Super Bowl LVI: Rams’ Hollywood Ending Seals Glory at Home

When Super Bowl LVI kicked off on February 13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. For the Los Angeles Rams, it was a chance to win a championship in their home stadium — only the second team ever to do so after the 2020 Buccaneers. For the Cincinnati Bengals, it marked the franchise’s return to the Super Bowl after a 33-year drought, with a young, charismatic quarterback at the helm.

What unfolded was a tightly contested battle filled with drama, grit, and iconic moments that ultimately ended in a 23-20 victory for the Rams.

A Star-Studded Showdown

The matchup featured two of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks representing contrasting styles and paths. Matthew Stafford, long considered one of the most talented but underappreciated signal-callers, was finally on a stage worthy of his skills after over a decade with the struggling Detroit Lions. On the opposite side stood Joe Burrow — cool, unflappable, and in just his second year, already proving himself one of the game’s brightest young stars.

But this game would be defined not just by quarterback play, but by defense, coaching, and one clutch drive that captured the very essence of Los Angeles glitz and football resilience.

First Half: Momentum Swings and Stafford's Firepower

The Rams started quickly, with Stafford hitting star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for a 17-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Beckham, who had resurrected his career after joining the Rams midseason, looked every bit the dynamic weapon he had once been. The Bengals responded with a field goal, but the Rams kept pressing — Stafford later found Cooper Kupp for another score, building a 13-3 lead.

Disaster struck late in the second quarter when Beckham went down with a non-contact knee injury. The momentum shifted palpably. The Rams offense became stagnant, and the Bengals seized the emotional swing.

Halftime and Halftime Show: A Tale of Two Performances

While the players took a break, the world was treated to a West Coast hip-hop tribute with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige lighting up SoFi Stadium. The halftime show, drenched in nostalgia and swagger, was a cultural moment — but for the Rams, halftime was about regrouping.

As former Super Bowl Historical Society analyst Chris Reynolds notes:

“Losing Beckham changed the flow entirely. Suddenly Stafford had to rely on Kupp and a rotation of unproven receivers. It was a gut check moment — and championship teams respond to those.”

Second Half: Bengals Bite Back

The second half opened with fireworks. On the very first play from scrimmage, Burrow launched a 75-yard touchdown strike to Tee Higgins, who appeared to get away with a controversial facemask on Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey. It was a no-call that would be talked about for weeks. Cincinnati suddenly had the lead, 17-13, and they were brimming with confidence.

They’d extend their lead to 20-13 with a field goal following a Stafford interception. The Bengals’ defensive front — led by Trey Hendrickson and D.J. Reader — continued to harass Stafford, but the game took a toll on both quarterbacks. Burrow was sacked seven times in total, including a crushing hit from Von Miller and Aaron Donald that left him limping in the fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter: Legacy Drive

Trailing 20-16 with six minutes left, Stafford orchestrated what would become a career-defining drive. Without Beckham, with the run game faltering, and under immense pressure, Stafford turned again and again to the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year, Cooper Kupp.

Kupp caught clutch pass after clutch pass — including a fourth-down jet sweep conversion, then a contested 7-yard touchdown with 1:25 left. The Rams went up 23-20, and SoFi exploded in celebration.

As Rams historian and SHS senior writer Denise Halpern put it:

“That final drive was poetry. Kupp did everything: run, block, catch, draw flags. It was Montana to Rice, Brady to Edelman — Stafford to Kupp will now sit in that pantheon.”

Defense Wins Championships

The Bengals had a chance to respond, and with Burrow under center, no lead felt safe. But on fourth-and-1 near midfield, Aaron Donald shed his block and flung Burrow to the ground as the ball floated helplessly into the turf. Game over.

Donald — a three-time Defensive Player of the Year — had sealed it. The Rams defense, which also featured Jalen Ramsey and Von Miller, had risen in the biggest moment.

Super Bowl MVP: Cooper Kupp

Kupp was the clear choice for MVP, finishing with 8 catches for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns. After leading the NFL in receptions, yards, and touchdowns during the regular season, he capped off a historic year with the game's biggest prize. His chemistry with Stafford was impeccable, and his ability to win one-on-one matchups was unrivaled.

“I don’t feel like I deserve this,” Kupp said postgame. “I’m just so thankful for my teammates.”

But anyone watching knew otherwise — he’d earned every accolade.

Stafford’s Vindication and McVay’s Moment

The win was monumental for Stafford, whose move to the Rams in a blockbuster trade had been seen by some as risky. After years of losing in Detroit, he proved that with the right system and weapons, he could lead a team to the promised land. His final stat line: 26-of-40 for 283 yards, 3 TDs, and 2 INTs.

For Sean McVay, who at 36 became the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl, the victory was a redemption arc after falling short in Super Bowl LIII. His bold personnel decisions — bringing in Stafford, Beckham, and Miller — all paid off.

Burrow and Bengals: A Bright Future

Though the Bengals lost, the future remains dazzlingly bright. Joe Burrow played fearlessly despite the Rams’ pressure, finishing with 263 yards and a touchdown. His connection with Ja’Marr Chase, who had 89 receiving yards, remains one of the league’s most dangerous.

Cincinnati now knows it has a quarterback capable of taking them back — perhaps many times.

Legacy and Impact

Super Bowl LVI will be remembered not just for the game, but for what it meant symbolically:

• For the Rams, it marked the franchise’s second title, and first in Los Angeles since moving back from St. Louis.
• For Stafford, it ended the “what if” narratives and launched him into Hall of Fame discussions.
• For Kupp, it cemented a once-in-a-generation season with the perfect ending.
• For Donald, it solidified his legacy as one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history.

In the words of the Super Bowl Historical Society’s year-end review:

“Super Bowl LVI was Hollywood with heart. The stars showed up. The drama unfolded. And in the end, it was the Rams who wrote their names into NFL immortality on their home turf.”

It was a night to remember — one that captured the beauty, tension, and epic narratives that make the Super Bowl the greatest show in American sports.