We have reached the Sportsbook of the sport of football with the Cincinnati Bengals taking on the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 56 this weekend.
And while the Rams opened as -4 favorites with the line fluctuating between -4 and -4.5 all week, we’re here to tell you why the underdog Bengals will be the team to lift the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday night.
If you’re looking for more information on why the Cincinnati Bengals will win Super Bowl 56, pay a visit to our How to Bet on the Super Bowl page. Our Super Bowl futures article will also help you handicap the matchup, along with these other resources:
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Why The Cincinnati Bengals Will Win Super Bowl 56
X’s and O’s
There are a couple of matchups in this game that will be key to a potential Bengals victory.
While Rams star cornerback Jalen Ramsey has not typically been deployed as a true shadow corner, there are whispers this week about whether Ramsey will be tasked with shutting down Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
If that were to happen, Bengals receiver Tee Higgins (6-4, 215 lbs) would be matched up with Rams corner Darious Williams (5-9, 187). Williams ranked 61st among qualified corners in Pro Football Focus’ coverage ranking this season and is ranked 28th out of 32 corners in that same metric in the postseason.
If Ramsey is tied up with Chase all game, Higgins could explode against the inferior Williams.
The other matchup is on the other side of the ball, with Bengals slot corner Mike Hilton going up against Rams superstar Cooper Kupp.
While nobody should be expected to shut down Kupp completely after the historic season he had in 2021, Hilton is Cincy’s best bet. With Kupp primarily lining up in the slot, he should face Hilton more than the poorer Bengals cornerbacks.
Hilton ranked 20th among qualifying corners in PFF’s coverage grade this season and should be up to the task of at least slowing Kupp somewhat. If he can do that, it would be a massive boon to the Bengals defense.
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Turnovers
Matthew Stafford and the Rams offense have been elite at times in the playoffs and throughout the season. They have also turned the ball over a ton. Stafford has nine turnovers in his last six games and the Rams offense has a couple other fumbles in that span as well.
Stafford also led the league in interceptions with 17. According to PFF, he had 25 turnover-worthy plays this season (only four players had more) and his turnover-worthy play percentage was also bottom 10 in the league in the same range as rookies Zach Wilson, Trevor Lawrence, Davis Mills and others.
Meanwhile, the Bengals are tied with Tampa for the lead in takeaways during the postseason with seven, and we think there’s a good chance they get a couple more in this game. A couple of picks would put the Bengals in a great spot to win this game.
Joe Burrow
“Joe Shiesty” aka “Joe Brrr” aka “Joey Franchise” aka “Joe Cool”. It doesn’t matter what you call him, Bengals QB Joe Burrow has brought some much-needed swagger to a franchise marred in mediocrity for the better part of its existence.
Burrow has become a household name in short order while almost single-handedly making the Bengals cool. I mean, this is a franchise that plays its home games in a stadium named after its in-state rival’s first coach and co-founder. This team hasn’t had a single fun thing happen to it since Chad Ochocinco started his own reality dating show. Now the Bengals are the talk of the nation thanks to Burrow.
Andy Dalton could never.
Times have changed in Cincy. Burrow’s style and likability have made the Bengals interesting, but his play has made them AFC champions.
The Rams have a lot of advantages in this game, but it’s hard to argue that quarterback is one of them. Burrow finished first in the NFL in completion percentage, first in adjusted yards per pass attempt, second in QB rating and third in yards per game despite being the league’s most sacked quarterback.
Burrow also had PFF’s best passing grade this season and the second-best offensive grade.
He’s the best quarterback in this game, and the swag just puts him over the top.
How can you bet against this guy? Bengals by a million.
