This Sunday, Feb. 13 at 3:30, marks the date and time of this year’s Superbowl where the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams will face off to determine which team will get to bring home the prestigious Lombardi trophy. 

The Rams are the -3.5 favorite to win the Super Bowl, according to ESPN. The NFC four seed has proved to be a formidable team during the 2021-2022 NFL season with a 12-5 record and a competitive NFC West title. With a roster containing defensive tackle Aaron Donald, wide receiver and offensive player of the year Cooper Kupp, quarterback Matthew Stafford and the midseason additions of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and outside linebacker Von Miller, the Rams look to be a strong force this weekend. 

 After a devastating knee injury to star quarterback Joe Burrow in week 10 of last year’s 4-11 season, the Bengals have completely turned their franchise around. 

With the addition of their two standout rookies: Burrow’s former LSU teammate wide receiver Ja’marr Chase and Florida kicker Evan McPherson, the franchise has gone from worst to first in the AFC North. Other notable Bengals players to look out for this weekend include running back Joe Mixon, wide receiver Tee Higgins, defensive end Sam Hubbard and tight end CJ Uzomah. 

The Bengals entered the playoffs as a four-seed and an unlikely Superbowl contender. The team defeated the Las Vegas Raiders in the wild card game 26-19 to mark the franchise’s first playoff win in 32 years and then went on to play the one seed Tennessee Titans in the divisional round of the playoffs. Despite a spread line in favor of the Titans as well as the return of star Tennessee running back Derrick Henry and nine sacks for the Titans’ defensive line, the Bengals’ defense was able to hold them to 16 points. A game-winning 52-yard field goal by Evan McPherson sent the Bengals to the AFC championship where they were once again the underdog against the Kansas City Chiefs who were looking to make their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance. The Chiefs ended the half with a strong 18-point lead. However, the Bengals came back from the locker room ready to play. Burrow’s offense put 14 points on the board and the defense held the powerhouse Kansas City offense to a single field goal to send the game into overtime. In the extra period, safety Vonn Bell’s interception and an Evan McPherson field goal stamped the Bengal’s ticket to Super Bowl 56 fate. The Bengals are heading to the Superbowl for the first time since 1989. 

On the other side of the bracket, the Rams swept the Cardinals on wildcard weekend 34-11. Stafford had no interceptions and 202 passing yards, sending the Rams to play quarterback Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the divisional round. Los Angeles dominated the first half, leading the Buccaneers by 17 and not allowing a single Brady touchdown. In the second half, the Rams defense began to struggle as the Buccaneers tied the game with just over a minute to go. However, Stafford was able to find Kupp open down the field, putting kicker Matt Gay in perfect field goal range to prevent the game from heading into overtime. In the NFC championship, the Rams were set to face their divisional rivals, the wildcard San Francisco 49ers. Despite being down by 10 in the third quarter, the Rams crawled back by holding the Niners to three consecutive drives without a first down, the Rams kicked another game-winning field goal to send them to the Superbowl. 

This weekend, the Bengal’s weak offensive line against the Ram’s strong defensive line as well as the liability of cornerback Eli Apple looks to be a problem for Cincinnati. However, with the ball in Burrow’s hands as well as the potential absence of the Rams’ running back Cam Akers and tight end Tyler Higbee due to injuries, the Bengals have the potential to once again win against the odds.