Cooper Is Super As Rams Raise The Lombardi Trophy

 

By Andrew Rosario

 

 

With the help from Cooper Kupp, Matthew Stafford did something no one thought he could do. Win a Super Bowl. The wide receiver caught 8 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns in the 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals and was named Most Valuable Player. 

 

Stafford threw for 283 yards, connecting on 26 of 40 passes, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. His first touchdown pass to outcast Odell Beckham, Jr gave the Rams an early 7-0 lead. Unfortunately for Beckham, his day would be cut short as he suffered a knee injury right before halftime.

 

The Bengals, led by neophyte Joe Burrow, would not go away quietly. With the help of a trick play, they got within 3

(13-10) right before halftime when Tee Higgins took a handoff and found Joe Mixon in the back of the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown pass. 

 

Before the Rams knew it, they were down 20-13 after a 75 yard touchdown pass for Stafford to Higgins and a 38 yard field goal by Evan McPherson. Los Angeles closed the gap to 20-16 after a Matt Gay 41 field goal. 

 

Stafford then showed why they made the trade to bring him to Los Angeles. Starting on their own 21, Stafford completes 7 passes for 57 yards, the last a 1-yard reception by Kupp for the game winner. 

 

Then, the defense, led by Aaron Donald and Vonn Miller, put the Rams in the position to get the come from behind victory. 

 

The Bengals began on their own 25 needing just a field goal to send the game into overtime. Burrow moved them down to the Rams 49. On 4^th and 1 to keep the drive alive, Burrow looks for running back Samaje Perine as Donald bust through the line forcing Burrow to get rid of the ball. The pass is incomplete and the Rams come away with the win. Donald could have easily won the MVP based on his performance.

 

Said Stafford after the game, “it feels great. Just happy to be able to celebrate this with such great teammates and my family. People who mean the most to me and so proud of this group. It’s a special feeling.”

 

Both teams have a built a foundation that will have them competing for the Super Bowl for years to come. Next year, the Super Bowl will be played in Sin City, Las Vegas Nevada. Time will tell if it will be the third year in a row the home team will host the event. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did it two years ago followed by the Rams this year. Both teams coming away with the trophy.