The Los Angeles Rams edged the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 to win Super Bowl LVI in front of their home fans. It was the Rams first Super Bowl title in 22 years when the team was based in St. Louis.
The Rams had got off to an early 13-3 lead but an injury to wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. knocked the wind out of the Rams' sails and the Bengals came roaring back and would take a 20-13 lead early in the 3rd quarter.
However, the Rams defense led by defensive tackle Aaron Donald would sack Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow repeatedly in the second half and penalties by the Bengals kept giving the Rams a new set of downs at the goal line which eventually led Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford connecting with wide receiver Cooper Kupp for what proved to be the game winning touchdown. Kupp would be named the Super Bowl MVP. Rams head coach Sean McVey becomes the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl title at the age of 36.
I feel a bit sorry for the people of Cincinnati whose fans were 90 seconds away from winning their first professional sports title since the Reds won the World Series in 1990. Championships are rigueur de jour in the City of Angels. Not so in the Queen City. Nevertheless, the Bengals, who had won all of six games, the previous two seasons were not expected to get this far. Still coming up just short has to hurt.
One must feel a certain elation for Matthew Stafford who played with the Detroit Lions, the NFL's Siberia, for 12 years. Then he earns a reprieve and is traded to the Rams and rewards them with the franchise's second title and first in Los Angeles.
So while Cincinnati was a decided underdog I don't think many outside of the 513 area code are egregiously offended by the Rams winning a championship they earned.
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