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Endurance is a distinctive feature — from time to time you must wait a complete part for a make-up name. And but I don’t suppose the Rams are complaining after beating the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20, of their house stadium, to win their first Tremendous Bowl in Los Angeles.
After opening the second one part with some of the worst no-calls in Tremendous Bowl historical past and a five-minute,10-point swing, the momentum of the sport gave the impression love it was once moving the Bengals’ method. Odell Beckham Jr. was once out, Matt Stafford was once taking part in scared, and it appeared like the Rams had been letting the sport slip out in their palms of their house stadium.
After which — the overall power. How to select a play of the sport from the ones ultimate mins? Is it the defensive keeping make-up name for Tee Higgins’ egregious uncalled facemask on Jalen Ramsey (or is it the facemask itself)? Is it Cooper Kupp’s jet sweep on 4th-and-1? Kupp’s game-winning catch to cap off a 15-play, 4:48 power that gave the Bengals below 90 seconds to try to engineer a game-winning power?
It’s exhausting to make a choice a unmarried second from the power to label because the play of the sport nowadays, however Stafford and Kupp’s skill to get downfield and make the performs when it mattered maximum after being held to a box purpose in the second one part of the sport — arguably with the assistance of the refs at an overly important second — was once the turning level in this night’s mystery.
Clearly, we will’t forget Aaron Donald’s explosive internal move rush, finishing in a sack that completed the sport in spite of a last-second desperation throw from Joe Burrow that landed within the neighborhood of a receiver — Donald’s complete efficiency nowadays was once simply fantastic. However Kupp, whose not likely adventure to get right here has been well-documented all through the postseason, will take house the MVP trophy after his 8 catch, 92-yard, two-touchdown recreation, stepping up after the WR2 OBJ went out with a knee harm towards the top of the primary part.
Kupp, a 28-year-old receiver who was once a third-round draft pick of Japanese Washington, capped a outstanding 12 months wherein he captured the receiving Triple Crown — main the league in receptions, yardage and touchdowns — with the Tremendous Bowl MVP. Best Jerry Rice in 1989 had completed that feat.
“I simply don’t have phrases,” Kupp stated when he was once passed the MVP trophy. “I’m simply so grateful for everybody.”
Joe Burrow and Stafford additionally had harm scares, however neither ignored a snap. Cincinnati’s offensive line struggled (no large surprise there) all through the sport, permitting seven sacks on Burrow, together with two each and every via Von Miller and Donald. Alternatively, L.A.’s run recreation regarded abysmal — they averaged lower than 2 yards in step with strive, and the Rams went into the fourth quarter with a two-turnover deficit (and an unlucky PAT drop). However you’ll be able to’t rely out Matt Stafford, I assume. And the refs’ wish to make amends.
