Bengals Preview: Super Bowl vs LA Rams

Anyone who bet on this outcome for the Bengals before the season should step forward to claim their prize. Some may have thought the pieces were there, but you’d be hard pressed to find someone who expected them to fall into place this quickly. Regardless of what bets were placed earlier, the fact is this: the Bengals are in the Super Bowl. Sunday night, they have a chance to claim the franchise’s first title.

This matchup against the Los Angeles Rams is a classic example of teams that got hot at the right time. These two teams have combined for just four losses since December 1 – one of which, a backup quarterback started. These teams sport remarkably similar statistical profiles as well. The only real difference is the amount of star power on the Rams’ side. For the Bengals specifically, this feels like a fitting final boss. They went through the AFC’s top seeded Tennessee Titans and Patrick Mahomes at Arrowhead, both tough challenges. However, the Rams are absolutely brimming with top-end talent. The Bengals haven’t seen this yet, but they’ve proven they’re up for any challenge.

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Injury Report

Bengals
QUESTIONABLE: TE C.J. Uzomah
ALSO LISTED: DL Cam Sample, DL Josh Tupou, WR Stanley Morgan, OL Jackson Carman

Rams
OUT*: TE Tyler Higbee, OL Joseph Noteboom
ALSO LISTED: RB Cam Akers, LB Christian Rozeboom, DB Grant Haley, S Taylor Rapp, WR Van Jefferson, CB Jalen Ramsey, OL Andrew Whitworth

*Both placed on IR Friday and do not show up on official injury reports

Odds & Betting Lines

LINE: LAR -200, CIN +165
OVER/UNDER: 48.5
SPREAD: LAR -4.0

(All odds are taken from BetMGM.)

Key Points

Rams

There’s no two ways about it, the Rams are stacked. It’s easy to point to Matthew Stafford as the “missing piece” to their puzzle, and maybe he was – he was third in the NFL in passing yards with 4,886 and second in touchdowns with 41. As good as Stafford was (and still is), other newcomers have been just as big. Midseason acquisition Odell Beckham Jr. was huge in the NFC Championship game, posting his first 100-yard receiving game since October 2019, per PFR. Kendall Blanton and Cam Akers aren’t newcomers in that sense, but neither expected to be big contributors down the stretch. Akers came back from an Achilles tear in July(!) to lead the rushing attack, and Blanton is filling in nicely for the injured Tyler Higbee. Notice we haven’t even talked about the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, Cooper Kupp, at all yet. They’re that deep.

The Rams’ defense is home to a similarly long list of studs. We all know about Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, but adding Von Miller at the trade deadline took them to another level. Eric Weddle came out of retirement to join them on this playoff run, and he’s provided solid play. Nick Scott has found himself in the right place at the right time several times in the playoffs for big plays. There’s others that I frankly don’t have time to mention by name, but they’re just as good on this side of the ball. All of that said, they’ve been vulnerable to the passing game in the playoffs, as big-play offenses kept Tampa Bay and San Francisco in their respective games. They’re loaded with talent, but they’re not invincible.

Bengals

The immediate concern for the Bengals is, of course, protecting Joe Burrow. They did well to adjust after letting Tennessee sack him 9 times, allowing only 1 sack to Kansas City. Most of that improvement came from keeping more blockers in, which will be imperative against the Rams’ front. Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd can find holes in the defense, but Burrow has to have time to let the plays develop. That made the comeback against the Chiefs happen. Further, Joe Mixon will have to be good. He dealt the finishing blow to the Chiefs with help from an extra lineman in as a blocker. Doing that the entire game is unreasonable, but bringing it out occasionally in big spots just might unlock the run game enough to soften the Rams’ pass rush.

I don’t think too much needs to be said about the Bengals’ defense that hasn’t already shown up in these playoffs. Every time they’ve needed a big play, someone has stepped up to make it. Against the Chiefs, that was Vonn Bell and B.J. Hill. Against Tennessee, it was Logan Wilson. Against Las Vegas, it was Germaine Pratt. The Rams’ offense is high-powered, but so is Kansas City’s, and they scored only three points in the second half against the Bengals. Provided Kupp doesn’t explode for a record-breaking game, the Bengals’ secondary has been good enough to contain other options and make life tough for opposing quarterbacks.

Prediction

As a whole, this is the toughest challenge Cincinnati has faced this postseason. However, I think they have the pieces to handle it. This is a gross oversimplification, but this feels like playing the Titans’ defense and the Chiefs’ offense in the same game, and those are both battles the Bengals ultimately won. Winning them both at the same time isn’t something we’ve seen them have to try, but that’s what happens when you make it to the Super Bowl – you’re facing the best of the best. The only thing that would surprise me is a blowout. I think this one stays tight throughout, and with the timely plays the Bengals have made time and time again, I won’t bet against them now.

Prediction: Bengals 31, Rams 27

– Chris Railsback is a contributing writer for the Bengals at Full Press Coverage.