12/21/24
February 13, 2022
Rams Win Super Bowl 0x38: A last-minute touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Cooper Kupp led the Los Angeles Rams to a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl 0x38. Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals had reached midfield when a game-clinching drive was ended by Aaron Donald grabbing Burrow while he tried a futile desperation heave that fell incomplete on fourth and one. Kupp was named Super Bowl MVP.
Happy for so many of the Rams players who landed a ring, but perhaps most for Eric Weddle, who came off the couch a month ago after two years of retirement to bolster the Rams defense on the way to the Super Bowl, then ruptured his pec in tonight's game and played all four quarters anyway. What a Herculean effort.
posted by Goyoucolts at 01:31 AM on February 14, 2022
The Rams' go-ahead TD drive--where everyone in the world knew the ball was going to Kupp, but they still got it to him over and over anyway--was very impressive. Of course, the defensive holding penalty that kept that drive alive was extremely weak, but I suppose that offset the non-called offensive pass interference on the Bengals' first play of the 2nd half.
Disappointed the Bengals couldn't hang on, but that was an entertaining and well-battled game.
posted by bender at 08:52 AM on February 14, 2022
It was good-not-great game, but we kind of knew going in it would have to be pretty special to measure up against the divisional and conference championship rounds. I can't recall a playoff season that was overall as exciting as this year's.
posted by Ufez Jones at 09:48 AM on February 14, 2022
When I saw Kroenke wandering around on the field awkwardly trying to interact with his players I thought: if there is an omniscient benevolence, along will come Ufez with a bucket of Gatorade to give him a bath.
posted by beaverboard at 09:57 AM on February 14, 2022
Oh, I'd like to give old Enos a bath in something, but I'm not sure Gatorade would suffice. Fortunately I made sure to turn the TV off before he made an appearance last night. I wasn't quick enough on the draw after the NFC Championship game.
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:02 AM on February 14, 2022
Of course, the defensive holding penalty that kept that drive alive was extremely weak, but I suppose that offset the non-called offensive pass interference on the Bengals' first play of the 2nd half.
Yeah, really seems like it. The thing is, though, the make-up call should have happened in the third quarter, not at the end of the game when one of the teams was knocking on the door of scoring a TD that could determine the outcome of the game.
It's also odd to me Burrow didn't really get sacked until the fourth quarter and when that flood gate opened, it really opened. Did the Bengals' o-line finally get worn down by that great defense?
Overall a great game, but a frustrating ending where I thought that the referees contributed to the outcome. And good for Stafford for winning a Super Bowl. Too bad that it couldn't have happened with the Lions.
posted by NoMich at 10:18 AM on February 14, 2022
The thing is, though, the make-up call should have happened in the third quarter, not at the end of the game when one of the teams was knocking on the door of scoring a TD that could determine the outcome of the game.
Definitely. Hard to say if the ref was intentionally making a make-up call or not, but if he was, that timing was brutal on Cincinnati.
posted by bender at 10:50 AM on February 14, 2022
No doubt there was significant focus on Kupp by the officials on that PI play and that factored into the call. Of course everyone on the field, in the stands, and around the world knew he would be the target as well. Same goes for the TD route. The guy is the most undefendable receiver since Jerry Rice with his route running and physical talent.
Would have liked to see a split MVP between him and Aaron Donald. If not for the huge stops he made on the last series it looked certain that Burrow would lead the Bengals to at least a tie if not a victory.
posted by cixelsyd at 02:33 PM on February 14, 2022
Little late to this party--I left for Vegas for a 4-day hearing on Monday morning and have not had time to chime in. This Bengals fan is extremely proud of the way the team played, and feel like our chances to make it back are pretty good.
Of course, the defensive holding penalty that kept that drive alive was extremely weak,
It was extremely weak, and it looked like Logan Wilson barely moved Kupp before batting the ball away. That said, by the strictest definition of defensive holding, it was technically the correct call. More concerning on that play was the fact that both Rams' tackles jumped the snap, but no false start was called.
Also, I would like to see more in-depth analysis on why Donald wasn't called for lining up in the neutral zone on the final 4th down play where he got to Burrow. His entire head was in the zone; it wasn't a particularly close call. It should have been flagged and the Bengals given a new set of downs. And if he hadn't lined up offside, there is a non-zero chance that Burrow has the extra .5 seconds he needed to see Chase streaking down the right side with Jalen Ramsey on the turf--Chase had beaten him cleanly and would have had a clear path to the end zone had he gotten the ball.
All of that said, the Bengals had their chances and didn't capitalize on enough of them to win. Whitworth is awesome and I'm happy to see him get his ring.
posted by tahoemoj at 02:31 PM on February 18, 2022
I thought Stafford had jinxed himself when I saw that he had grown back his Detroit beard. Shave that thing off, dude.