Andrew Ortenberg
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And then there was one. This NFL season has been a blast, and only a single game remains. Super Bowl LVI is right around the corner, and we all can’t wait to watch the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals do battle. We’ve got all sorts of content coming to get you primed, including our full game betting preview. We’ll also have a ton of other articles on everything from coin toss betting to a same game parlay for the occasion, so keep your eyes on our ‘NFL news‘ section.
The Rams are currently -4.5 favorites at FanDuel Sportsbook. They are -200 on the money line. The Bengals are +168 underdogs. If Los Angeles wants to avoid an upset, here’s what they’ll need to do:
The defensive line has to keep wrecking
This is the most obvious one that everyone is talking about for both teams. But everyone is talking about it for a reason. On paper it’s the Rams’ biggest strength vs the Bengals’ biggest weakness, and it’s crucial that Los Angeles takes advantage. They’ve got one of the best pass-rushes in the league, and Cincy has some of the worst pass protection in the league. So far Aaron Donald and co have been getting tons of pressure in these playoffs, making life miserable for elite quarterbacks like Kyler Murray and Tom Brady.
It’s imperative that they continue to do so. Because if they can’t get pressure Joe Burrow is going to pick them apart, since the Rams’ secondary isn’t perfect. They’ve dealt with some injuries at safety, which is why the team recently signed 37-year-old Eric Weddle off the street to start for them after not having played the past two seasons. If the Rams are able to get to Burrow like they did Murray and Brady, they’re very likely going to win a ring. It’s that simple.
Jalen Ramsey has to neutralize Ja’Marr Chase
In the past, the Rams have often drawn criticism for not letting Ramsey travel with opposing top wideouts and stick to them for an entire game. They need to let their All-Pro corner loose here. Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins are nice pieces, but Chase is the X-factor for this Bengals offense. Ramsey is arguably the best corner in the league, and he needs to be lined up against Chase for all 60 minutes.
Not only is Ramsey great in coverage, he’s a sure tackler as well for when the Bengals inevitably try to get Chase some easy yards after catch receptions on screens and quick throws. Chase had 100+ yards in each of Cincy’s first two playoff wins, and they wouldn’t have made it this far had he been held in check. If the Rams get pressure, combined with Ramsey more or less removing Chase from the game, it’s going to be very hard for them to lose.
Odell Beckham needs to keep it up
On the other side of the ball, I don’t think OBJ’s importance can be understated on offense. We all know what the Bengals are going to try to do on defense. They’re going to throw the kitchen sink at slowing down Cooper Kupp, just like they did with Tyreek Hill in the second half of the AFC Championship Game. Which means Beckham is going to need to keep up his recent strong play. Beckham had by far his best game as a Ram in the NFC Championship Game, going off for nine catches and 113 yards against the 49ers.
Now he needs to follow up on it in the biggest game of his career. OBJ has been the subject of a lot of criticism over the past couple years, and this is his chance to silence all his doubters. Kupp is going to get his no matter what the defense does, that much is certain. So what will really determine how this Rams offense performs is whether the guys around him step up or not. And that starts with Beckham.
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