So it’s come to this. The final day of the 2021 season.
Sunday 6:30 pm EST
Los Angeles Rams @ Cincinnati Bengals (+4)
The Rams play at their home stadium as the away team. It makes as much sense as anything else this season. (Yes, I know it actually does make sense because the AFC and NFC take turns being the home team and this year it’s the AFC, but it’s more fun to pretend it’s ridiculous.)
Can Burrow work his magic one more time? Will the strong Rams defensive line set the sack record against the Bengals’ questionable O-line? Did Rodgers really deserve the MVP? (no)
I despise Stan Kroenke and their move from St. Louis, so fuck the Rams. But the Bengals are owned by yet another entitled idiot failson in Mike Brown, so it’s not a huge step up. At least there’s a strong, beaten down fanbase for the Bengals, So, Go Bengals?!
I think the Rams are a much more complete team and McVay shouldn’t get painfully outcoached by Zac Taylor like he was by Bellichick. I will guarantee one thing however: there will be bitching about the officiating, inflamed, in part, by the announcers.
And as an aside, what the hell is going on with Kyler Murray and the Cardinals? It’s like pre-teen emo crap, with Instagram scrubbing and hard feelings. Grow the fuck up.
Rams are able to get to Burrow and harass him all game. But by handing off to Mixon, the Bengals are able to get a lot of yards on the ground. Cooper Kupp does his video game stuff and gets a lot of yards and scores at least once, while OBJ also shows he is still good. Stafford is up and down, slinging it well but having some shaky moments when they have a shorter field.
Score is in the 20s and Joe Burrow is able to get the ball down the field very late, and with a TD ties the game, and it goes to OT.
Bengals win the coin toss and get the ball first. They are able to drive well, taking advantage of the Rams defense being a bit tired, but the drive is killed by a timely sack. Bengals make a field goal attempt, and McPherson is again a hero in yet another game, putting them up by 3.
Rams get the ball, and march down the field with a good mix of running plays and passes. Then Stafford makes a really boneheaded throw and gets intercepted, game over.
Going out on a limb there. Ooooorrrrr, Stafford has that propensity [I can see “bonehead throw” etched on his tombstone]. Regardless, I see a close error prone game decided by a field goal. Four turnovers - take the over. Final score - 20-17. Damned if I know who wins though.
I personally can’t stand him, but his numbers were unreal. And the Packers didn’t lose in the playoffs because of him, their special teams did them in. I can’t say it was wrong to give him the MVP.
Though I’d rather that Cooper Kupp got it. I’m not in any way a Rams fan but he was exceptional.
I’ve gone back and forth on this a bunch. First. I’m somewhat convinced that the Bengals O Line will be a sieve and Donald and Miller will have an absolute field day. Plus, I kinda feel like Donald is going to have a Super Bowl MVP-level game. That said, I am not at all sold on Stafford keeping it together. We saw him chuck it up for grabs pretty consistently in the playoffs and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him implode under the bright lights. And the Rams will not run that ball.
My gut tells me to stick with the Rams, even if Stafford is bad the combo of Kupp, Beckham, Donald, Ramsey and Miller will do enough to keep them well ahead on the scoreboard. But Burrow kinda has a sense of inevitability to him right now. I’ll probably flip flop 5 more times between now and kickoff.
Very excited for this SB. I’m in LA, so the home team is always fun to root for, but as an Eagles fan-- knowing how awful the two weeks before kickoff can be for fans-- the Bengals winning their first would be amazing as would Stafford winning his first.
WHO’S WINNING? No idea. I hope there’s no blowout, but here’s what I do know:
1- Stafford will throw a pick.
2-Burrow will be sacked at least 8 times, maybe 12.
3-Players to watch for TDs are Akers and Uzomah. The rest will just be bringing it down near the end zone.
4-There will be a trick play, probably someone other than a QB to throw a TD pass.
I don’t football, but I just learned that the Bengals are in the superbowl. That’s Bengals as in tigers right? It’s the Year of the Tiger! I don’t think Bengal Tigers live in China or other lunar new year countries, but… close enough. I hope they win for this extremely excellent and not at all arbitrary reason.
The only other one that is really represented in the NFL is the Horse (Denver Broncos). While there is a longhorn steer’s head (which is not too far away from the Ox) on the Houston Texans’ helmet, the name of the team itself isn’t a direct reference to cattle.
