Super Bowl LVI is here! And with it comes the end of a five-and-a-half-month odyssey that, at the same time, kicks off the annual seven-month wait for the next NFL regular season.
It is not the duel that most expected, even one of the teams that will fight for the Vince Lombardi Trophy started the season as a favorite, but to occupy one of the first places in the selection order of the next draft, but here are the improbable Cincinnati Bengals, ready to challenge the Los Angeles Rams in the Californians’ own home, SoFi Stadium.
Although historically neither the Bengals nor the Rams arouse passion, these teams became two of the most efficient and spectacular during the regular season and Playoffs, particularly when it comes to speeding up the pace and thanks to the performance of their two quarterbacks, Joe Burrow and Matthew Stafford.
Led by their quarterbacks, Los Angeles and Cincinnati looked better in the second halves of their matchups. Including the postseason, Rams quarterback Stafford and Bengals quarterback Burrow shone when their squads needed them most. In second halves and overtime this season, Stafford led the NFL in average yards per pass thrown (11.5) and touchdown percentage (9.6), while Burrow led in completion percentage (73.0). .
Translation: From the hand of two quarterbacks who have mounted a couple of comebacks each not in the playoffs, it is likely that the Rams and Bengals have prepared an emotional closing game for us.
Likewise, the close of the forecast race from the experts at ESPN Deportes, who give us their bold predictions and analysis for the Super Bowl, is a reserved forecast with only two of them in contention for victory.
IVIS ABORT / Twitter: @IvisAburto
COOPER KUPP WILL HAVE THREE TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS, TWO FROM OVER 20 YARDS, AND WILL BE THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
The deep passing game will be an option that both quarterbacks will resort to at various moments of the match, after having good results in that regard in the regular season; Stafford and Burrow tied for the NFL lead with seven touchdown passes on passes of 30 or more yards.
Both quarterbacks have more than reliable receivers to use this resource, however, unlike Burrow with Ja’Marr Chase, Stafford has a Cooper Kupp who is not only capable of catching passes outside the numbers but the receiver of the The Rams have shown that they can run traffic routes down the middle of the field and their speed makes them difficult to guard and hit. This will be the dose that leads Kupp to become the ninth receiver to win the Most Valuable Player award.
REVEALING STATISTICS
Matthew Stafford is the best quarterback when he has at least 2.5 seconds to throw in QBR Rating (80.0), completion percentage (65.0) and yards per pass thrown (10.1).
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER PREDICTION
WR Cooper Kupp, 7 rec., 140 yards, 3 TDs
SUPER BOWL PREDICTION
RAMS34-24
SEBASTIAN M. CHRISTENSEN / Twitter: @SebastianMCESPN
VON MILLER FIRST DEFENSIVE TO WIN TWO AWARDS AS SUPER BOWL MVP
Miller had 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles while winning Super Bowl 50 MVP with the Denver Broncos. It’s no secret that the Bengals’ weakest unit is their offensive line, and that presents a golden opportunity for the Rams’ defense.
While Miller’s contribution was a long time coming after his arrival in Los Angeles, the reality is that the defensive end has been a strength in recent weeks. He has at least one sack in six straight games, including three in the playoffs. Miller has the experience and talent to make history this Sunday.
REVEALING STATISTICS
The Bengals have allowed 103 sacks the past two seasons, more than any other team in the NFL.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER PREDICTION
Von Miller, 3 sacks and a forced fumble
SUPER BOWL PREDICTION
RAMS27-23
ALFONSO MANCILLA / Twitter: @poncho_mancilla
RAMS WILL WIN THE NFL TITLE
Although the Cincinnati Bengals will provide stiff competition for much of the game, the Los Angeles Rams will take the win in Super Bowl LVI.
It will not be easy, because Cincinnati will have an outstanding performance from quarterback Joe Burrow, but the disparity in quality between the Bengals’ irregular offensive line and Los Angeles’ talented defensive line will make the difference in favor of the Los Angeles team.
It will be a fairy tale ending with a shower of white and yellow bits of paper for the Rams, including the first title for Aaron Donald and Matthew Staford, the team’s flagship players.
REVEALING STATISTICS
Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp needs seven receptions to surpass the postseason mark Travis Kelce set in 2020.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER PREDICTION
QB Matthew Staford, 300 yards, 3 TDs
SUPER BOWL PREDICTION
RAMS30-24
CARLOS NAVA / Twitter: @TapaNava
RULE OUT A DRAMA GAME, RAMS WILL BEAT BENGALS
The Rams will end up beating the Bengals, who this time will be far from coming back in the second half, after receiving 21 points in the first with a pair of touchdown passes from Matthew Stafford to Odell Beckham Jr. and another, 30-plus yards to Cooper Kupp, setting the stage for Sony Michel to score Los Angeles’ third touchdown of those first two quarters.
The Rams’ defense is far superior to that of the Chiefs and that allowed the comeback in the second half of the AFC Championship Game.
REVEALING STATISTICS
The Rams are the punters’ favorite by 4.5 points over the Rams, but since 2007, the betting underdogs are 7-2 straight and 8-1 against the line and since 2001, the alleged casualties by at least three points have a record of 12-3 against the line and 7-2 direct.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER PREDICTION
QB Mathew Stafford, 325 yards, 4 TDs
SUPER BOWL PREDICTION
RAMS31-17
PABLO VIRUEGA / Twitter: @PabloViruega
REVEALING STATISTICS:
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER PREDICTION
FORECAST (with marker)
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Super Bowl LVI: Predictions, Bold and MVP Predictions – NFL Game Plan