Super Bowl LVI - Cincinnati Bengals @ Los Angeles Rams

After 17 game weeks and a couple of wild NFL playoffs we stand ready for possibly the biggest sporting event of the year, Super Bowl. Super Bowl LVI will be the second consecutive Super Bowl hosted by one of the final teams as the Rams are ready to welcome the Bengals to SoFi Stadium on Sunday night. The Bengals make their first Super Bowl appearance since 1988 and will be able to pull of one of the greatest NFL comebacks after having won only four games last season. The Rams will do everything they can to stop them and the confidence is high that they can bring home their second ever Super Bowl trophy.

Super Bowl LVI

Cincinnati Bengals @ Los Angeles Rams
Venue: SoFi Stadium
Time: 13 Feb, 6.30PM (ET)
National Anthem: Mickey Guyton
Halftime Show: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar
TV/Live Stream: NBC, NBC Sports App, Peacock, DAZN Canada
US STREAM - Watch the game here
CANADA STREAM - Watch the game here

Los Angeles Rams

NFC Rank: 4^th
Wild Card: Arizona Cardinals, W 34-11
Divisional Championship: @Tampa Bay Buccaneers, W 30-27
NFC Championship: San Francisco 49ers, W 20-17

Just as we anticipated the NFC Championship game between the Rams and the 49ers became a close game where it all came down to a strong fourth quarter by the home team. An early touch down in the 4th quarter by Cooper Kupp was followed up by an extra point and two later field goals, which was enough to seal the franchise’s fifth Super Bowl appearance. The Rams will be going into Sunday’s game as favorites, not only cause they are playing at home but also cause they have the more experienced team with more proven veterans.

By simply looking at the two different team’s lineups it's hard to not agree with the bookmaker's choice of making the Rams favorites. With Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald and Odell Beckham Jr. among others in your team you are always going to be a tough one to break and after we have been watching the Rams on their way to the final, there is nothing that will make us change our minds.

One key battle for the Rams will be how well they can put pressure and be aggressive on Joe Burrow. Burrow’s managed to hold off the pass-rushers against the Titans but against the Rams on Sunday he will face one of the league’s most skilled and aggressive opponents. If he doesn’t get the protection he needs in order to set up the play, then the Rams will be close to winning their second Super Bowl trophy.

Cincinnati Bengals

AFC Rank: 4th
Wild Card: Las Vegas Raiders, W 26-19
Divisional Championship: @Tennessee Titans, W 19-16
AFC Championship: @Kansas City Chiefs, W 27-24 (OT)

Cincinnati Bengals then. How should this season’s biggest surprise continue on their fantastic success and bring home their first ever Super Bowl trophy against a hard-fought Rams side? Well, they will make a good start by just continue doing what they have done so far this season. After reaching a NFL-worst record of two wins in 2019 and only four wins in 2020, the Bengals have made one of the greatest comebacks to ever been seen this season. Joe Burrow, who joined the Bengals in 2019, is playing a vital role in this side. His ability to set up the play under pressure is remarkable and he has shown throughout the playoffs that even when the offensive line can’t keep him clean, he still manage to deliver decisive passes.

The Bengals chances in this game will be down to how well they can protect Burrow as well as if they can cope with the Rams offensive line. Against the Chiefs, the defense had huge problems before halftime and if it wasn’t for a tactical adjustment by defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo we would most probably have seen a different outcome. Chances are that the Rams have made a notice on this potential weakness and that it could be a problem for the Bengals if they are not well prepared for the task.

Prediction

The Rams have been our long shot to win this season’s Super Bowl and as it was clear who they were going to face in the final we believe it is still a pretty good pick. It will never be an easy task predicting the outcome in a game like the Super Bowl where anything could happen. What happened in the regular season and even in the playoffs are long gone by now and Sunday's game will be a whole other game with unique circumstances and added pressure on the players.

If we need to have a say on the outcome in this game it will be the Rams. With a more experienced squad and a style of play that has impressed slightly more than the Bengals throughout the season, Sunday’s game will be one for the Rams. Add the home advantage into the equation and we choose to go with the Rams, as well as under 48.5 in what we predict will be another tight game.

FIND MORE ODDS ON SUPER BOWL LVI HERE

Author: Dan Anderson