The longest NFL season in history is now at its end, as the Los Angeles Rams will take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night at SoFi Stadium; the Rams become the second team ever (and the second team in as many years) to host a Super Bowl in their own stadium. The Rams got here by rallying in the fourth period to take down the San Francisco 49ers, 20-17, in the NFC Championship. The Bengals came back from a 21-3 deficit to beat Kansas City, 27-24, in overtime at Arrowhead Stadium in the AFC Championship. The Bengals have won eight of the 14 all-time meetings between the two teams, but the Rams won in their last encounter, a 27-10 home victory in 2019.
Let’s take a look at your best NFL betting pick for this showdown.
NFL Preview: Super Bowl LVI (Sunday, February 13)
Cincinnati Bengals vs L.A. Rams
When: Sunday, February 13, 2022, 6:30 pm ET
Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
TV: NBC
Radio: Westwood One
Live Stream: Hulu
NFL Odds: AFC -1.5 / O/U 62.5
Why should you bet on the Bengals?
The Bengals come into this game with zero pressure, as the experts saw them as at least a year away all season long…but here they are in the Super Bowl, ahead of expectations. They have knocked a number of monkeys off the franchise’s back in this postseason, winning their first postseason game since 1991, winning their first road postseason game in franchise history and then matching the largest comeback in an AFC Championship when they roared back to beat the Chiefs. They even picked off Patrick Mahomes in overtime to get the ball and drive down for a winning score.
Some big numbers from that AFC Championship win are 4 (sacks) and 2 (interceptions). Sacking Patrick Mahomes is a feat, because he is both elusive and strong. Matthew Stafford is a strong quarterback, but he does not have nearly as much mobility as Mahomes does. If the Bengals can mount pressure similar to what they mounted against Tennessee and Kansas City (after the second quarter), then they should be able to stay in this game…and maybe even snag a win at the end.
Why should you put your money on the Rams?
The Rams ended a six-game losing streak to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship – and it looked like the streak would reach seven, as the 49ers led, 17-7, going into the fourth. However, the Rams’ defense finally shut down the 49ers’ running game and got after Jimmy Garoppolo, and the offense was able to put up 13 points, getting the winning score with 1:46 remaining in regulation. Travin Howard picked off a pass with 1:09 on the clock to salt away the win. In time of possession, the Rams held the ball for 11:02 longer than the 49ers did.
Matthew Stafford has put up elite numbers on the season, with a completion percentage of 67 percent and a 41:17 TD:INT ratio. Nine of those interceptions have come in the last seven games, though, and it is that tendency to turn the ball over that worries his fans. In the postseason, he has a 6:1 TD:INT ratio, but that should have been two, but for a drop in the 49ers game. The Rams also fumbled the ball four times in the win over Tampa Bay. When Stafford is on, he has elite targets in Cooper Kupp (386 yards and four TD in the playoffs) and Odell Beckham Jr (236 yards, 1 TD). Kendall Blanton (75 yards, 1 TD) emerged as a top target in the playoffs as well. With that broad distribution, Stafford should have plenty of options, even if the Bengals can bring pressure.
Final Score and Betting Prediction
A lot of people talk about the Bengals being lucky to get here, but let’s remember two moments. In the divisional playoff, the Rams coughed up a 27-3 lead, as the Buccaneers came back to tie the game at 27. Then the Bucs made a dreadful decision to run a slot blitz that left Cooper Kupp uncovered, and the subsequent bomb put the Rams in easy field goal range. Against the 49ers, Jaquiski Tartt dropped an easy interception that likely would have iced the game for San Francisco. I see the Bengals riding their momentum to a 27-23 win.
Super Bowl LVI – Cincinnati Bengals vs L.A. Rams : Bet the Game Today
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