Rams- Bengals Showdown in LA
By: Emdad Swapan, News Editor/ Social Media Manager
This year’s Super Bowl game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the LA Rams will take place this Sunday, Feb 13. The LA Rams are actually the road team in the Super Bowl even though the game takes place at their home, SoFi Stadium. The Bengals are the home team because of an AFC-NFC rotation that happens every year. The only real perk for the Bengals of being the designated home team is that they were able to choose their uniforms first. The California temperature will play a huge factor as it is expected to be in the high 80’s at kickoff, which would make this Super Bowl the hottest ever. For everything you need to know about Super Bowl Sunday, follow along!
The LA Rams, led by QB Matthew Stafford and All-Pro WR Cooper Kupp, look to win the Super Bowl on their home turf, something the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did for the first time ever last year. The Rams made a monumental trade last January for Matthew Stafford, pairing him with Kupp, who became the triple-crown king, leading the league in yards, receptions, and touchdowns.
They then made a mid-season acquisition of well known WR Odell Beckham Jr. Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller, who was also acquired at the trade deadline, & All-Pro Aaron Donald hope to continue their dominant defensive performances against the Bengals.
A lot of people, including Bengals fans, did not expect the Cincinnati Bengals to reach the Super Bowl. The team, led by former LSU teammates QB Joe Burrow & rookie WR Ja’Marr Chase, looks to win their first Super Bowl in franchise history. After defeating the defending AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs in overtime of the AFC Championship Game, the Bengals clinched their first Super Bowl berth since 1989. With a win, the Bengals would deliver one of the greatest storybook endings to a spectacular upset-filled playoff run.
Rams Head Coach, Sean McVay (36), & Bengals Head Coach, Zac Taylor (38), will coach in the youngest Head Coach matchup in Super Bowl history.
Where? SoFI Stadium in Inglewood, California, home of the LA Rams & Chargers
When? Sunday, February 13th 2022 at 6:00 PM EST
Who is playing? Los Angeles Rams vs Cincinnati Bengals
Network: NBC, Peacock, & Telemundo
Announcers: Al Michaels (Play by Play), Cris Collinsworth ( Color Commentary) , Michelle Tafoya & Kathryn Tappen (Sideline Reporters)
Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, & Kendrick Lamar .
Bengals Path to Super Bowl: 10-7 Regular Season, Wild Card win over the Las Vegas Raiders (5), Divisional Round win over the Tennessee Titans (1), AFC Championship win vs the Kansas City Chiefs (2)
Bengals Key players: #9 QB Joe Burrow, #1 WR Ja’Marr Chase, #28 RB Joe Mixon, #94 DE Sam Hubbard, #30 S Jessie Bates, Kicker (yes kicker) Evan McPherson
Rams Path to Super Bowl: 12-5 Regular Season, Wild Card win over the Arizona Cardinals (5), Divisional Round win vs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2, *defending champions*), NFC Championship win vs the San Francisco 49ers (6).
Rams Key players: #9 QB Matthew Stafford, #10 WR Cooper Kupp, #3 WR Odell Beckham Jr, #99 DT Aaron Donald, #40 OLB Von Miller, #5 CB Jalen Ramsey.
National Anthem: Country artist Mickey Guyton
Presidential Interview? NBC News Anchor Lester Holt wll interview President Joe Biden which will air during NBC’s Super Bowl LVI pregame show, continuing the decade long tradition of a Presidential interview on Super Bowl Sunday.
Score and winner prediction from Hornets:
Our Instagram followers: 58% picked the Bengals to win Super Bowl LVI
Our Twitter followers: 72% picked the Rams to win Super Bowl LVI
Emdad Swapan: Rams win 30-24 in Overtime
Dylan Murphy: Bengals win 27-24
Chris Bergeron : Bengals win 30-27
Lucas Menendez: Bengals win 27-18
Matt Neach: Rams win 30-23
Mr. Wilkinson, HHS Social Studies Teacher/ Sports Bettor: Rams win 24-19
Mr Spencer, Sports Marketing Teacher: Rams win 31-27
Visit our Instagram @hhsthestinger to see more predictions!!