Super Bowl Preview

This year’s Super Bowl duel will be between the revived Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams and one of this generation’s new top 5 quarterbacks, Joe Burrow, and the Cincinnati Bengals. This is by far an outcome not seen in the future of the NFL. A Super Bowl with no Tom Brady nor Patrick Mahomes, but a matchup between two unlikely quarterbacks and one team who was 28th in preseason polls. 

 The Rams acquired Matthew Stafford in a trade that sent Jared Goff, the man who took the Rams to the Super Bowl just 3 seasons ago to the Detroit Lions, in hope that the 12th all-time leading passer could lead them to another Super Bowl berth and a victory.  

In Stafford’s first season as a Ram, he passed for 4900 yards on his way to a win over the 49ers in the NFC Championship game, sending the Rams to their 4th Super Bowl appearance in the last 23 years.  

Stafford only elevated the Rams offense in opinion of many across the NFL offices and fanbase, and the Emergence of Cooper Kupp with his near record-breaking season in all three major receiving categories and the signing of Odell Beckham mixed with the running game of Sony Michel and Cam Akers proved to be enough offense to get them to the Super Bowl. 

 However, on the other side sit the AFC champions, and the least expected pick of the draw for a Super Bowl appearance are the Bengals led by comeback player of the year, Joe Burrow. The second-year quarterback out of LSU and Heisman trophy winner has a chance to lead his team and become the third quarterback to ever win a Heisman and a Super Bowl (Roger Staubach and Jim Plunkett) and the third quarterback to ever win a national championship and a Super Bowl (Joe Montana, and Joe Namath). The Bengals came into this season picked to finish 28th in the preseason polls after finishing 4-11-1 following the ACL tear of Joe Burrow after ten games. This year, the Bengals shocked the nation in their performance offensively led by the LSU tandem of Joe “Sheisty” Burrow and rookie pro bowler Ja ’Marr Chase.  

On the other side of the offense, second wide receiver Tee Higgins and running back Joe Mixon also provided heavy fire power for the explosive offense that is Cincinnati. This Super Bowl is a rare case in the NFL lately, as a true underdog will be taking on what the league thinks is a legit contender.  

The defense of Cincinnati ranks in the middle of the pack this year overall with a top five run defense and a total of 42 sacks led by pro bowler Trey Hendrickson finishing with 14 in total, however the offense of the Cincinnati Bengal’s has their own challenge in Aaron Donald and Von Miller, two of the best defenders of this era. 

 Joe Burrow will have his hands full dealing with two of the leagues consistent top tier pass rushers of the past decade as he tries to usher in a new era for the Bengal’s and the new quarterbacks of tomorrow with Brady’s departure the game on January 31st. For Matthew Stafford, it is about cementing a legacy and living up to his numbers as a quarterback by adding a championship.