At Super Bowl LVI (56), the Los Angeles Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals by a score of 23-20. The game went back and forth, and the Bengals led 20-16 heading into the fourth quarter with six minutes left. Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford led a 15 play, 79 yard touchdown drive to put the Rams up 23-20, ultimately sealing the win for Los Angeles. 

This was a huge win for the Rams, after going “all in” last offseason, spending multiple picks and a lot of money to make a run at the Super Bowl. But what led to the downfall of the Bengals, and how did the Rams defense come up big for them in the second half?

The Bengals were down 13-10 at halftime, but came out in the second half with a huge explosion as Joe Burrow threw a 75 yard touchdown to Tee Higgins on the first play of the half. From there, however, the offense couldn’t pick up much else. Cincinnati’s poor offensive line play finally came back to haunt them, and it couldn’t have been at a worse time. 

The star studded Rams defensive line, consisting of players like Aaron Donald, Von Miller, and more, finished the night with seven sacks on Burrow. Burrow’s seven sacks were tied for the most in Super Bowl history. 

The Rams had a huge loss early in the game. Odell Beckham Jr. was helped off the field in the second quarter after starting the game with two catches for 52 yards and a touchdown. He did not return to the game. 

Cooper Kupp continued to be the most dominating receiver in football. He finished the game with eight catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns, one of which was to win the game. Kupp has had arguably the most successful wide receiver season in NFL history, winning the triple crown (most receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns in the NFL this season) and taking home the title of Super Bowl MVP. 

As they did all game, the Rams’ defensive line won the game for them on the final drive. After the Rams’ score that put them up 23-20, the Bengals had a chance to come down the field and win, but the Rams definitely had something to say about that. Rams’ head coach Sean McVay was quoted as saying “Aaron Donald’s going to make a play,” right before the Bengals’ last drive. 

Aaron Donald ended up making that play, getting to Burrow on fourth down and forcing an incompletion to officially end the game and bring the Los Angeles Rams their franchise’s second Super Bowl win.