A touchdown late in the final quarter gives the Los Angeles Rams a thrilling 23-20 triumph over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI in Inglewood, California.
The Bengals were leading 20-16 when Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp in the end zone with just one minute and 25 seconds remaining in the match.
The extra point was added, giving the Rams the second Super Bowl championship in the franchise's history and their first since moving back to Los Angeles in 2016.
The Rams' last Super Bowl win was in 1999 when they were based in St Louis.
Stafford's third touchdown throw and Kupp's second scoring catch of the match capped a dramatic 15-play, 79-yard drive.
Stafford completed 26 of 40 passes for 283 yards and two interceptions, while Kupp — who was later named MVP — caught eight passes for 92 yards.
Aaron Donald recorded two of Los Angeles' seven sacks and pressured Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow to force a desperate fourth-down incompletion with 39 seconds to play.
The Rams then ran out the clock to claim the Super Bowl title.
Burrow was 22-of-33 passing for 263 yards and running back Joe Mixon rushed for 72 yards and threw a touchdown pass on a trick play for the Bengals.
Tee Higgins caught four passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
Cincinnati made a stunning run to the title match but is now 0-3 in Super Bowls, having lost to the San Francisco 49ers in appearances following the 1981 and 1988 seasons.
The Bengals won just six matches over the previous two seasons.
Kupp set a post-season record with 33 receptions, breaking the mark of 31 set last season by Kansas City's Travis Kelce. Von Miller also had two sacks for the Rams.
Odell Beckham Jr also caught a touchdown pass for the Rams before exiting the match in the second quarter due to a left knee injury.
Cincinnati moved ahead for the first time at 17-13 on the first offensive play of the third quarter when Burrow and Higgins connected on a 75-yard touchdown pass.
Higgins and Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey were mixed up, with Higgins appearing to twist Ramsey's face mask. Ramsey fell to the ground while Higgins made the grab and ran the remaining 35 yards for the score.
On the Rams' next play from scrimmage, Cincinnati's Chidobe Awuzie notched an interception of a Stafford pass that caromed off the arms of Ben Skowronek, who was in the match due to Beckham's injury.
The Bengals took over at the Los Angeles 31-yard line and eventually grew the lead to seven with Evan McPherson's 38-yard field goal.
The Rams cut their deficit to 20-16 when Matt Gay booted a 41-yard field with 5:58 left in the quarter.
Stafford threw two first-half touchdown passes as the Rams held a 13-10 lead at intermission.
Los Angeles struck first when Stafford connected on a 17-yard scoring pass to Beckham with 6:22 remaining in the first quarter.
Cincinnati got on the board with McPherson's 29-yard field goal with 28 seconds to go in the opening period.
The Rams increased their lead to 13-3 when Stafford tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Kupp in the right corner of the end zone with 12:51 left in the half.
The score was set up by consecutive pass plays of 35 yards to Beckham and 25 to Darrell Henderson Jr.
The extra point failed when holder Johnny Hekker was unable to get the ball down cleanly.
The Bengals answered with a solid 12-play, 75-yard drive that took 7:04. It culminated when Mixon threw a pass for the first time in his five-year NFL career and hit Higgins for a 6-yard score with 5:47 remaining in the half.
Reuters/ABC
Look back at how the action unfolded in our blog.
Key events
- Los Angeles Rams win Super Bowl LVI, beating Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 for their second NFL title
- Rams take over with 39 seconds left, they lead 23-20
- TOUCHDOWN TO LOS ANGELES!!! THE RAMS TAKE THE LEAD WITH A 1-YARD PASS TO COOPER KUPP!!!!!!
- How can I watch the Super Bowl in Australia
- TOUCHDOWN CINCINNATI BENGALS!! JOE BURROW FINDS TEE HIGGINS FOR A 75-YARD PASS!
- Welcome to the Super Bowl Halftime Show
- TOUCHDOWN BENGALS - CINCINNATI HAS A TOUCHDOWN PASS FROM RUNNING BACK JOE MIXON TO TEE HiGGINS!!
- TOUCHDOWN RAMS - MATTHEW STAFFORD PASSES TO COOPER KUPP!
- TOUCHDOWN LOS ANGELES RAMS!
