Super Bowl 2022 LIVE: Los Angeles Rams vs Cincinnati Bengals result as Cooper Kupp wins MVP
The Los Angeles Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals to win the Super Bowl and the Vince Lombardi Trophy
The Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl 56 after a rollercoaster game with the Cincinnati Bengals. Cooper Kupp scored the winning touchdown before Aaron Donald made the decisive play in a 23-20 game at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for three touchdowns as he out duelled Joe Burrow in a see-saw game that went back and forth before LA, on their home field, emerged victorious in the fourth quarter. It is a second Super Bowl win for the Rams, following their first - as the St Louis Rams - back in 1999, as coach Sean McVay makes amends for defeat in the big game three years ago.
Odell Beckham Jr grabbed the opening score in the first quarter before Kupp hauled in his first of the night as the Rams jumped out to an early lead. But the Bengals, who have gone from the foot of the AFC North a year ago all the way to the showpiece game, came roaring back and a pair of Tee Higgins touchdowns either side of half-time saw them come back to lead heading into the fourth.
Crucially though Stafford still had time and on the Rams’ final possession drove all the way down before finding Kupp in the end zone to recapture the advantage. And with time ticking down Donald sacked Burrow on fourth down on the following drive to end the game and spark jubilant scenes in LA.
TOUCHDOWN! Razzle-dazzle on second down and Joe Mixon tosses to Tee Higgins for the touchdown!
Creativity from the Bengals! Joe Burrow tosses the ball to Joe Mixon from under-centre, with the zone blocking motion of the offensive line selling the run fake.
But it’s a trick play! Running back Mixon sets his feet, spies an uncovered Tee Higgins along the back of the endzone and finds him!
The extra point is good. Excellent drive from the Bengals, with Mixon at the heart of it.
Los Angeles Rams 13-10 Cincinnati Bengals, 5:47, 2nd Quarter
Los Angeles Rams 13-3 Cincinnati Bengals, 7:30, 2nd Quarter
Four yards on first down, and then Joe Mixon splits out wide as the Bengals go to the empty shot gun. Mixon is the target of a dangerously floated Burrow pass that his running back does well to haul in, leaving 3rd and 2.
Good design from Zac Taylor and his staff. Ja’Marr Chase lines up on the right of the formation and then goes in motion at the snap to the other side, Burrow finding him on the screen with two blockers in front giving the wide receiver enough space to get the first down. 1st and Goal Cincinnati!
Los Angeles Rams 13-3 Cincinnati Bengals, 8:30, 2nd Quarter
Mixon gets four on first down. The Bengals line up for second down in 11 personnel, but with CJ Uzomah on the other side of Joe Burrow in the backfield. Burrow checks down for Mixon, who can’t beat the Rams tackler.
3rd and 6...zipped to Tee Higgins! Higgins threatens over the top and then runs a decisive comeback, and Burrow hits him with perfect timing. First down to the 19-yard line.
Los Angeles Rams 13-3 Cincinnati Bengals, 10:46, 2nd Quarter
Another first down for the Bengals! Ja’Marr Chase works to the inside, finding a soft spot in the Rams’ zone.
And now space on the ground. The Bengals get push on the right-hand side and create an inviting cut-back lane for Joe Mixon, who takes it for a third first down of the drive.
Los Angeles Rams 13-3 Cincinnati Bengals, 12:00, 2nd Quarter
Pressure up the middle and off the edge from the Rams, but Joe Burrow stands tall and slings a slant to Tyler Boyd, who beats David Long and moves the chains with a ten-yard gain.
The Bengals run to the right, and Joe Mixon waits for a space to appear, skipping about in the backfield and eventually lowering his shoulder for a three-yard gain.
The NFL Offensive Player of the Year scores the second Rams touchdown
TOUCHDOWN! Cooper Kupp catches an 11-yard pass from Matthew Stafford!
All too easy for the Rams. Eli Apple and Jessie Bates bite on the run-fake and are thus hopelessly exposed as Kupp runs a corner route, and he makes an uncontested catch a metre from the back pylon to extend the Rams advantage.
Holder Johnny Hekker drops the long snap on the extra point, and has to hurry a futile throw away.
Los Angeles Rams 13-3 Cincinnati Bengals, 12:51, 2nd Quarter
Los Angeles Rams 7-3 Cincinnati Bengals, 12:56, 2nd Quarter
Henderson carries for six yards on first down, but the Rams get themselves in a muddle on 2nd and 4, and are forced to burn a timeout to have a discussion.
I wonder if they spread things out again. No, under centre, 11 personnel but the receivers in tight. Van Jefferson goes in motion at the snap, play action fake to Darrell Henderson...
Los Angeles Rams 7-3 Cincinnati Bengals, 14:05, 2nd Quarter
Another chunk play for the Rams! Here’s the creativity, the Rams faking a pitch but the leaking Darrell Henderson upfield, the running back’s wheel route clearing the covering defender and Stafford finding him in behind. 25 more yards and down towards the Bengals’ 15-yard line.
Los Angeles Rams 7-3 Cincinnati Bengals, 14:45, 2nd Quarter
Matthew Stafford throws incomplete on second down, as Eric Weddle is shown receiving some medical attention on the sideline. The Rams safety took a blow to the shoulder making a tackle earlier.
This pass is complete, and Odell Beckham has room to run! Again from the slot, Beckham works infield, clearing the linebackers and asked to run on by Stafford’s floated pass. He does, for 35 yards!
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