Super Bowl LVI is underway in unseasonably hot Inglewood, California, where the Cincinnati Bengals defense has picked up where it left off by sacking Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford on the game’s opening drive.
Back on January 30, the Bengals sacked Kansas City quarterback Patrick Homes three times and picked him off twice during their overtime upset of the Chiefs in the conference championship game.
Of course, they did give up a touchdown on Kansas City’s opening drive in the AFC title game, but faced no such problem on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, instead forcing the Rams into a quick three-and-out thanks to Trey Hendrickson’s takedown of Stafford.
Joe Burrow can burnish his already sizable legend if he leads the Bengals to victory by becoming the first signal-caller in history to win the rarest of triple crowns: the Heisman Trophy, the college football national championship and the Lombardi Trophy.
To do that, Burrow will need to defeat the Rams on their home turf at SoFi Stadium in what was nearly the hottest Super Bowl on record. Southern California’s temperatures were well into the 80s Fahrenheit before kickoff, but cooled into the high 70s as the game got underway.
If the Bengals do win, they’d make fools of some big bettors after massive last-minute wagers on the favored Rams moved the point spread from 4 to 4.5 points at several sportsbooks.
According to BetMGM, three $1 million wagers on Los Angeles were placed by the same bettor: Rams -0.5 (+105) for the first quarter; Rams -2.5 (-120) for the first half; and Rams over 13.5 (-115) for the first half. If all three bets win, the bettor would clear more than $2.75 million.
Other large bets placed on the NFC champion Rams at the sportsbook included wagers of $500,000 and $330,000. One bettor took the underdog Bengals for $200,000 at +4.5 (-110).
‘As of Sunday morning, the sportsbook will need the Rams,’ said Jason Scott, vice president of trading at BetMGM. ‘We expect the majority of the Super Bowl action to come in today, which could change BetMGM’s rooting interest.’
Trey Hendrickson #91 of the Cincinnati Bengals sacks Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow chitchats with his receivers prior to kickoff on Sunday at Super Bowl LVI in Inglewood
US singer Mickey Guyton performs the National Anthem during pre-game ceremonies at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles
Rams teammates (from left) Kendall Blanton, Matthew Stafford and Van Jefferson line up during the national anthem before
US singer Mickey Guyton performs the National Anthem during pre-game ceremonies before the Los Angeles Rams face the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood
Los Angeles Rams players line the end zone before playing against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium
Actress Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres attend Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals
Rebel Wilson attended Sunday’s Super Bowl, where she met with tight end Brycen Hopkins (near left). Right: LeBron James
Actress Charlize Theron attends Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium
Cincinnati Bengals teammates take a moment to kneel in prayer before Sunday’s Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow makes his from the team bus before the start of Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium
Burrow already won a national title at LSU two years ago. Now the 25-year-old Ohioan is looking to win his first Super Bowl
Rams receiver Odell Beckham Jr. warms up by flashing some of his old moves, including this one-handed grab
Super Bowl LVI nearly made history at kickoff before either the Rams or Bengals began their opening drives.
The temperature two hours before kickoff was 85 degrees, but cooled down to 79. The record of 84 was set on January 14, 1973, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. California has been dealing with a heat wave with eight locations in the region posting record temperatures in the upper 80s and low 90s earlier this week.
And aside from the heat, getting into Sunday’s Super Bowl was equally frustrating.
StubHub says the get-in price Sunday was $3,800, a jump of 10 percent from Saturday, and the average price for tickets sold was $6,136. That’s a dip of 8 percent from Saturday.
The site still had more than 1,400 tickets available Sunday morning.
Fans from California have bought nearly 40 percent more tickets over the last 24 hours and also nearly 35 percent of new tickets sold in that span.
The Cincinnati faithful have been busy with buyers from Ohio accounting for 8 percent of sales.
One man who didn’t pay his way in was the Bengals’ C.J. Uzomah, who was cleared by team doctors.
The tight end who took off the brace around his left knee at a pep rally a week ago in Cincinnati and tossed it back over his head is active for the season finale at SoFi Stadium. Uzomah was limited to nine snaps in the AFC championship game after hurting his knee.
The Rams also confirmed running back Darrell Henderson and defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day are active for the Super Bowl in Los Angeles’ home stadium. Rookie running back Jake Funk was inactive to clear a spot for Henderson.
Henderson, who rushed for 688 yards this season, hasn’t played since Dec. 26 because of a knee injury. Joseph-Day, a three-year starter and perhaps the Rams’ top run-stopper, injured his pectoral muscle in October and underwent surgery in November.
The Bengals scratched defensive tackles Mike Daniels and Tyler Shelvin, cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, defensive end Wyatt Ray, offensive lineman Fred Johnson, wide receiver Trenton Irwin and running back Trayveon Williams.
The Rams’ inactives were third quarterback Bryce Perkins, Funk, linebackers Terrell Lewis and Chris Garrett, offensive tackle Tremayne Anchrum Jr., defensive lineman Bobby Brown III and defensive back Blake Countess.
Ticket prices for Sunday’s Super Bowl were well into the thousands of dollars, and there are no refunds, even in the event that you sat behind this Bengals fan and his gigantic hat
Fans cheer outside as they wait to enter before the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford warms up on the field before the NFL Super Bowl XLI
Rapper Jay Z takes a photo before Super Bowl LVI between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell talks with NFL Network’s Scott Hanson Super Bowl LVI between the Bengals and Rams
BIDEN SAYS NFL SHOULD BE HELD TO A ‘REASONABLE STANDARD’ ON MINORITY HIRING AS THE LEAGUE FACES BRIAN FLORES’S DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT
President Joe Biden spoke with NBC before Sunday’s game
By Alex Raskin, Daily Main Sports News Editor
President Joe Biden was interviewed by NBC ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl LVI, and shared his disappointment in commissioner Roger Goodell and the league’s hiring practices, which have faced criticism following a discrimination lawsuit by fired Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores.
Currently the NFL has only five head coaches who can be considered minorities, although nearly 70 percent of league players are African Americans. And in a memo last week, Goodell admitted the league’s hiring has been ‘unacceptable.’
‘Well, I think it should be held to a reasonable standard,’ Biden told NBC’s Lester Holt. ‘And, you know, the commissioner pointed out, they haven’t lived up to what they committed to, they haven’t lived up to being open about hiring more minorities to run teams, and whether or not, you know, Goodell says they’re gonna take a look at what, whether they can meet the standard.
‘And the standard was set by someone who said this is something we should do,’ Biden continued. ‘Think about it, the whole idea that a league that is made up of so many athletes of color, as well as so diverse, that there’s not enough African American qualified coaches to quote, ”to manage,” these NFL teams, it just seems to me that it’s a standard that they’d want to live up to. I don’t know if there’s not a requirement of law, but it’s a requirement I think of some just generic decency.’
Fired Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores has sued the league and three teams for discrimination, saying the NFL is run like a ‘plantation’
The league was left with only one black coach after Flores was fired in Miami following a 9-8 season in 2021. However, Flores has since been replaced by Mike McDaniel, who identifies as multiracial and has a black father, and the Houston Texans promoted African-American assistant coach Lovie Smith to head coach.
Aside from the Steelers’ Mike Tomlin, who is black, the league’s only other minority head coaches include the Jets’ Robert Saleh, who is Lebanese, and the Commanders’ Ron Rivera, who is half Puerto Rican and half Mexican.
Despite the presence of the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview outside minority candidates for head-coaching and senior-level front office jobs, the racial disparity between players has only grown starker. African Americans held eight NFL head-coaching jobs in 2018 compared to just three in 2021.
As for the game itself, Biden said he’s been impressed with Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, but warns that the Rams will be tough to be at home.
‘I love this young quarterback from Cincinnati,’ Biden said of Burrow. ‘He’s an Ohio boy, can make everybody happy, but we also have some, you know, I think Los Angeles is gonna be hard to beat.’
Flores filed a bombshell lawsuit against the NFL and three of its teams Tuesday, saying racist hiring practices by the league have left it racially segregated and managed like a ‘plantation.’
The lawsuit filed in Manhattan Federal Court included text messages between Flores and his former boss, New England Patriots coaching legend Bill Belichick, in which Belichick mistakenly congratulates his former protege for getting hired by the New York Giants before he even interviewed with the team.
Apparently Belichick intended to text another Brian, former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who was ultimately hired for the position.
Ostensibly, Belichick’s mistaken text message suggests that Flores was never a real candidate for the Giants job, and instead was merely being interviewed to comply with the NFL’s Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for top coaching and executive positions.
The filing also accused Stephen Ross, the owner of the Miami Dolphins, of trying to bribe Flores $100,000 for every game he lost during the 2019 season so the team could get the first pick in that year’s NFL Draft.
