The NFL season gets its Hollywood ending

The hometown Los Angeles Rams outlasted the Cincinnati Bengals in a rollercoaster game, writes Ben Burrows

Los Angeles Rams’ Odell Beckham (left) and Cincinnati Bengals’ Mike Hilton at the Super Bowl (AP)

The NFL season ended with a bang – a thrilling and dramatic Super Bowl in Los Angeles. The hometown Rams outlasted the Cincinnati Bengals in a rollercoaster game, eventually emerging victorious – 23-20 – at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for three touchdowns, Cooper Kupp caught two of them and Aaron Donald made the decisive play when it mattered late as the Rams’ galaxy of stars delivered the Vince Lombardi Trophy to Tinseltown.

It was the Rams who made the faster start, Odell Beckham Jr and Kupp catching early scores before the Bengals, on the strength of the arm of young star passer Joe Burrow, came roaring back. Tee Higgins grabbed a pair of touchdowns to give Cincinnati the lead.

The franchise had never won the big game in their history but with Burrow ascending, alongside rookie sensation Ja’Marr Chase, they had unpredictably run through the AFC all the way to the Super Bowl.

But Stafford, who the Rams traded for in the offseason precisely for this sort of moment, responded, driving down the field as the clock ticked down before finding Kupp in the corner of the endzone for what would prove to be the winning score.

Star defensive tackle Donald then sacked Burrow on fourth down to end the game and spark jubilant scenes as the confetti rained down.

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Americans don’t do many things by halves and the Super Bowl is never an exception. The half-time show is always one of the most-watched entertainment events of the year. The 2022 offering didn’t disappoint with Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J Blige, Kendrick Lemar, Eminem and surprise guest 50 Cent delivering a great show.

It was the glitz and glamour, the drama and the denouement the league would have scripted. It’s fair to say the 2021 NFL season got its Hollywood ending in LA.

Yours,

Ben Burrows

Sports editor