For the first time in 33 years, the Bengals are back in the Super Bowl and in a twist, they’ll actually be the home team for today’s game even though it’s being played in the Rams stadium. It also might feel like a home game and that’s because it won’t be completely surprising if Bengals fans outnumber Rams fans at the game.
NFL Wild Card Round
Saturday, January 15th
Bengals 26-19 Raiders
NFL Divisional Round
Saturday, January 22nd
Bengal 19-16 Titans
NFL Conference Championships
Sunday, January 30th
AFC Championship
Bengals 27-24 Chiefs
Bengals injury report: The only player who looked like he might miss this game was tight end C.J. Uzomah (sprained MCL), but he’s definitely going to be on the field today, which means the Bengals are going to be at full force for Super Bowl LVI.
If the Bengals are going to pull off the upset today, they’re going to need a Hall of Fame performance from their interior offensive line. That’s one of multiple X-factors that Jared Dubin has pinpointed for today’s game and to check out the rest of them.
How the Bengals can contain Cooper Kupp: If Kupp goes off today, that means the Bengals will likely be on the losing end of the game, which is why it will be important for Cincinnati’s defense to shut down the Rams receiver.
Two years ago, the Bengals finished with the worst record in the NFL. With their Super Bowl trip, they are now just the third team in NFL history to go from the worst record to the NFL’s biggest game in a span of just two seasons.
This is Cincinnati’s third trip to the big game and if today goes like the prior two trips, then we should be in for a crazy game. The Bengals first two Super Bowls were decided by an average of 4.5 points. There are only 12 teams in the NFL that have yet to win a Super Bowl and the Bengals are one of them. If Cincinnati wins today, the Bengals will join the winners club.
Conversations about the Bengals often revolve around their second-year quarterback, Joe Burrow, and for good reason.
After a torn ACL cut short his rookie season, the former LSU star showed just what kind of playmaker he is during his sophomore campaign, completing a league-high 70.4% of his passes this year for 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns.
That was just the start for Burrow, who then led Cincinnati to three straight playoff wins — including two on the road — to get the Bengals back to the Super Bowl.
That included Cincinnati rallying from down 21-3 to Kansas City in the AFC championship game to win 27-24.
Burrow had some advice for young players — and where their focus should be — days before his first appearance in a Super Bowl-Focus on getting better,”
It’s not just Super Bowl futility this franchise has overcome — they have struggled in the playoffs in general. The Bengals went 31 years between playoff wins, and now after three straight postseason victories, they find themselves on the cusp of their first Super Bowl title.