Super Bowl 56 will pit the Bengals against the Rams on February 13 in Los Angeles. Both teams secured their berths in dramatic fashion, bridging deep deficits to win spectacular conference finals.
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The Bengals beat the Chiefs 27-24 in overtime to win the American Conference Finals. The Rams then got the better of the 49ers 20-17 in the National Conference Finals.
To reach the Super Bowl, the Bengals had to pull off the biggest comeback in conference final history, closing an 18-point deficit against the mighty Chiefs. The 2006 Colts had done the same against the Patriots.
Many had left the Bengals for dead. After all, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a career-best 39-1 record when his team was leading by at least 14 points in a game. Worse still, the Chiefs become the first team in history to drop a game in the Conference Finals at home after holding a lead of more than 10 points at the half.
For their part, the Rams were down 10 points in the fourth quarter against the 49ers before turning the tide. They were 1-23 under Sean McVay so far when they trailed by at least 10 points in the second half.
Like what, in these crazy NFL playoffs, there is nothing impossible.
Long wait
For the Bengals, it will be their third appearance at the Super Bowl and their first since 1988. It is difficult not to fall under the spell of their irresistible epic, they who, barely two years ago, ended their season with two victories and 14 defeats.
This season of misery allowed them to get their hands on Joe Burrow with the first draft pick and their destiny changed profoundly.
The Chiefs looked invincible in the first half. The powerful offense led by Patrick Mahomes scored a touchdown on each of its first three possessions, receiving receptions from Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Mecole Hardman.
Trailing 21-3, the Bengals retreated at halftime closing the gap on a 41-yard pass and run from Burrow to Samaje Perine.
The Chiefs then moved to the goal gate, but with five seconds to go they opted for a pass attempt rather than a field goal. Gluttony is a cardinal sin and the precious three points left on the pitch came to haunt them in the end.
The defense rises
In the second half, the Bengals defense took control often using eight players in pass coverage. The strategy confused Mahomes, who then threw two interceptions. In the second half and overtime, the Chiefs were limited to 83 yards.
The Bengals’ explosive young offense gets all the attention, but the organization has invested heavily in its defensive unit with additions like Trey Hendrickson (1.5 quarterback sacks), Chidobe Awuzie (eight tackles), DJ Reader (great against the race) and Von Bell (fatal interception in overtime) for two years. This approach has clearly paid off.
In overtime, it was easy to imagine the beautiful story of the Bengals coming to an end. The Chiefs, like last week, even won the coin toss to start overtime with the ball. Vonn Bell’s interception, however, handed the ball to the Bengals, who did not miss their opportunity.
It was rookie kicker Evan McPherson who made the winning field goal, his fourth of the game. He has been perfect since the start of the playoffs with 12 placements in 12 attempts.
In history, no quarterback has won the Heisman Trophy as the most valuable player in the NCAA, the national college championship and the Super Bowl. Joe Burrow will have the opportunity to become the first to complete the hat-trick…in just three years! What an incredible story!
The Bengals were until this year the team unable to win in the playoffs. Here they are at the Super Bowl.
Redemption for Stafford
Speaking of repeated playoff failures, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford knew all about it in 12 years in Detroit. He had failed on his three attempts. A year to the day after being traded from the Lions to the Rams, he is going to the Super Bowl.
Stafford had 337 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. His two receivers, Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham, passed the 100-yard mark.
After touchdowns from Deebo Samuel and George Kittle, the 49ers had built a 17-7 lead. The Rams closed the gap on Kupp’s second touchdown, then tied the game with a field goal from Matt Gay.
With 1:46 to go, Gay gave the Rams the lead. The 49ers got one last chance, but quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, under pressure, threw an ill-advised grenade, which ended up in the hands of Travin Howard for the fatal interception.
For Garoppolo, it was probably his last game in a 49ers uniform. Young Trey Lance is waiting for his turn and Garoppolo once again showed his obvious limits with a few errant passes. He finished the game with 16 completions on 30 attempts, for 232 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. The Niners have been limited to 2.5 yards per carry and when their ground game is under control, Garoppolo just doesn’t keep opposing defenses on their heels enough.
He’s not the only culprit either. Kyle Shanahan, considered an offensive genius, was rather conservative with three clearances while his team was inside the Rams’ 45 line. The last time was the most questionable. His team clung to a 17-14 lead and had just two yards to go with 10 minutes to play. The opportunity was great to put the game out of reach.
The Rams then regained the ball and another chance to finish them off was squandered when safety Jaquiski Tartt dropped a misplaced bomb from Stafford. An unexpected gift, right in your hands! The Rams instead continued their offensive march to score three critical points.
The 49ers had won their last six games against the Rams. The bad luck was not going to last forever.
Super Bowl 56 will feature quarterbacks who were selected first overall in the draft for the second time.
The stars of the day
▶ Joe Burrow
The Bengals quarterback’s stats aren’t all that impressive (250 yards, two TDs, one interception), but he made the big plays at the right times and his uncanny instinct for escaping pressure served him well. Burrow showed his nerves of steel again.
▶ Jessie Bates III
The safety of the Bengals knows excellent series. In pass coverage, he continued to excel. In overtime, many praised Vonn Bell’s interception, but it was Bates who first knocked down the pass towards Tyreek Hill. Quite a player!
▶ B.J. Hill
The Bengals’ heavy tackle has taken the place of Larry Ogunjobi since his injury two weeks ago. Against the Chiefs, he made one of the key plays of the game by jumping to make an interception. This turnaround then allowed the Bengals to tie the game.
▶ Aaron donald
In summary, the Rams’ monster tackler has no sacks and only three tackles. Except that Donald was Donald at the very end of the match by applying unbearable pressure on Jimmy Garoppolo, who forced the pass intercepted by Travin Howard.
▶ Cooper Kupp
The Rams receiver was fantastic with 11 receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns. He has collected at least 100 yards in 13 games this season, including the playoffs. This is a record. Kupp is dangerous in every facet.
▶ Trent Williams
In the defeat, impossible not to underline the colossal effort of the blocker of the Niners Trent Williams. The rock of the offensive line and the best in his position across the league played well despite an ankle injury that would have sidelined many players. Hat!