Live updates
By Andrew Mcgarry
Super Bowl LVI
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Los Angeles Rams 7 6 3 7 23
Cincinnati Bengals 3 7 10 0 20
By Andrew Mcgarry
LA's Kupp runneth over with Super Bowl win
What a game! We had tension, huge plays, amazing touchdowns, three of the league's best wide receivers on show.
One of them, Odell Beckham Jr made his mark and then got injured.
The Rams looked in trouble, and Joe Burrow of Cincinnati made them pay.
But when it counted, Kupp came through, and veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford kept his cool when it counted..
You have to feel sorry for the Bengals, who gave it everything but came up short for the third time in Super Bowls.
Their three losses - two to San Francisco 49ers and one to the Rams - have come with a total margin of just 11 points! Heartbreaking.
The interesting point is that the Bengals could be around for a while, whereas the Rams were a team built for the now.
They may well lose star defender Aaron Donald, and they have to get a deal done to keep Stafford.
They are problems for tomorrow, however - for now they celebrate.
That's where we'll leave things for our live coverage of Super Bowl LVI. We'll update this story with a wrap of the day's events, but for now we'll close things off.
My thanks to Double J's Mawunyo Gbogbo for her blogging of the epic half-time show - my name is Andrew McGarry, thank you all for joining me for today's game. Goodbye.
By Andrew Mcgarry
Cooper Kupp is named Super Bowl MVP
No arguments there, he was clutch for the Rams at the end.
Just comes down this team and the way we prepared. The way we loved each other interested each other.
I don't feel deserving of this. I'm just so thankful for the guys I get to be around, the coaches and my family. I do know what to say.
I don't have the words. I'm so thankful that everyone has been my life that encourage me, push me, in there every step of the way. These three) me. My support system. These guys standing out here. They challenge me, they pushed me, they made it so much fun to come to work every day. I'm just so thankful.
By Andrew Mcgarry
LA owner Stan Kroenke is talking...
It's amazing and just really proud of this coaching group. Sean and Les, Kevin and Tony, all the guys. I'm so happy for them. There we talk about these players. Matthew (Stafford), Andrew (whitworth).
They are unbelievable and they just hung in there. It was a tough game and were just so proud of them executing at the end like they did. As far as building the stadium, I think it turned out alright.
And thanks to the great fans of Los Angeles. The first Super Bowl trophy in Rams house.
By Andrew Mcgarry
What an amazing finish from the LA Rams!!!
A drive for the ages from a banged-up quarterback in Matt Stafford, taking his team 72 yards in 19 plays and just under five minutes.
When it came down to the crunch, after looking vulnerable on offence for much of the game, Stafford turned to his superstar wide receiver Cooper Kupp - who ended up with eight catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns - and they got the job done.
It has to be said there were some interesting penalties in there as well, but the Rams got it done to clinch their second Super Bowl win - and their first in Los Angeles!
Stafford gets his first Super Bowl ring, LA's Sean McVay becomes the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl....
By Andrew Mcgarry
Matthew Stafford speaks after Super Bowl LVI
What an amazing time for Matthew Stafford, who spent most of his career with a losing team in Detroit, then got a late-trade to LA, and now has a Super Bowl ring.
I'm so proud of this team. So many guys on our team deserve this. So many great players. Guys that have given their heart and soul to this team. Guys that are playing this game will not because of injury, doesn't matter what it is. So proud of this group. Today is.
So proud of this group. Today is the story of our season. It up and down, we are a tough team. We showed up late and got it done.
By Andrew Mcgarry
Rams defensive star Aaron Donald is talking amid the confetti after finally getting a Super Bowl win
I wanted this so bad. I'm so happy. I dream do this. It's surreal. Look at this. It feels amazing.
It's the best feeling in the world. God is great. I don't know what to say. It's a blessing.
I'm in a moment right now. I'll just enjoy this right now. I'll just enjoy this right now with these guys, my kids will come on the field. This is a promise I made to my daughter when she was five. I'm just going to live in the moment.
By Andrew Mcgarry
Los Angeles Rams win Super Bowl LVI, beating Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 for their second NFL title
By Andrew Mcgarry
Matthew Stafford kneels, and the Bengals are not stopping the clock.,
By Andrew Mcgarry
Rams take over with 39 seconds left, they lead 23-20
By Andrew Mcgarry
Bengals with the ball, 1:25 left 4th quarter
The Bengals have two time outs and they start on the 25
1st down - Burrow to Chase for 17 yards!!! Ok, LA puts it up to Cincinnati, and Burrow and Chase respond.,
1st and 10 at the 42 - Great catch By Tytler Boyd at the 49.
