Super Bowl 56 Thoughts

I wanted to have a clear thought 48 hours later and put out what I think about Super Bowl 56. Compared to the last few years, it was one of the better Super Bowls. Not great, but it wasn't bad either. The Los Angeles Rams get their second title, which was their first since 1999. With their loss, the Cincinnati Bengals have been to three and lost all of them.

The Rams made the plays that mattered down the stretch. Who else but Cooper Kupp to get the game winner. He also was the MVP for his eight catch, 92 yard and two touchdown performance. Matthew Stafford was a little shaky, though he came up at a clutch moment to connect with his receiver. Their only big problem on offense was the abysmal run game along with Stafford's two interceptions. The defense struggled early, but got going in the second half, overwhelming Cincy's Joe Burrow. A little change in game plan goes a long way.

As for Cincinnati, they hung in there. A lot will question the penalties on that final defensive drive. You can't hold. Simple as that. In the end, they couldn't stop anything in regards to the passing game. Offensively, they ran it better and Joe Burrow was clean for the most part. That final offensive drive, I question why they didn't give the ball to Joe Mixon on third and 1. Burrow's offensive line struggled late in the game, which ultimately decided it. Give credit as I said for hanging in there.

The Bengals will be relevant throughout the decade, as will the Rams. I have a feeling they'll see another Super Bowl soon, though not against each other. One or two small improvements and Cincy could bring a title to Ohio. Health and who leaves and retires will determine how Los Angeles fares if they can't defend their title. Until then, let's keep eye on who makes the big moves during the offseason.

Super Bowl 56 Prep Thoughts

On paper, this should be a good matchup. Super Bowl 56 should be able to have a close matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams. Cincy hasn't been to a Super Bowl since 1988 and never won it in their only two appearances prior to this year. Los Angeles was in it last in 2018 and have only won it once in 1999 out of a total of four appearances.

Cincinnati needs to get the ground game going. Joe Mixon needs to play lights out phenomenal football.  The Ram defense will have a field day going after Joe Burrow. They have plenty of choices to throw to. JaMarr Chase will have to make good use of his opportunities. LA's secondary will also have to keep eye on the tight ends and if Mixon busts for a big one. Defensively, it's about stopping Matthew Stafford. Creating enough pressure to make him the Stafford of old and watching who is a potential receiver. 

Which brings me to the LA side on offense. Cam Akers and Sony Michel need to step it up. I believe Cooper Kupp will have a huge game as will Odell Beckham. Stafford has to get comfortable. Expect big plays also from the tight end and receiver Van Jefferson. While I would say the defense should keep close on what Mixon does, the goal should be to rattle Burrow. I'd also would try rattle the rookie kicker Evan McPherson. I got a feeling with how the playoffs have been all month, a kick is going to determine the outcome in a huge way. 

My prediction is 32 to 27 Los Angeles. This could go either way though. Cincinnati has been playing the underdog role greatly. It should be a more exciting matchup compared to the last three Super Bowls.

The Bad Rep of Pittsburgh

No review this week. Last night's NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals will be one to remember, but for the wrong reasons. First was early in the game when Steeler linebacker Ryan Shazier was injured tackling and wound up in a hospital with a back injury. Whether this is a paralyzing one, I don't know. That will be talked a lot along with what receiver Juju Smith-Schuster did.

Late in the game, Smith-Schuster hit a defenseless Vontaze Burfict, a Bengal linebacker who had his share of controversy against Pittsburgh in this rivalry. Burfict went down to the ground and the receiver stood over him, resulting in a taunting penalty to go with the unnecessary roughness penalty. With ESPN broadcasting the game, both their main guys, Sean McDonough and Jon Gruden were disturbed by the hit. Watching it, Gruden was surprised that there wasn't an ejection. There was another bad one but it was the Bengals George Iloka delivering a hit to the head at Steeler Antonio Brown, who later said it was karma regarding the Burfict hit. Brown was hit viciously a few seasons ago in the playoffs by him and some might say that cost them a Super Bowl run in 2015, losing to the Broncos.

Steeler fans wonder what they get such a bad rep. Last night's game is a very good indication. Especially in the wake of Sunday where Patriot tight end Rob Gronkowski was suspended a game for a cheap shot on a Buffalo Bill, this should be an easy suspension to put on Smith-Schuster. It's the kind of thing the league does not want to see. This simply adds fuel to the fire that Steeler players are dirty. Shazier himself had a rule named after him following a helmet to helmet hit on Bengal Giovanni Bernard that was legal in the playoffs a few years ago. Not to mention some of the other players involved in the rivalry since 2005.

This is a huge black eye for the league. You have to hope Shazier's injury isn't a paralyzing one, but your guess is as good as mine. With stuff like Schuster, however, that crap needs to stop. Refs can't keep giving teams like the Steelers and Seahawks a break. Not much else to say other than Steeler fans can cry all they want, but the rep they have, even with being one of the older franchises in the NFL, will only get worse if they keep doing things like this.