The Los Angeles Rams left it late to reel in the Cincinnati Bengals for a narrow 23-20 and only the Rams’ second Super Bowl win of their history.
A touchdown by the night’s MVP Cooper Kupp after connecting on a short throw from quarter-back Matthew Stafford sealed the win with just 85 seconds left on the clock.
In echoes of last year’s Super Bowl when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had won at their home ground, the Rams became just the second team in history to win the Super Bowl in front of their own crowd.
It marked a fitting return to California at the SoFi Stadium, built for $5billion by Stan Kroenke, the owner of both the Rams and Arsenal for their move back from St Louis in 2016.
The match was a contrast of experience at quarter-back with Stafford, who had spent a decade with the Detroit Lions before switching to LA this season, and the Bengals’ Joe Burrow, like Stafford a former NFL Draft first overall pick, in his case as recently as 2020.
“We’re a freaking tough team and we showed up late and got it done,” said Stafford afterwards. “I’m just so proud of this team. It’s such a team victory. Our defence playing outstanding, special teams, timely and big when we needed it. Such a great game.”
For the Rams, it proved an historic win and also acted as immediate reward for a costly pre-season trade to bring Stafford on board.
For the Stafford family, it was a particularly poignant night just three years after the quarter-back’s wife, Kelly, was diagnosed with a brain tumour. She recovered from a 12-hour operation and had to learn to walk again. She was in the stands with the couple’s four children.
Stafford connected with another star signing in Odell Beckham Jr, arriving as a free agent back in November, to put the Rams in front. But Beckham Jr failed to see out the night, forced off with a knee injury and denying Stafford one of his biggest attacking threat.
Without him, the Bengals took control of the match, moving 20-13 ahead in the third quarter.
But after the Rams picked up a field goal, Stafford set up the final key moment of the night, befittingly linking up with Kupp, who had picked up the most catches, yards and touchdowns during the course of the season.
Stafford peppered Kupp with passes across the length of the field before a short pass gave him the winning touchdown.