The lawsuit seeks class-action status and unspecified damages from the league, the Dolphins, Denver Broncos and the Giants, along with unidentified individuals.
It alleged that the league has discriminated against Flores and other black coaches for racial reasons, denying them positions as head coaches, offensive and defensive coordinators and quarterbacks coaches, as well as general managers.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick reached out to his former assistant Brian Flores to congratulate him on getting the Giants job, according to text messages revealed in lawsuit
Ian Murray, a Bengals fan, is seen with tiger stripe-dyed hair at The Banks Riverfront Entertainment District in Cincinnati
These young Rams fans await Sunday’s kickoff at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
One fan added some extra protection to his Rams helmet with some realistic ram horns
Pictured: a list of the hottest Super Bowls in NFL history, with Sunday’s LVI game in Los Angeles forecast to be the hottest ever Super Bowl Sunday
LA RAMS vs. CINCINNATI BENGALS: KEY FIGURES
The Rams made the bold call last summer to trade quarterback Jared Goff and several high draft picks for the Detroit Lions’ Matthew Stafford and if they have felt the benefits, so has Stafford.
Having never won a play-off game before this season and played in only three in 12 Lions seasons, this will be his fourth in his debut Rams campaign. In their three wins he has completed 72 of 100 passes for 905 yards, six touchdowns and one interception and added two rushing scores.
Opposite number Burrow can rival those numbers, completing 75 of 109 attempts for 842 yards, four touchdowns and two picks despite taking 12 sacks.
That last figure will be of concern against a Rams front featuring three-time NFL defensive player of the year Aaron Donald, who had 12.5 sacks in the regular season, flanked by Von Miller and Leonard Floyd. The trio have added 4.5 of the Rams’ five post-season sacks.
Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson ranked fifth in the regular season with 14 sacks but goes up against Andrew Whitworth – an ex-Bengal of 11 years’ service and still excelling as the first offensive lineman ever to play after turning 40. Hendrickson’s main goal: getting to Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (left)
Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams during practice in preparation for Super Bowl LVI at California Lutheran University on February 11, 2022 in Thousand Oaks, California. The Rams will play against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI on February 13
Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson ranked fifth in the regular season with 14 but goes up against Andrew Whitworth – an ex-Bengal of 11 years’ service and still excelling as the first offensive lineman ever to play after turning 40. Tom Brady’s retirement made Whitworth the league’s oldest player.
The Rams’ Cooper Kupp won the NFL receiving ‘triple crown’, his 145 catches, 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns all leading the league, and has added 386 yards and four scores in the play-offs. Odell Beckham Jr has added to Stafford’s arsenal with six touchdowns in 11 games since joining the Rams – just one short of his total in 29 games for previous employers the Cleveland Browns.
Rookie Ja’Marr Chase had 81 catches for a Bengals-record 1,455 yards, with 13 touchdowns. He leads a strong receiving corps but is likely to be shadowed by cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who matched his career best with four picks this season.
The Bengals’ trump card may just be another rookie – kicker Evan McPherson’s perfect record in the play-offs extends to 12 field goals, including back-to-back game-winners, and four extra points.
– PA Media
Bengals’ wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase speaks during a media availability at UCLA
Cincinnati Bengals fans look on before Super Bowl LVI against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium
It’s not entirely clear who these people are rooting for, but they do seem enthusiastic about being at Super Bowl LVI
For the underdog Cincinnati Bengals and their long-suffering fans, a win over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI on Sunday might feel like too much to hope for given the team’s painful history dating back to 1968.
Prior to their thrilling upset over Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game on January 30, the Bengals had reached only two Super Bowls ever, losing to Joe Montana’s San Francisco 49ers in 1982 and 1989.
Since then, the franchise has defined ineptitude under owner Mike Brown, the son of franchise’s founder and first coach, Paul. Once-promising quarterback prospects like David Klinger and Akili Smith flamed out of the league, players like receiver Carl Pickens publicly criticized the front office, and the Bengals failed to win a single playoff game for more than three decades.
Even in 2021, the Bengals still had little, if any, expectations.
The perennial NFL doormats entered the preseason as 150-1 long shots to capture a league title for several reasons: they won just six combined games under head coach Zac Taylor in 2019 and 2020, and their anointed savior, Burrow, was coming off a season-ending knee injury.
History certainly wasn’t on their side. Only 11 teams since 1977 had reached the Super Bowl after facing odds of 50-1 or longer before the season, according to Sporting News.
