Super Bowl 2022 LIVE: Los Angeles Rams vs Cincinnati Bengals result as Cooper Kupp wins MVP
The Los Angeles Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals to win the Super Bowl and the Vince Lombardi Trophy
The Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl 56 after a rollercoaster game with the Cincinnati Bengals. Cooper Kupp scored the winning touchdown before Aaron Donald made the decisive play in a 23-20 game at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for three touchdowns as he out duelled Joe Burrow in a see-saw game that went back and forth before LA, on their home field, emerged victorious in the fourth quarter. It is a second Super Bowl win for the Rams, following their first - as the St Louis Rams - back in 1999, as coach Sean McVay makes amends for defeat in the big game three years ago.
Odell Beckham Jr grabbed the opening score in the first quarter before Kupp hauled in his first of the night as the Rams jumped out to an early lead. But the Bengals, who have gone from the foot of the AFC North a year ago all the way to the showpiece game, came roaring back and a pair of Tee Higgins touchdowns either side of half-time saw them come back to lead heading into the fourth.
Crucially though Stafford still had time and on the Rams’ final possession drove all the way down before finding Kupp in the end zone to recapture the advantage. And with time ticking down Donald sacked Burrow on fourth down on the following drive to end the game and spark jubilant scenes in LA.
Los Angeles Rams 16-20 Cincinnati Bengals, 11:55, 4th Quarter
A’Shawn Robinson is a proper space-eater, just immovable at the line of scrimmage and enveloping Joe Mixon. The Rams then get hands in to disrupt a Burrow pass for Tee Higgins.
Sacked again! Burrow is surrounded from all sides as the pocket collapses, and Von Miller drags him down. A naughty spin move from Miller to get past Hakeem Adeniji.
And to make matters worse, Isaiah Prince slaps Leonard Floyd in the helmet. A 15-yard penalty and the Bengals will again punt from near their own endzone.
Joe Burrow was bent backwards as the Rams engulfed him, and he is now limping off in real discomfort!
Los Angeles Rams 16-20 Cincinnati Bengals, 13:00, 4th Quarter
First down Bengals! Joe Burrow is really panicking in the pocket but manages to escape, and Tyler Boyd wriggles away from the coverage for 16 yards.
Los Angeles Rams 16-20 Cincinnati Bengals, 14:00, 4th Quarter
A passive second-down run from the Rams. 3rd and 7 after a two-yard loss.
Flung to the right side for Van Jefferson...the young receiver can’t quite haul it in one-handed. Great throw from Stafford over Eli Apple, but the Rams will punt. That is consecutive drives they have begun with outstanding field position that have generated no points.
Los Angeles Rams 16-20 Cincinnati Bengals, 15:00, 4th Quarter
Here we go. One quarter to decide the destination of the Lombardi Trophy...
The Bengals' offensive line struggles
It always felt like something that could define the game, and the Bengals offensive line is really, really struggling:
End of the Third Quarter! Los Angeles Rams 16-20 Cincinnati Bengals
15 minutes of the 2021 NFL season remain.
Los Angeles Rams 16-20 Cincinnati Bengals, 0:31, 3rd Quarter
Finally, a positive first down run for the Rams, Cam Akers using a stiff arm to get to the outside. Only a gain of five, but that’s a great bound compared to most Rams runs in this game.
That might do us for the third quarter...
Los Angeles Rams 16-20 Cincinnati Bengals, 1:11, 3rd Quarter
That’s six sacks in total for the Rams now, and that defensive line is really starting to take over, with Joe Burrow not managing to get the ball out of his hands as quickly as he did in the first half.
The Bengals get some breathing room on third down and punt to about midfield, from where the Rams will start another offensive drive.
Los Angeles Rams 16-20 Cincinnati Bengals, 1:30, 3rd Quarter
Another sack! A’Shawn Robinson just about clings on to Joe Burrow as the Bengals quarterback tries to slip through a sliver between the Rams pass-rushers.
2nd and 12, and pressure again - down goes Burrow! Von Miller, Super Bowl 50 MVP, makes his first impact play of the game, running a T-E stunt to the inside and then chasing down the quarterback.
Here’s that DJ Reader sack - Matthew Stafford came down rather awkwardly on his lower leg
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