For football fans, the 2022 playoffs have been a blessing. Every single game has been tight all the way until the end. There have been upsets, heartbreak and odds defied.

It was a season to cherish as Tom Brady has recently declared retirement. As a lifelong Peyton Manning fan, I have had plenty of moments of rooting against Brady with all I could muster. He always sent a cold spell into your chest when he had the ball late in the game. Now that he is leaving the league it has hit me just how sad this is. Whether you are a Brady fan or not, it cannot be denied his greatness and the impact he has made on the game. I will truly miss him.

On a high note, there are finally going to be some new teams in the Super Bowl. The Cincinnati Bengals will be making their first Super Bowl appearance in decades. Many pundits had them finishing last in their own division this year. However, second-year quarterback Joe Burrow, or Joe Burr as he is often referred to, had a tremendous year and carried the team to the big game. Burrow and the Bengals have ultimately changed the culture in Cincinnati. The Bengals had not won a playoff game since 1988! When they take the field for the Super Bowl, they will be the underdogs. They seem to like that narrative as they have won two of their three playoff games this year with that same mentality.

Along with Burrow, the Bengals bring a collection of weapons. Rookie wideout and former LSU teammate of Burrow’s, Ja’Marr Chase has been nothing short of electric. Wideout Tee Higgins and kicker Evan McPherson are also great players to watch for. The Bengals top it off with an excellent running game thanks to Joe Mixon in the backfield.

Lining up against the Bengals will be the Los Angeles Rams. This team is full of stars. It is of little surprise that they were able to make it to their home stadium for the Super Bowl this year.

The Rams had an “all or nothing” approach this year as they went out and traded for receiver Odell Beckham and defensive star Von Miller. These players rounded out their already impressive roster with Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsay, Van Jefferson and the NFL’s best receiver this year, Cooper Kupp.

Perhaps the Ram’s biggest move of the last offseason was to sign veteran quarterback Matt Stafford. Stafford has always been a talented player, but there were doubts about his ability to get it done when it mattered. Coming into this year’s playoffs, Stafford had never won a playoff game. That being said, he was a Detroit Lion, so that leaves little to work with. Stafford had a great year and has continued to be solid in the playoffs.

My prediction: I think the Rams defense will get to Burrow several times in the game. The Bengal’s offensive line is not one of the best by any means. This is deeply troubling for the Bengals as the Rams’ defensive front might be the best in football. Burrow will have to throw quickly and hit a lot of slants and screen passes.

As for the Rams offense, they will need to keep the pace for the whole game. There have been times where they start out hot and then get a little uneasy as the game nears the end.

If I was thinking with my head and just looking at the rosters on paper, I would pick the Rams. However, Joe Burrow seems to be a man of destiny in these situations. He should’ve lost to the Titans and the Chiefs, but the Bengals just won’t stop marching. With that in mind, my final prediction is the Bengals win on a last-minute field goal.

Article by Payton Hannah