But the Bengals wouldn’t be the first 150-1 longshot to win the Lombardi Trophy. The Rams, of all teams, already accomplished that remarkable feat in 1999.
Until Burrow’s arrival, the Bengals had long been known for their failure to land an elite quarterback, despite using high first-round picks in Akili Smith (left) and David Klingler (right)
Zac Taylor (left) poses with Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown (right) in 2019. Prior to their thrilling upset over Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game on January 30, the Bengals had reached only two Super Bowls ever, losing to Joe Montana’s San Francisco 49ers in 1982 and 1989. Since then, the franchise has defined ineptitude under owner Brown, the son of franchise’s founder and first coach, Paul
Led by grocery store clerk-turned-Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner (near right), the then-St. Louis Rams shocked the NFL universe by going from 4-12 in 1998 to 13-3 before beating the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. They remain the only 150-1 underdog to win a Super Bowl, but that could change with a Bengals win over the LA Rams on Sunday
Led by grocery store clerk-turned-Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, the then-St. Louis Rams shocked the NFL universe by going 13-3 before beating the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV.
It remains the franchise’s only Super Bowl title, which is why the stakes are somewhat different for these Rams, who are still trying to win over a city the team once abandoned in 1995 by moving to St. Louis.
Founded in Cleveland in 1937 and now in their second stint in Los Angeles, the Rams have struggled to capture the hearts of the famously fickle Southern Californians since returning in 2016.
They just barely averaged more fans in 2021 than the 9-8 Los Angeles Chargers, with whom they share SoFi Stadium. And in the NFC title game against the visiting 49ers, the Rams appeared to have fewer supporters in the stands despite reported efforts to limit ticket sales around the San Francisco area.
Of course, winning the franchise’s first Super Bowl in LA could win favor with Angelenos — something the Rams failed to do against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIV and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII.
Evan McPherson #2 of the Cincinnati Bengals warms up before Super Bowl LVI against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium
As for advantages, well, the Rams are playing in their own stadium and haven’t had to leave California for weeks. The Bengals needed to escape Cincinnati’s winter and headed west two days before they were scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles.
No matter; the Bengals have arrived and actually are designated the home team because of the conference rotation for the big game. They don’t appear in awe of, well, anything.
‘This is what you work so hard for,’ Burrow said. ‘We didn’t go into last season saying that we have to have a great offseason to make it to the Super Bowl next year. I think everyone just went into it and knew they had to get better as players so we could be better as a team.’
RAMS’ McVAY vs. BENGALS’ TAYLOR
Rams head coach Sean McVay
Sean McVay has been one of the league’s most successful coaches since taking charge of the Rams at just 30 in 2017. Since then, he’s been named NFL Coach of the Year, reached the playoffs four out of five seasons, and is now preparing for his second Super Bowl. (His rams scored just three points in a Super Bowl LIII loss to the Patriots three years ago)
The Rams went 9-7 the following season, but they have bounced back in style.
His success has seen several of his assistants earn head coaching jobs elsewhere – including Zac Taylor, who coached the Rams’ receivers in 2017 and quarterbacks in 2018.
Unlike his mentor, Taylor was not an immediate success – posting a 6-25-1 record before this season – but he has piloted an ascending offense to the big game this time around.
The Bengals ranked seventh in the NFL with 4,403 passing yards in 2021 and seventh in scoring at 27.1 points a game.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor
Mission accomplished – with one huge step remaining.
LA has the experience and, appropriately, within reach of Hollywood, most of the established stars in this matchup: Aaron Donald, Von Miller and Jalen Ramsey on defense; Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr. on offense.
Yet the Bengals won the awards contest, Burrow (Comeback Player) and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (Offensive Rookie) against Kupp’s top offensive player honor.
Quite often it’s the bigger names who stand out in the Super Bowl. But some of the intrigue here centers on guys who seemed to have made breakthroughs in these playoffs. Many of those are on Cincinnati’s side: rookie kicker Evan McPherson, perfect on all his kicks, including two winning fields goals on the final play; tight end C.J. Uzomah, emerging in his seventh pro season; defensive end Sam Hubbard; and linebacker Logan Wilson.
Even Cincy’s coach, Taylor, has risen toward the heights of the profession after a 6-25-1 mark in his first two seasons.
‘It’s awesome,’ says Rams coach Sean McVay. ‘Zac’s a great coach. I think the resilience, the mental toughness, the things that they’ve gone through to get to this point is great. I think it’s such credit to his leadership.
