the Rams clawed their way back into the game thanks
to their rampant defense led by Donald.
Burrow was sacked repeatedly at key moments to prevent the Bengals from extending their lead before Matt Gay’s field goal pulled the Rams back to 20-16 heading
into the fourth quarter.
Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford then led a 15-play, 79-yard drive that benefited from three crucial Bengals penalties near the goal line before Kupp plucked a one-yard pass in the end zone for the goahead touchdown.
“Stafford and Kupp came to life,” said Rams head coach Sean McVay, who becomes the youngest ever head coach to win the Super Bowl at the age of 36. “Our best players shined the brightest when they had to and that’s why we got it done.”
It was the Rams second franchise Super Bowl victory and their first since returning to Los Angeles from St. Louis in 2016. Their previous win came in 2000.
Sunday’s showstopping finale was a fitting end to one of the most gripping NFL post-seasons in years.
With Los Angeles basking in a February
heatwave, a 70,000-capacity crowd packed with Hollywood celebrities were given a show-stopping halftime show led by icons Snoop Dogg, Dr.Dre, Eminem and Mary J. Blige.