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Super Bowl Heartbreak: Bengals Squander Second Half Lead, Fall to Rams 23-20

Cincinnati Bengals Squander Second Half Lead, Fall to Los Angeles Rams 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI

James Rapien

INGELWOOD, CALIF. — The Bengals were just minutes away from their first World Championship, but Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and the Rams had other plans.

Stafford led the Rams on a 15-play, 79-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown pass to Kupp with 1:29 left remaining and Los Angeles beat Cincinnati 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI.

The Bengals led for most of the second half, but their defense was unable to get the stop they needed to secure the victory.

They nearly stopped the Rams’ offense on multiple occasions inside the red zone, but they were called for holding, pass interference and unnecessary roughness on three separate plays. That allowed Los Angeles to inch closer to the goal line, before ultimately punching it in for the game winning touchdown. 

The Bengals got the ball back with 1:29 left, but were unable to move the ball into field goal range. They turned the ball over on downs at the Rams' 49-yard line. 

Pressure

The Rams' defensive line struggled to get pressure on Burrow early in the game, but that changed in the second half. Los Angeles sacked the Bengals' star six times in the second half, which included a play that caused Burrow to grab his right knee and limp off the field. 

He stayed in the game, but Cincinnati's offense was unable to move the ball consistently because they were getting dominated in the trenches. 

Tee Time

Tee Higgins finished with four receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns. 

He beat Rams star cornerback Jalen Ramsey for a 75-yard touchdown in the third quarter that gave Cincinnati their first lead of the game. It's the longest touchdown that Ramsey has given up in his career. 

Money Mac

Evan McPherson was a perfect 2-for-2 on field goal attempts on Sunday, which gives him 14 made field goals in the playoffs. That ties Adam Vinatieri's record for most made field goals in the postseason. 

McPherson was a perfect 14-for-14 in the playoffs. 

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Published
James Rapien
JAMES RAPIEN

James Rapien is the publisher of Bengals On SI. He's also the host of the Locked on Bengals podcast and Cincinnati Bengals Talk on YouTube. The Cincinnati native also wrote a book about the history of the Cincinnati Bengals called Enter The Jungle. Prior to joining Bengals On SI, Rapien worked at 700 WLW and ESPN 1530 in Cincinnati

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