‘I love Zac Taylor. I’m so happy for him. I think that team plays with a swagger and a confidence similar to the way Zac carries himself. He’s so steady. He’s always so neutral.’
Of course, Taylor worked under McVay for two seasons before the Bengals came calling. And McVay, still only 36, is in his second Super Bowl and has taken his team to the playoffs in four of his five years in charge.
One worry about the Rams is how they keep some games closer than maybe they should be. Turnovers, poor play calls and poorer decisions have damaged them, though not enough to keep them from winning the NFC.
Overall, it’s hard, maybe impossible, to argue that the Bengals are more talented than the Rams. Indeed, Cincy might not rank in the top eight or so in the NFL in that area.
But talent isn’t always the deciding factor. Resolve, versatility, confidence and even luck play a role. Sometimes a big one.
That said, the Rams are 4-point favorites according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Pro Picks can ride with them.
There will be more than enough star power on the field Sunday at the Super Bowl to match the celebrities in the stands at SoFi Stadium.
‘I think if you look cool in the dictionary, there’s a picture of him in some Cartier shades,’ Beckham said of Burrow, a fellow LSU product. ‘This guy is smooth and truly, as … he’s going to be one of the greats, I feel like. And I truly believe that Joe Burrow yes, is definitely cool, for sure.’
Burrow has earned plenty of attention leading the Bengals far beyond worst to first in just his second NFL season. With Cincinnati’s first Super Bowl berth since the 1988 season, Burrow is the toast of Ohio. LeBron James has reached out to him and rapper Kid Cudi direct messaged Burrow on social media.
It’s why Burrow is staying off social media.
‘I haven’t checked in a while,’ Burrow said. ‘My phone hasn’t been blowing up as much, so that’s been nice. Just trying to eliminate those distractions. But yeah, the social part of the position that I’m in, it’s crazier than the football part to me.’
Burrow showed off his fashion sense at the AFC title game. First with a big coat on his way into Arrowhead Stadium, then with a gold and diamond necklace over his classic black turtleneck postgame. Cincinnati rookie kicker Evan McPherson says Burrow’s style is pushing him to up his own game for the Super Bowl.
‘I probably learned a thing or two from him …,’ McPherson said. ‘My favorite one is probably the jacket from this past (game) in my opinion. It’s definitely special and definitely unique.’
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Leonard Floyd gives autographs to fans before Sunday’s Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium
Parking spots were going for $225 apiece outside SoFi Stadium, but fans paid far more to get into the game
The Rams live in Los Angeles – Hollywood, you know – so style comes naturally. No outfit can come close to matching the sheer star power on the roster for a team that seemingly can’t collect enough big names.
They traded for Stafford, upgrading significantly at quarterback. During this season, they traded for linebacker Von Miller, the NFL’s active sacks leader and Super Bowl 50 MVP; signed Beckham in November after he was released by Cleveland; and lured safety Eric Weddle out of retirement for the postseason.
‘We got a lot of stars over here,’ Ramsey said. ‘We oozing with confidence as well. So don’t forget about who we really are over here. We’ve been playing some great ball in this postseason. And you know obviously we got individual guys who have been great and doing great things in this league for years and years and years.’
Kupp turned in the best performance by a receiver in the NFL with 145 catches for 1,947 yards. He credits coach Sean McVay with not shying away from letting his best players work against each other.
‘I get to line up against Jalen Ramsey and compete against Jalen Ramsey every single week,’ Kupp said. ‘Now, that is a huge advantage for me, and so thankful that coach allows us to be in those positions to compete against each other to sharpen each other.’
McVay, who has the Rams in their second Super Bowl in four seasons, sees all those stars sharing several of the same traits. They all love football, are extremely intelligent and want to win. McVay and his coaches explain why something needs to happen, and the Rams follow through.
‘That has been a huge part of why this team has been special,’ McVay said. ‘Yes, you have a lot of guys who’ve established themselves as big-time players in this league, but one of the thing’s that’s common about all those guys, they’re great competitors that they want to win a championship.’
In addition to Burrow, Cincinnati has a star in the making in Pro Bowl rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
For a team used to playing at 1 p.m. each Sunday through the season far from nationally televised games, the Bengals are eager to take advantage of this spotlight.
‘We got to prove ourselves to get on the big stage, and that’s what we’ve done,’ Cincinnati wide receiver Tyler Boyd said. ‘And it’s showing off.’
Exactly the way stars do.