Super Bowl LVI Preview: Ranking the Best Defensive Players

Tomorrow is the big day, where the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Los Angeles Rams in the league’s most important game.

It’s fair to say that the Los Angeles Rams were somewhat expected to be here, since they have made a concerted effort to push in their chips, and draft picks, to create a “super team”.

With mid-season additions of Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr, the team added more firepower to a roster consisting of Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.  Let alone, Cooper Kupp. So this team is brimming with talent, and head into tomorrow’s match-up as a four-point favorite.

On the other side of the field, the Bengals seemingly came out of nowhere, as they finished the season with a respectable, but not imposing, 10-7 record. What they have done well is turn it on in the playoffs and provided to be clutch at the right time. They have won three straight games, including knocking-off the AFC’s one and two-seed.

That being said, this matchup offers intrigue, as the teams somewhat mirror each other. Both sides offer explosive offenses, elite quarterback play, and glamor at the receiver position.  Therefore, this game may come down to who plays better defense, and who can suppress these offensive attacks. 

This prompts the question, “Who has the better defense?” and “Which players will shine on Sunday?”

I examine these questions, and rank the top-five players in tomorrow’s game.  Take a look and let me know what you think.

5. Bengals Defensive End Sam Hubbard

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The first person on our list is Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard. Hubbard is often overlooked when reflecting on the Bengals defensive line, but the hometown hero has quietly strung together a strong season. The Cincinnati, Ohio native, and former Buckeye, is second on the team in sacks, with 7.5, and added had 12 tackles for loss (TFL) and 17 QB hits this season. 

Hubbard provided fellow defensive-end Trey Hendrickson a true running-partner in the pass-rush game. Combined, they helped the Bengals achieve the fifth-best rush defense in the NFL this season, and tallied 21.5 sacks. Hubbard was a Pro Bowl alternate and gave the Bengals defensive line a spark on both rushing and passing plays. He should be someone to watch for in tomorrow’s game. 

4. Bengals Defensive End Trey Hendrickson

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Speaking of Hendrickson, the unrestricted free agent has had an excellent first year for the Bengals. After being selected by the Saints in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, the former Florida Atlantic product had a fairly pedestrian start to his career. Over his first three seasons, he combined to have 6.5 sacks, and didn’t appear to be an impact player.

But in 2020, he popped for 13.5 sacks over 15 games, and parlayed that performance into a four-year 60 million-dollar contract with the Cincinnati. 

He rewarded the team’s investment with his best season to date, a campaign with 14 sacks and 45 QB pressures. The 2021 Pro Bowler is the Bengals best player on the defensive side of the ball, and looks to create havoc in Inglewood tomorrow. 

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3. Rams Outside Linebacker Von Miller 

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When you think of Von Miller, you think of sack production, explosiveness, and an incredible ability to bend around offensive tackles to pursue the quarterback. That’s still the case in 2021, and Miller is just now hitting his pre-injury form.

In 2020, Miller missed the entire regular season due to an ankle injury that required surgery. Many had feared that he would lose his explosiveness, and that the trajectory of his career would start heading downhill. After 11 seasons, 115.5 sacks, and the age of 32, it was fair to assume that he may not have much in the tank. 

The Rams decided to take the gamble anyway, and packaged a 2022 second and third-round pick to the Broncos to acquire his services. He started off slow, but is now peaking at the right time.

After a four-game acclimation period, in which Miller did not register a sack, the former Bronco posted seven sacks over his next six games, while also adding 10 QB hits. He finished the season with 9.5 sacks, and is the perfect ancillary piece to add to the Rams’ defensive arsenal. 

Miller still has the ability to take over a game with his pressure ability, and may cause a game-changing play tomorrow. He’s done it before in the Super Bowl, just ask Cam Newton.

2. Rams Cornerback Jalen Ramsey

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Arguably the best cornerback in the league, it’s funny seeing Jalen Ramsey second in any NFL Defensive ranking list. But this comes with the territory when running with an all-world talent in Aaron Donald. 

Ramsey is a true shutdown-corner, which is a rarity in today’s game which emphasizes free-flowing offense and rules that favor the wide receiver. 

Yet, the three-time, First Team All-Pro is something special. Ramsey has had to change the way he approaches the game, because he’s simply “that good”. In 2020, he approached the Rams’ defensive staff, and asked for more creativity in his usage. Due to his talent, opposing quarterbacks were reluctant to throw the ball his way, and the standout cornerback was getting “bored” on defense. He asked for a change, and in 2021 he was used differently. 

This year, he has been deployed at the “STAR” position and played more of a hybrid safety-corner role in the middle of the field. He essentially freelanced, and used his innate coverage ability to read and react to the opposing scheme. This has been awesome to watch, and it’s truly amazing how Ramsey can negate what offenses are trying to do to him.

He will be tasked with erasing Ja’Marr Chase tomorrow, in what will be one of the most intriguing matchups of the game. Will he trail the receiver? Or will he still roam the middle of the field to confuse Joe Burrow into mistakes? That’s something I’ll be watching. 

1. Rams Defensive Tackle Aaron Donald 

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There really isn’t any surprise here right? Aaron Donald walks onto the field as the best defensive player in this game, just like he does for every other. Arguably the best defensive player in the league, this juggernaut simply produces.

A four-time Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) and seven-time, First-Team All-Pro, the former Pittsburgh Panther can’t be planned against.

This season, he has 12.5 sacks with an additional 41 QB hurries and 10 QB knockdowns. He’s a bull in a china shop, and will create absolute chaos this Sunday against a very weak Bengals interior line.

Standing in front of him is arguably the weakest duo of right guard and right tackle in the league, in RG Hakeem Adeniji (81st/82 RG Candidates according to PFF) and RT Isaiah Prince (77/83 RTs candidates according to PFF). 

The All-World talent is licking his chops, and looking to win his first Super Bowl Championship. If the Bengals have any chance of winning, they need to suppress Donald’s impact.

Easier said than done.