2nd and 1 - Burrow throws it away. There are are 48 seconds left in Super Bowl LVI.
Who wins this?
3rd and 1 - Short run does not get the first down! Time out Cincinnati. There are 43 seconds left, and the Rams can win it on this next play
4th and 1 - Burrow in the shotgun - Burrow is nearly sacked, but he flings it out... and the ball is incomplete!!!
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By Andrew Mcgarry
TOUCHDOWN TO LOS ANGELES!!! THE RAMS TAKE THE LEAD WITH A 1-YARD PASS TO COOPER KUPP!!!!!!
Who else would it be? Stafford lobs one to the right side of the end zone and Kupp puts the Rams ahead with 1:25 left.
Extra point is good - Bengals need a field goal to take us to overtime, or a touchdown to win it.
By Andrew Mcgarry
Rams are First and Goal at the Cincinnati 8
So it's all on these four plays.
The Rams have all three time outs, but they can't get a first down, it's touchdown or bust from here.
That missed extra point earlier is looming large in the conversation right now...
What can the Bengals D do from here?
1st down - Stafford goes to pass to van Jefferson in the end zone, it's too high!
2nd and goal - Stafford drops back and tries a quick dump pass that hits the ground. Two chances left... and where is Cooper Kupp?
3rd and goal - Pass from Stafford, it's knocked down by a Cincinnati defender, but there's a flag for defensive holding. half the distance to the goal and a first down! So they get four more chances. Not sure about that one...
1st and goal - Matt Stafford passes to Cooper Kupp in the end zone .. there's a flag....
Wow, it's offsetting penalties - it could have been a touchdown.
Repeat 1st down. And breathe ...
Stafford rolls to his right, he fires one to the corner to Kupp it's incomplete, but there's a flag. Pass interference - ball goes to the 1-yard line!!!
There is 1:35 left. So even if they score here the Bengals have time!
Stafford tries a quarterback sneak. Gets nothing. 1:29 left.
2nd and goal - they go to pass...
By Andrew Mcgarry
Rams with the ball, 6:13 left in Super Bowl LVI
79 yards to go for the go-ahead score.
Matt Stafford starts with a quick pass to Brycen Hopkins for 9 yards.
2nd and 1 - Incomplete.
key stat - Cooper Kupp has 4 catches for 53 yards...
3rd down - The rams are stopped short on a run.
Will they go for it?
4th down - Akers in as a back ... Cooper Kupp gets a decent block, and runs for the first down!
1st and 10 - Pass over the middle, incomplete.
2nd and 10 - How can they get the ball to Kupp? Well they find a way - Stafford gets it to him in double coverage they're short.
3rd and 2 - first down pas to Hopkins! A big pass. less than four minutes to go.
1st and 10 - Swing pass to Cam Akers, he gets a few yards,
2nd and 7 - BIG PASS TO KUPP! he gets a first down and more, 22-yard gain. 2:40 and counting left.
1st and 10 - It's fired in to Kupp again, he's short of the first down. We're nearly at two minute warning.
Akers makes a first down and gets inside the 10-yard line!! We have two minutes to go in Super Bowl LVI and it's all on the line, right here!
By Andrew Mcgarry
Bengals with the ball, 10 minutes left 4th quarter
how are the Bengals going to play this? Go conservative with runs from Joe Mixon, or try to put it away with a touchdown?
first up it's Mixon, and he gets a first down!
1st and 10 - I think we have our answer - the Bengals run a draw play up the middle and Mixon gets close to another first down.
The time continues to tick.
2nd and 2 - Mixon runs again, gets one yard this time. Short yardage.
3rd and 1 - First down! They swing a pass out to the left and rookie Chris Evans makes it just.
1st and 10 - Another swing pass out wide to Mixon, but he is stopped behind the line for a loss.
2nd and 13 - Mixon runs right tackle, tries to go outside but is tripped up.
3rd and 10 - A Rams defender Ernest jones comes off ... there is 6:37 left. Would be a vital first down if Cincy can get it
Tyler Boyd drops a pass near halfway. It's punt time... it's a high one, and the Rams call for a fair catch at their own 21.
6:20 left. Where's the next score going to come from? the Rams desperately need it to be from them.
