After 272 regular-season games in the first 18-week season and 13 playoff games, the fourteenth playoff game has arrived. The Super Bowl. The NFC representative, the Rams, and the AFC representative, the Bengals, could not be less alike in their approaches to this season.

The Rams have gone all-in on winning the Super Bowl this season, making multiple splash acquisitions this year and years prior. After failing to make the Conference Championship for the second season in a row after appearing in the Super Bowl LII in 2019, the Rams decided there needed to be a change at the quarterback position, trading former starting quarterback Jared Goff for Matthew Stafford. Along with Goff, the Rams also traded away two first-round draft picks, a 2022 and 2023 pick. Barring an off-season trade that would import a first-round pick, the 2024 draft will be the first draft since 2017 where the Rams will pick in the first round. In the 2019-2020 season, the Rams had also traded two first-round picks for All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Earlier this season, the Rams had also traded a second and third-round draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft for former All-Pro edge-rusher Von Miller. They also signed star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. after being released from the Browns.

These acquisitions have all panned out extraordinarily for the Rams. Despite never playing with him once in his 12 year-career, Stafford immediately connected with wide-receiver Cooper Kupp. Kupp finished the regular season with the receiving “triple crown,” leading the league in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Stafford finished the season with the second-most passing touchdowns in the league, tying his career-high of 41 touchdowns. Odell Beckham Jr. would also connect with Stafford after being acquired midway through the season. Beckham Jr. would record 6 touchdowns in 11 games (including playoffs) with the Rams after having none through six games with the Browns earlier this season. 

Since the 2019 trade, Ramsey has played up to the bill, being a First-Team All-Pro cornerback in both the 2020-21 season and this season. Edge-rusher Von Miller has been menacing for opposing quarterbacks in Los Angeles. Miller has had 7 sacks and 16 tackles-for-loss in 11 games with the Rams. Across from Miller is Aaron Donald, arguably the most dominant defensive player in the league. The three-time defensive player of the year has recorded 12.5 sacks in the regular season this year, despite being double and triple-teamed.

The Bengals on the other hand, are coming fresh off of a rebuild. Just two seasons ago, the Bengals had only two wins, the least in the NFL, earning them the number one overall pick. Joe Burrow would be selected and play only 10 games his rookie season because of a serious knee injury resulting in knee reconstruction. The Bengals would only win 4 games that season, earning them the fifth overall pick. That pick would be used on Ja’Marr Chase, Burrow’s teammate from LSU. The two appeared to not lose any chemistry at all this season, with Chase setting multiple receiving records in his rookie season. Receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd have complemented Chase, combining for 11 touchdowns in the regular season. Running back Joe Mixon completes the Bengals offense with his running game, recording the third-most rushing touchdowns in the league. 

Despite the dynamic Burrow-Chase connection this season, the Rams will win the Super Bowl. One of the biggest questions coming into this year for the Bengals was their offensive line, which had given up 48 sacks the year prior. After the draft, there was a large discourse on whether the Bengals should have drafted offensive tackle Penai Sewell instead of Chase. While they made the correct decision drafting Chase, their offensive line has been terrible this year, with Joe Burrow being sacked 51 times, the most in the NFL. This is a matchup that Aaron Donald and Von Miller will feast on, causing Joe Burrow havoc for most of the game. 

Secondly, the Bengals defense just won’t be able to keep up with the Rams offense. The Rams offense had the seventh highest-scoring offense in the league, averaging about 27 points per game. The Bengals defense was good, not great this year, allowing the 15th most points per game this year, allowing about 22 points per game. The Stafford-Kupp connection will be too strong for the Bengals to stop this game.

Lastly, this will be the second time and second year in a row that a team will be at home for the Super Bowl, with Los Angeles hosting the game this year. Last year, the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl in commanding fashion against the Chiefs in Tampa Bay, winning 31-9. While the Rams don’t have the largest fan base, expect a large portion of Rams fans at the game which is played in their home stadium, giving an even more of a home-field advantage to the Rams.

Score: Rams 27- Bengals 17