Los Angeles Rams vs Cincinnati Bengals

The Los Angeles Rams (1-1 straight up, 2-0 against the spread) will try to improve to 2-0 on the road this season on Monday night when they visit the winless Cincinnati Bengals (0-2, 0-2) as small underdogs in a rematch of Super Bowl LVI. The Rams defeated the Bengals 23-20 two years ago to earn their second Vince Lombardi Trophy – and first in Los Angeles – as 4.5-point favorites while playing on their home field at SoFi Stadium.

The status of Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow is still up in the air after he aggravated his calf injury in last Sunday’s 27-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens as three-point chalk. 

Latest Betting Notes: Rams

Los Angeles is not nearly the same team it was when the teams met in the Super Bowl, although quarterback Matthew Stafford has done his best to make sure last year’s disappointing campaign does not happen again. Stafford has had to adjust to a new receiving corps led by rookie fifth-round draft pick Puka Nacua, who has set an NFL record with 25 catches for 266 yards in his first two games.

Nacua has stepped into the lead receiver role previously held by former Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp, who is on IR with a hamstring injury. The emergence of second-year running back Kyren Williams has also been a pleasant surprise, as he currently leads the league in touchdowns (four).

Latest Betting Notes: Bengals

Cincinnati’s offense finally came alive in the second half of last week’s loss to Baltimore, but it was too little too late for Burrow, who connected with wide receiver Tee Higgins for two touchdowns while rookie Charlie Jones added another score on an 81-yard punt return at the beginning of the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7.

Rookie quarterback Jake Browning would get the nod for the Bengals if Burrow is unable to suit up. Interestingly, Browning signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent back in 2019 and served on their practice squad until 2021 when he joined Cincinnati in the same capacity. He won the backup job in the preseason over veteran Trevor Siemian.

The Keys to Victory: Rams

Los Angeles would seemingly have a solid advantage if Burrow does not play, so backers would be wise to grab this number sooner rather than later before a potential move takes place. The Rams could end up closing as small favorites in that case, something they have not done in either of their first two games.

Regardless, their defense will be the biggest key to victory here, as whoever is under center for the Bengals will be under pressure from All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald and feel the heat throughout.

The Keys to Victory: Bengals

Cincinnati has plenty of offensive weapons but only one Burrow. The drop-off from Burrow to Browning is significant, so much so that the line dropped from an opener of -7.5 down to -1.5 based on speculation that the former may not play.

Head coach Zac Taylor has already said it is “hard to say” if Burrow will be available on Monday. At least he will have an extra day of recovery time, and his status is obviously the team’s biggest key to victory.