Everything was built for this moment. The Rams went all-in with an aggressive approach focused on adding stars and it’s been rewarded with a trip to the Super Bowl.
In Jared Goff the Rams had a quarterback who had proven he could take a team to the Super Bowl. However, getting to the Super Bowl and winning the Super Bowl are two different things, so the Rams started amassing talent. Since falling short in 2019, Los Angeles has acquired Jalen Ramsey, Leonard Floyd, Matthew Stafford, Odell Beckham Jr., Von Miller and others.
This was the opportunity the Rams wanted. Now they have to finish.
And they will. Here are five reasons why the Rams will win Super Bowl LVI:
QB Matthew Stafford
Let’s start with the quarterback. This game is the reason Stafford was brought to Los Angeles and he knows it. The 13-year veteran has long been underrated because of his lack of supporting cast in Detroit, but has started to get more attention this season.
Stafford threw for 4,846 yards and 41 touchdowns this season. His 63.8 QBR ranked fourth, but he was tied with Trevor Lawrence for the league lead with 17 interceptions — a sign that he’s still a bit of a gunslinger. Regardless, it was a strong season overall and he’s continued that trend in the postseason.
We'd be here all day if we showed every highlight from QB1.
RT to wish Matthew Stafford a happy birthday! pic.twitter.com/hwYrJ31m09
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) February 7, 2022
Through three playoff games Stafford has thrown for 905 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. For comparison, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has thrown for 842 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
WR Odell Beckham, Jr.
Everyone knows what Cooper Kupp brings to the Rams and, conversely, what Ja’Marr Chase brings the Bengals. However, Odell Beckham Jr. has been a gamechanger for the Rams and acquiring him midseason helped elevate Los Angeles’ offense to a new level.
Beckham has caught 19 balls for 236 yards and a touchdown in three playoffs games and has also helped stretch the field with at least one catch over 20 yards in all three games.
OBJ sighting! Matthew Stafford connects with Odell Beckham Jr. and he takes it to the house for a 54-yard TD pic.twitter.com/1Qci0ZSaGd
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 28, 2021
Beckham has had a big impact on the Rams’ offense, which makes it scary to think he’s just getting started. He’s only played 11 games with Stafford and company, meaning it’s likely there’s still a few wrinkles to be added. Expect to see those Sunday.
Defensive Line
A lot has been written throughout the playoffs about the Bengals’ lackluster offensive line. Yes, they’ve managed to win in spite of it so far, but it’s hard to imagine a team with such a glaring weakness up front winning the Super Bowl.
Joe Burrow has already been sacked 12 times this postseason and that’s before going up against the likes of Von Miller, who already has a Super Bowl MVP on his resume, and Aaron Donald, arguably the best player in football. Leonard Floyd had 9 1/2 sacks this year, too.
Highest-graded defender in the regular season:
🥇 Aaron Donald – 93.6 🥇
📸: @RamsNFL pic.twitter.com/nySH1bcSfS
— PFF (@PFF) February 6, 2022
The Rams have been giving up just 54 yards per game on the ground during the playoffs. If they’re able to take away the run again against the Bengals, that will turn Cincinnati’s offense into a one-dimensional attack, allowing Miller and Donald to pin their ears back and rush the passer. That combo — fully unleashed and no longer worried about the run — is nothing anyone in Cincinnati wants to see.
Battle-Tested
No team just skates to the Super Bowl, and the Bengals’ come-from-behind win against the Chiefs in Arrowhead speaks to their mettle. However, the Rams’ grind through football’s best division was also quite impressive.
The Rams went 12-5 in the NFC West, the only division with three 10-win teams. Los Angeles’ opponents finished 164-125 this season, good for a .567 winning percentage, tops in the NFL. ESPN’s Football Power Index graded the Rams schedule as the third toughest in football. The Bengals came in 30th.
Home Field Advantage/Experience
The Super Bowl crowd doesn’t consist of the same fans who attend regular season games, so home-field advantage can’t be evaluated in the same way. That being said, there’s still a small advantage to staying in routine. The Rams don’t have to travel. They get to use their own facilities and go back to their own homes after practice. The crowd on Sunday may not give them a huge edge, but their preparation will benefit.
Speaking of preparation, the Rams coaching staff knows how to navigate a week unlike any other in the NFL season. In addition to head coach Sean McVay, the Rams have four assistant coaches and 10 players who were on the team that lost to the Patriots in the Super Bowl three years ago.
Whether it’s the increased media attention, the drawn-out pregame or the extended halftime, the Super Bowl is a unique experience, and knowing what to expect and how to navigate it will help. McVay admitted he was “outcoached’ in that Super Bowl and it’s hard to see him letting that happen to him twice.
