The Super Bowl is finally here and features the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals. Essentially, this is like a home game for the Rams since they’re playing in Sofi Stadium.
However, fans from all around the globe will be in attendance for this game, including Bengals fans. Can Matthew Stafford get his first-ever Super Bowl win? Or does it go a different route?
The Cincinnati Bengals are one of the biggest storylines of the year. They were one of the worst teams in the NFL not long ago but now are among the elite.
Joe Burrow and his tenacity have led his team to Super Bowl 56, and they hope to leave with a title. The Bengals have never won the Super Bowl; they have, however, gone twice. In both games, the Bengals lost to the 49ers.
Los Angeles Rams: Stafford’s first Super Bowl appearance
The Rams have been in plenty of Super Bowls, but this is Stafford’s first. He spent years trying to get the Lions to this point, to no avail. However, under Sean McVay, Stafford’s ability as a quarterback has been put on full display.
This team became the fifth-best passing team in the NFL, averaging 277.90 yards per game. Most of the offense’s success is due to their defense.
The Los Angeles Rams have a stingy defense to back up their incredible offense. On average, the Rams only allow 19.41 points per game, ranking third in the NFL. This defense will need to play a large role in Super Bowl 56.
The Bengals have a ton of weapons on offense, including Ja’Marr Chase. We can anticipate that Jalen Ramsey will be tasked with covering Chase.
Cincinnati Bengals: Can the Bengals protect Joe Burrow?
Although Joe Burrow shakes off hits most of the time, the Bengals need to do a better job protecting him. This is something they’ve struggled with all season but can’t afford it in Super Bowl 56.
The Bengals’ offensive line will have to stop Von Miller, Aaron Donald, and Leonard Floyd. Keeping all three of them away from Joe Burrow won’t be an easy task to complete.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bengals have a ton of players to worry about. Odell Beckham Jr. and Cooper Kupp, to name two of them.
The good news for the Bengals is they’ve done well this season against good offenses. They limited the Chiefs to just 24 points in the AFC Championship game. For their sake, they’ll need to put up a similar performance against L.A.
Betting Stats
Coming into this game, it should be no surprise that the Bengals are the underdog here. The Rams are 4.5-point favorites, with the total set at 49.5. If you’re looking for the best Moneyline odds, the Bengals are +165 here.
Both teams are pretty average against the spread, but we won’t concern ourselves with this. We will, however, say the Bengals are 1-5-1 ATS against L.A.
Let’s keep in mind that the last time the Bengals played the Rams was in 2019. This is before the time of Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase.
The total in this game is quite high, especially when you consider the defenses involved. That being said, let’s make our prediction for Super Bowl 56 between the Rams and Bengals.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals Betting Prediction
The Los Angeles Rams seem to be the best pick in this one for a few reasons. For starters, they have a veteran QB that can remain calm under the spotlight. That isn’t to say Joe Burrow doesn’t have ice in his veins; he just lacks experience.
The Rams also have one of the fiercest front seven’s in the NFL. The more hits Burrow takes could equal more turnovers.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Rams are stacked with talent. The Bengals, however, don’t have an incredible secondary to stop Kupp and Beckham Jr. Still, the spread is what we’re most concerned about.
The Rams being favored by 4.5 points means winning by a field goal won’t do it. The Bengals will keep this game close, so take the Cincinnati Bengals +4.5 in this one.
Cincinnati Bengals +4.5 over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI
