Eirball.ie – Irish Gridiron Football

Recap

Los Angeles Rams took the lead in the first quarter through Matthew Stafford connecting with Odell Beckham Jr for a 22 yard touchdown, but in a defensive battle during the first quarter the Cincannati Bengals could not convert a great one handed catch by Ja’Marr Chase in the red zone, and had to settle for a Field Goal in the last minute of the first quarter leaving the score 7-3 to the Rams at the whistle. End of the 1st Quarter: Los Angeles Rams 7 Cincinnati Bengals 3

Another great catch by Odell Beckham Jr brought the Rams into the redzone in the second quarter. On the next play Cooper Kupp caught the ball unmarked in the corner of the endzone from Stafford for a 13-3 lead. The point after snap was mishandled by Hecker and recovered by the Bengals. The Bengals responded with a deep pass from Joe Burrow to Mixon to within 11 yards. Two plays later Higgins caught a TD pass in the  endzone from Joe Mixon, the first TD pass by Mixon in the NFL in five years, to bring the Bengals to within 3 points. Towards the end of the half, Odell Beckham Jr had to leave the game with a knee injury while trying to catch the ball over the middle unmarked, a big blow to the Rams. With two minutes to go, Stafford, under pressure from the Bengals three-man rush threw deep to the endzone to Jefferson, a risky pass which was intercepted by Jesse Bates in the endzone for a big turnover for Cincinnati. Cincinnati’s next drive ended with Burrow being sacked, forcing the Bengals to punt. The Rams had 30 seconds to go deep, but after three deep passes were forced to punt and the Bengals took the knee with 6 seconds to go. Halftime: Los Angeles Rams 13 Cincinnati Bengals 10

12 seconds into the third quarter a 75 yard touchdown pass from Joe Burrow to Tee Higgins put the Bengals 17-13 up although as facemask penalty against the Bengals was missed by the officials. 10 seconds later the Bengals immediately intercepted a Stafford pass on the next drive as the momentum shifted suddenly to the Bengals. The Bengals made a risky 4th and 1 conversion which paid off on the Rams 20 yard line on the next drive, but as big play by Donald who sacked Burrow on the 20 yard line left the Bengals on 4th and 12. Taking the Field Goal, the Bengals rookie kicker Evan McPherson put them 20-13 up from the 38 yard line. The Rams settled for a 51 yard Field Goal on the next drive after a trick play on third down failed. Stafford limped out of the game with 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter after the Bengals had been put under pressure in another blow for the Rams. Awuzie had a minute earlier been injured for the Bengals defense, which was significant as he was the Bengals best player all season. Burrow was sacked five times in two series after just the one sack all game, forcing the Bengals to punt with one minute to go in the third quarter. End of 3rd Quarter Los Angeles Rams 16 Cincinnati Bengals 20.

Burrow limped off at the beginning of the fourth quarter after being sacked for the seventh time. The following Rams drive was a quick 3 and out forcing them to punt. Trying to protect Burrow, the Bengals took to the running game. Chris Evans caught a first down on the next drive for Cincinnati. Tyler Boyd dropped a crucial pass on 3rd and 9 preparing for the hit and taking his eyes off the ball, having not dropped a pass all season. Bengals punted and the Rams took over with a fair catch. With less than six minutes left in the game the pressure was on Matthew Stafford who had the most fourth quarter comebacks in the NFL in 2021. On 4th and 1 the Rams Head Coach Sean McVay made a big call going for first down which paid off. Another big first down was made at the Bengal 49 yard line with under 4 minutes to go. Kupp caught a big pass on the 23 yard line as the Rams went for the go ahead touchdown. Akers took the ball up the middle for a first and 10 on the 8 yard line with 2 minutes to go. Rams failed on 3rd and goal, but a holding penalty was called on the Bengals, giving the Rams an automatic first down. Stafford threw to Kupp in the endzone on the next play, however two flags on the play offset each other meant repeat first own. More flags on the next play were called on the Bengals, putting the ball on the one yard line. Stafford tried a quarterback sneak on first down for no yards. Cincinnati took a time out at 1:29. 2nd and Goal Kupp catches the ball in the endzone for a 23-20 Rams lead. Cincinnati took over at the 25 yard line with 1:25 and two timeouts left. Bengals gained 17 yards on the next play. Boyd caught the ball on the 49 yard line with 1 minute left. Burrow went deep on the next play but was unsuccessful. 48 seconds left. Cincinnati tried running on 3rd and 1 and gained no yards. 4th and 1 with no timeouts left Bengals, Burrow threw it away to avoid being sacked under pressure from Aaron Donald. Cincinnati let the clock run out. Final Score: Los Angeles Rams 23 Cincinnati Bengals 20.

SCorers

1st Quarter

LAR – Odell Beckham Jr 22yd Pass from Matthew Stafford (PAT Kick) 7-0

CIN – Evan McPherson 29yd FG [0:28] 7-3

2nd Quarter

LAR – Cooper Kupp 11 Pass from Matthew Stafford (PAT fumbled) 13-3

CIN – Tee Higgins 6 Pass from Joe Mixon (Evan McPherson PAT Kick) [5:47] 13-10

3rd Quarter

CIN – Tee Higgins 75 Pass from Joe Burrow (Evan McPherson  PAT Kick) [14:48] 13-17

CIN – Evan McPherson 38 yard FG 13-20

LAR – 51 FG 16-20

4th Quarter

LAR – Cooper Kupp 1 Pass from Matthew Stafford (PAT Kick good) [1:29] 23-20

References

[56] NFL (2021) Scores Super Bowl LVI 2021 [Internet] Available from: https://www.nfl.com/scores/2021/POST4   [Accessed 13 February 2022]

[62] BBC TV Super Bowl LVI 13-14 February 2022.