The Gamble Paid Off

By: Mike Rifkin

The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in the Super Bowl. The Rams pushed all their chips onto the table and went all in and that gamble paid off and the guys they went all in for played a huge role in their victory.

Let’s start with Matthew Stafford who the Rams acquired in the offseason for quarterback Jared Goff and two first round picks. Stafford during the regular season was second in the NFL with 41 touchdowns and was tied for the lead in interceptions with 17. Stafford had a 0-3 record in the playoffs as a member of the Detroit Lions with four touchdowns and three interceptions. On his run with the Rams Stafford had a 70.0 completion percentage with nine touchdowns and three interceptions and a 108.3 quarterback rating. 

Next we have Odell Beckham Jr. who was cut by the Browns earlier this season. He signed a one year contract worth 750,000 dollars and with incentives could reach around 4 million dollars. Beckham had been great for the Rams down the stretch and in the playoffs. Beckham had 21 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns in the playoffs. In the Super Bowl Beckham had two catches for 52 yards and a touchdown before injuring his knee. Beckham played a major role for the Rams after they lost receiver Robert Woods to a torn ACL. 

Then there is Von Miller who the Rams acquired in a trade with the Denver Broncos. The Rams traded a second and a third round pick in the 2022 draft. Miller, who was the MVP of Super Bowl 50 for the Broncos had four sacks in the playoffs including two in the Super Bowl. With his two sacks in the Super Bowl Miller has tied Hall of Famer Charles Haley with four and a half sacks in two Super Bowl appearances. 

Now in order to go all in you have to have a core that you believe in and the Rams have quite the core. Aaron Donald who is the best non quarterback in the NFL had done everything in the league but win the Super Bowl. Donald had three and a half sacks in the playoffs including two in the Super Bowl and on the final play for the Bengals Donald got pressure on Joe Burrow right off the snap and Burrow had to throw an incompletion. Donald and Miller combined for four of the seven Rams sacks. 

Then there is Cooper Kupp who was the Super Bowl MVP. Kupp had eight catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Kupp on the final drive also converted a fourth and one with a seven yard run. Kupp, who was the only player besides Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady to get an MVP vote, was the Offensive Player of the year. Kupp won the receiving triple crown by leading the NFL in catches, yards, and touchdowns. Kupp is the second player in NFL history to win the triple crown, offensive player of the year and Super Bowl MVP along with Jerry Rice. But Kupp is the first player to do it all in one season. 

The job Les Snead and Sean Mcvay did with this team was tremendous. They pushed their chips to the table and it paid off. The Rams have three draft picks in the 2022 draft, a fifth round pick and two seventh round picks but they can say they are Super Bowl Champs.