Super Bowl LVI will kick off this Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Fans of the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals are anxiously waiting for the game to see who will take home the Lombardi Trophy. There is much talk right now of who will win the game, and both teams have their strengths and weaknesses, but I think that the  Rams will win this year’s Super Bowl. 

     The Rams (15-5) finished as the fourth best team in the NFC this season, while the Bengals (13-7) earned the number five seed in the AFC. The Rams, led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, have one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL, but unlike the Bengals, the Rams defense ranks at the top of multiple statistical metrics.  While many will point to the connection that Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and receiver JaMarr Chase have, it has been lost on some fans that Stafford and his top receiver Cooper Kupp, actually led the league this year in quarterback to receiver yardage combos. While the Bengals offense is solid, I believe the Rams defense is just going to be able to generate a few more stops to pick up the win.

The Rams also won the 2000 Super Bowl, and the last time they went to the Super Bowl was back in 2018 against the New England Patriots. Historically, the Rams have played more Super Bowls (4) compared to the Bengals (2) who played in the ‘big game’ in 1981 and 1988 where they lost both games. The Rams, who have played in both Los Angeles and St. Louis, played in the 1979, 1999, 2001, and 2018 Super Bowls, winning one as the St. Louis Rams and the “Greatest Show on Turf” in ‘99.  

The Rams have Aaron Donald, one of the best defensive players in the league,  who ranked number three on the NFL Network’s best NFL players list in 2021 and 2022. Donald’s career numbers as a defensive lineman are stunning: 93 quarterback hits, 59 tackles for loss, and 46.5 sacks.  He should feast on a Bengals offensive line that has failed to protect Burrow from time to time.

The Rams last advantage over the Bengals, is that they get to play in their home stadium.  Rarely have teams in the NFL had the luxury of playing in the Super Bowl at home, although with the Tampa Bay Bucs last season, and the Rams this year, it has actually happened two years in a row. Many experts expect the crowd to be Rams dominant, which could affect the noise level, and ability for Burrow and the Bengals to alter playcalls. I believe that the Rams will absolutely crush the Bengals Sunday night, but as most fans know, when it comes to the Super Bowl, anything can happen. The Super Bowl is set to begin at 6:30 pm on Sunday, February 13. Get your snacks, drinks, and merch because it’s gonna be a fun Sunday night of football.