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.
Field Goal! Los Angeles Rams 13-20 CINCINNATI BENGALS, 10:15, 3rd Quarter
Evan McPherson takes the three points on offer. That’s 14 from 14 for him this postseason, one short of Adam Vinateri’s NFL record.
McPherson is developing a real cult following, and only added to it by staying out on the Bengals bench to watch that half-time show.
Los Angeles Rams 13-17 Cincinnati Bengals, 11:44, 3rd Quarter
Two yards on the ground for Joe Mixon, and then five on the quick pass to CJ Uzomah underneath. 3rd and Short.
SACK! A second sack of the drive for Aaron Donald, Hakeem Adeniji hopelessly out-matched and punched backwards by the fierce strike of Donald’s hands to his chest. The Rams defensive tackle swallows up Joe Burrow.
Los Angeles Rams 13-17 Cincinnati Bengals, 13:30, 3rd Quarter
Ja’Marr Chase gets almost all of it. 4th and 1 at 22, and the Bengals will run a play..m
Out of empty, the first two reads aren’t there, so Joe Burrow pulls the ball down and takes the open space up the middle to hustle for a first down!
Los Angeles Rams 13-17 Cincinnati Bengals, 14:20, 3rd Quarter
An extraordinary two-play sequence for Cincinnati. Sean McVay and Matt Stafford have the same perplexed, perturbed look on their faces.
Can the Rams defence provide a spark? Aaron Donald gives Joe Burrow a bit of a biff as the Bengals quarterback scrambles for the sideline, and the Bengals offensive line hurry over to protect their quarterback, with a riled up Donald getting right in their faces. Spiky. 3rd and 11.
INTERCEPTED! Los Angeles Rams 13-17 Cincinnati Bengals, 14:38, 3rd Quarter
The game has swung in 22 second half seconds! Matthew Stafford is intercepted!
First down, an in-breaking route from Odell Beckham’s replacement Ben Skowronek and the rookie wideout drops it! Chidobe Awuzie is in close attendance to capitalise, grabbing the ball gleefully as Joe Burrow grabs his helmet and gets ready to get back to work.
TOUCHDOWN! TEE HIGGINS SCORES ON THE FIRST OFFENSIVE PLAY OF THE SECOND HALF!
What a start to the third quarter for the Cincinnati Bengals! Jalen Ramsey is incandescent with the officials - Tee Higgins has beaten him deep and Joe Burrow hits him for a 75-yard deep touchdown!
There’s plenty of contact as Higgins works back to an underthrown ball, including a clear-as-day grab of the facemask from Higgins on Ramsey. That’s a blown call from the officials, but Burrow’s confidence pays off!
Los Angeles Rams 13-17 Cincinnati Bengals, 14:48, 3rd Quarter
Los Angeles Rams 13-10 Cincinnati Bengals, 15:00, 3rd Quarter
The Rams boot the second half kickoff out the back of the endzone. Sean McVay says that Odell Beckham is “likely not” available in the second half.
Back to the action
Right, let’s get on with the second half. Sean McVay is 47-1 when leading at the half, but will he have the confidence in his other pass-catchers to come out of his play-calling shell without Odell Beckham? The Bengals will feel confident that Joe Burrow has a couple of those plays in him, but can they keep their quarterback clean?
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