There is nothing quite like Super Bowl Sunday, and NFL fans do not have long to wait for Super Bowl LVI.
The Los Angeles Rams will have the advantage of playing at home at the SoFi Stadium in LA, and they are the 20/41 favourites to beat the Cincinnati Bengals.
Both teams have surpassed expectations already to reach the Super Bowl, and we take a look at the five players that could determine the outcome of the game, with the Super Bowl MVP award up for grabs.
Lombardi on site.
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Cincinnati Bengals – Quarterback – Joe Burrow
Mr. Franchise or Mr. Cool – who knows what is the best way to describe Bengals QB Burrow!
Either way, there’s no doubting the influence that Burrow has had on the Bengals’ dressing room. Before he was drafted, the Bengals won two games in 2019 before then winning four in Burrow’s first year, although he tore his ACL during that campaign.
After recovering from injury, he helped his team finish the regular campaign with a 10-7 record, and he has shown incredible calmness to steer his team to the Super Bowl.
Burrow has carried the franchise on occasions, and he is 20/23 to throw over 273.5 passing yards.
Los Angeles Rams – Quarterback – Matthew Stafford
Stafford has repaid the faith the Rams showed in him when they did a deal with the Detroit Lions in March 2021. The Rams sent Jared Goff, a third-round pick and two first-round picks in Detroit’s direction, but if Stafford wins them the Super Bowl this weekend, it will have been worth it.
Stafford struggled in Detroit to get his team into the playoffs, but the Rams have given him ample weapons to make a success of his tenure.
He won his first playoff games earlier this season as the Rams battled their way past defending champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while he orchestrated the comeback that helped them win the NFC Championship game at the expense of the San Francisco 49ers.
Like Burrow, Stafford will be new to the Super Bowl arena, but as the experienced QB, he will be expected to shine. Punters can back Stafford to throw over 1.5 passing touchdowns at 10/23.
Los Angeles Rams – Defensive Lineman – Aaron Donald
It sounds easy, but for Cincinnati to win, they have to protect Burrow as much as possible. That is something they did for much of the season, though Burrow has been sacked 12 times in the playoffs already.
That is not good news when you consider the Bengals’ offensive line needs to stop Donald, one of the best players in the NFL.
Donald is known for his destructive play, and he can also help his teammates pick up sacks, as opposition teams opt to double-team him.
His ability to play across the defensive line is a huge asset, and it would come as a big surprise to see the Bengals keep him at bay, with Donald 20/21 to record over 4.5 tackles.
Los Angeles Rams – Wide Receiver – Cooper Kupp
Stafford has enjoyed himself this season, and that is thanks to the work of Kupp, who continues to lead by example.
Kupp has led the Rams in deep receptions this term, while he has a league-leading 90 catches on shorter passes and has continued to prove himself as an elite blocker, despite his slight frame.
If Kupp is firing on all cylinders on Sunday, then the Bengals are in trouble, and he is 11/10 to record over 8.5 receptions.
Cincinnati Bengals – Wide Receiver – Ja’Marr Chase
Thankfully for the Bengals, Chase and Burrow are like two peas in a pod. The duo played together in college at LSU, and their relationship has blossomed in the NFL.
In his rookie year, Chase has reached the Super Bowl, which is an incredible achievement in itself. He’s now got to go one better and get his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The Rams have some incredible players in the secondary, but marking Chase one-on-one is a thankless task. He will find a way to get past you; it’s whether or not the Bengals can bring the best out of their other receivers to ease the pressure on Chase’s shoulders.
Chase is 1/1 to score anytime, and that looks good value, considering he is Burrow’s number one target.
*All odds correct at time of writing.
