Ram-tough! Late TD lifts Los Angeles Rams to Super Bowl win over Cincinnati, 23-20

Rams score go-ahead TD with 1:25 left to win 2nd Super Bowl title

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, top, catches a touchdown against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) (Marcio Jose Sanchez, Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

It was a Hollywood ending for the team that calls Hollywood its home.

For the second time in franchise history and first while playing in Los Angeles, the Rams are Super Bowl champions following a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

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Trailing 20-16 going into the fourth quarter, the Rams drove the field and took a 23-20 lead with 1:25 remaining on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Cooper Kupp.

The score capped off a 15-play, 79-yard drive.

Cincinnati then took over on its own 25-yard line, and the Bengals drove to the Los Angeles 49-yard line in the final minute.

But facing a fourth-and-1, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was forced into an errant throw by Los Angeles star defensive lineman Aaron Donald, and the ball fell to the ground incomplete to essentially end the game.

Trailing 13-10 at halftime, the Bengals didn’t take long to strike in the second half, taking a 17-13 lead on a 75-yard touchdown pass from Burrow to Tee Higgins on the first play of the third quarter.

Following an interception deep in Los Angeles territory, the Bengals took a 20-13 lead on a 38-yard field goal with 10:15 remaining in the third on a 38-yard field goal by Evan McPherson.

The Rams cut Cincinnati’s lead to 20-16 with 5:58 left in the third on a 41-yard field goal by Matt Gay.

After taking a 7-3 following the first quarter, the Rams added to their lead with 12:51 left in the second quarter, going up 13-3 on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Cooper Kupp.

The extra point failed after a bad snap.

Cincinnati answered, going down the field on its next drive and cutting the Los Angeles lead to 13-10 with 5:47 left in the second quarter on a 6-yard touchdown pass from running back Joe Mixon to Tee Higgins on a halfback option play.

The Rams took a 7-0 lead with 6:22 remaining in the first quarter on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Odell Beckham.

Cincinnati responded toward the end of the quarter, cutting its deficit to 7-3 on a 29-yard field goal by McPherson.


About the Author:

Keith is a member of Graham Media Group's Digital Content Team, which produces content for all the company's news websites.