The Los Angeles Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI

Super Bowl LVI ended in dramatic fashion with a touchdown by Cooper Kupp for the Rams, with one minute, 25 seconds left in the game. The Rams got off to a good start in the first Quarter by scoring a touchdown and getting an extra point with a field kick, while being able to hold the Bengals to only three points. The final score of the game was 23-20. 

Cooper Kupp, wide receiver for the Rams, scored two of the Rams three touchdowns. He would go on to win the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award and be named NFL Offensive Player of the Year. 

This was the Rams first Super Bowl win in 22 years. The Bengals have never won a Super Bowl. “I was supporting the Rams, but I wanted the Bengals to win because it’s been a minute since they won,” said junior Juan Juan. Despite the Bengals ultimately losing, Juan thought, “Joe Burrow played good.” He said, “He gave it his all, but at the end of the day the Rams won. It was a good game.”

Joe Burrow is Cincinnati’s 25 year-old quarterback. He previously played college football for Louisiana State University before being drafted by the Bengals in 2020. Burrow has gained popularity for his talent. Many people refer to him by his nicknames “Joe Sheisty” or “Joe Brr.” Burrow set a Super Bowl record by being sacked 7 times during the game. 

Sophomore Cesar Ramos agreed with Juan. Ramos said, “It was a good game. […].” He also said, “During the third quarter I didn’t think [the Rams] were going to win. In the fourth quarter when they made a touchdown they surprised me.” 

One of the big highlights of the event was not the game, but instead this year’s Halftime Show. It starred Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent. Ramos said, “I like the way they presented it. This bus and then they made like houses inside of it.” Freshman Meah Pacheco said, “It was very good that they had mostly all African-American [performers] while it was Black History Month.” She said, “Dr. Dre carried and I like Kendrick Lamar.” 

Although the Rams did win the championship, they did face setbacks during the game. First, was the injury of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham was taken off the field during the game and it was later revealed that he had torn his ACL. Another setback was during the third quarter when referees did not call a penalty on Bengals player Tee Higgins. Higgins grabbed and pulled the mask of Jalen Ramsey, a Rams cornerback. This action is considered “Illegal Use of Hands,” but no penalty was called. This move knocked Ramsey to the ground, allowing Higgins to score the go ahead touchdown, making the score 13-16 (Bengals). 

The Rams had their victory parade on Wednesday, Feb. 16. It ran 1.1 miles long and ended with a rally at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, former home of the Rams.