Super Bowl 2022 LIVE: Los Angeles Rams vs Cincinnati Bengals result as Cooper Kupp wins MVP

Matthew Stafford steps up, but right into the embrace of a falling DJ Reader! The former Houston Texans nose tackle has been an outstanding, high-price addition to this Bengals defence, and after Trey Hendrickson’s bend around the edge forces Stafford up from his drop, Reader snares the quarterback and brings him down at the knees.

And Stafford is limping off! He needs some attention from the doctors as the Rams punt down to the Bengals 16-yard line.

The Rams should probably abandon the run for the while. Even with Odell Beckham, their receivers are getting open, and they really aren’t gaining anything by slamming Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson up the gut for no or minimal gain.

Play action on first down, but the Bengals are set for it. Mike Hilton blitzes from the slot cornerback postion and hurries Stafford, who can only dump off to Van Jefferson, who loses one.

There’s an injured Bengal. It’s Chidobe Awuzie, who has been excellent this season and outstanding this evening. Tre Flowers replaces him at cornerback - will the Rams go after him?

No! Ernest Jones comes on the delayed blitz and Joe Burrow hits the deck.

3rd and 13, and Ja’Marr Chase gets open...short of the receiver! A wobbly pass to the right from Joe Burrow, stepping up and away from pressure, and that’s one the Bengals quarterback would like back.

The Rams will start from near midfield. A great chance for the offence with the defensive line beginning to overwhelm the Bengals.

The Bengals begin their next drive. Aaron Donald looks fired up and is beginning to get warm. Can the Bengals keep Joe Burrow upright?

Matt Gay bisects the uprights from 41 yards.

Trickeration from the Rams, and it should have worked! Cooper Kupp loops around to the backfield to take the ball off a teammate as Matthew Stafford wheels up the right sideline, and there is a simple first down for Stafford if Kupp puts his pass anywhere in the quarterback’s general vicinity, even if Jessie Bates was closing quickly.

But that’s why the pair’s roles are normally the other way - a horrible throw from Kupp might have been caught by Wilt Chamberlain, but Stafford doesn’t have that kind of vertical leap. Incomplete, on comes the field goal unit.

A first down completion is followed by a second down run, which ends predictably for the Rams. Sam Hubbard beats Kendall Blanton to the inside and chases down Cam Akers, who cuts back right into the edge defender. Third and Five.

Henderson is the next to be launched into the brick wall in the middle of the Bengals’ defensive line. DJ Reader, BJ Hill and the rest of that interior has been stout so far.

The Rams are still moving the ball through the air, though. Cooper Kupp collects 13 and another first down, and then tight-end Brycen Hopkins produces a nifty after-the-catch move to hurry for 16 yards.

There really hasn’t been anything on the ground for the Rams today. Cam Akers’ eighth carry gains him his tenth and eleven yards. Matthew Stafford has their longest run of the day, a seven yard traipse.

Stafford misses Cooper Kupp to the right, but then hits Darrell Henderson, who has provided some impact out of the backfield in the receiving game. Nice route from the running back, lining up in the slot and beating Logan Wilson in man coverage.