Yeah we have had a rough postseason with our picks after a decent regular year considering King Sport was even crazier than usual. Need a cherry on top to make it better. This bows up our 31st season of NFL picks in the Miami Herald (since 1991), and we appreciate y’all being along for the ride. Now let’s close it out with a big win!
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Championship Round: 1-1, .500 overall; 1-1, .500 vs. spread.
Playoffs: 5-7, .417 overall; 4-8, .333 vs. spread.
Final Regular Season: 172-99-1, .635 overall; 140-130-2, .519 vs. spread.
Final 2020 Season: 166-89-1, .651 overall; 130-120-6, .520 vs. spread.
Lots to love about this SB 56 matchup. Bengals’ Joe Burrow winning in his second season or Rams’ Matthew Stafford doing so with a new team would be great stuff. Jalen Ramsey covering Ja’Marr Chase could be epic (and game-defining). Aaron Donald bull-rushing a suspect Cincy O-line could turn the result. Cincinnati is the underdog and clear Cinderella here (never won, last in SB in 1988), but L.A. has much to prove, too. Rams Super Bowled in 2019 but lost badly, and before that haven’t been this close since the St. Louis years, last winning it all in 1999. Bottom line: Bengals go for Cincy’s first crown ever, in 55 franchise seasons. And Rams endeavor to win their first championship as L.A., for L.A., since pre-SB 1951. In that way you don’t often get two cities trying to end a combined 126-year drought. These are two No. 4 seeds, by the way. These are not two superpowers. They’re two teams trying to be that. Each won their last two playoff games by only four points each, so neither has been dominating. So, who wins? Much as my neutral heart might root for Cincy, I see Rams as better all-round. LAR’s offense is better than Tennessee’s and its D is better than Kansas City’s, making this the best team Bengals have faced this postseason. Rams also have their home stadium, and the experience of having played in a recent Super Bowl. Bengals are more the rags-to-riches tale here, but it’s the Rams’ time.
[Note: Betting lines are courtesy Caesars Sportsbook as of late-afternoon Thursday].
Super Bowl 56 pick: Bengals or Rams?
With the Bengals, the attention goes to their four dynamic playmakers (Burrow, Chase, Higgins and Mixon). And rightfully so. But Boyd is the slot receiver who makes underneath catches to keep drives alive. He had 828 yards on 67 catches in the regular season and 40 of them went for first downs. Boyd also scored a touchdown against the Raiders in the Bengals home playoff win. A lot of attention will be paid to Cincy’s Big 4 so Boyd will have opportunities to take advantage of favorable coverage.
With the Bengals, the attention goes to their four dynamic playmakers (Burrow, Chase, Higgins and Mixon). And rightfully so. But Boyd is the slot receiver who makes underneath catches to keep drives alive. He had 828 yards on 67 catches in the regular season and 40 of them went for first downs. Boyd also scored a touchdown against the Raiders in the Bengals home playoff win. A lot of attention will be paid to Cincy’s Big 4 so Boyd will have opportunities to take advantage of favorable coverage.
Most people outside of Cincinnati don’t know who Hilton is, but as the Bengals’ slot corner he will be tasked with the impossible matchup of guarding Cooper Kupp. Kupp secured the triple crown of receiving (145 catches for 1,947 yards with 16 touchdowns) in the regular season. And he has continued his hot play in the Rams’ playoff run with 25 receptions for 386 yards and four touchdowns. Hilton won’t shut down Kupp, but he must prevent Kupp from destroying the Bengals’ defense. It won’t be 1-on-1 as he’ll have safety help, but Hilton must execute against one of the best slot receivers in NFL history.
Emilee Chinn
Most people outside of Cincinnati don’t know who Hilton is, but as the Bengals’ slot corner he will be tasked with the impossible matchup of guarding Cooper Kupp. Kupp secured the triple crown of receiving (145 catches for 1,947 yards with 16 touchdowns) in the regular season. And he has continued his hot play in the Rams’ playoff run with 25 receptions for 386 yards and four touchdowns. Hilton won’t shut down Kupp, but he must prevent Kupp from destroying the Bengals’ defense. It won’t be 1-on-1 as he’ll have safety help, but Hilton must execute against one of the best slot receivers in NFL history.
The Bengals have allowed 127 rushing yards per game in the playoffs, but the Rams have struggled to run the ball in the postseason. They’re averaging just 2.9 yards per attempt (283 yards on 97 carries). The former Charlotte star produced 44 run stops and nine run stuffs during the regular season. He also finished with seven sacks, so he can get after the passer, too. So the Bengals’ best defensive tackle must be forceful in the run game and make the Rams one-dimensional on Sunday.
Jeff Dean
The Bengals have allowed 127 rushing yards per game in the playoffs, but the Rams have struggled to run the ball in the postseason. They’re averaging just 2.9 yards per attempt (283 yards on 97 carries). The former Charlotte star produced 44 run stops and nine run stuffs during the regular season. He also finished with seven sacks, so he can get after the passer, too. So the Bengals’ best defensive tackle must be forceful in the run game and make the Rams one-dimensional on Sunday.
Donald and Miller are Hall of Fame talents and rightfully earn the bulk of the praise, but Floyd is a premier rusher even if most people outside of L.A. don’t know much about the former Georgia star. He finished with 9.5 sacks during the regular season and netted one against Tom Brady as L.A. stunned the Bucs in the NFC title game to advance to the big game on Sunday. Simply put, the Bengals’ offensive line isn’t good. Burrow was sacked 51 times in the regular season and was sacked nine more times in the divisional round. The Bengals will have their hands full with Donald and Miller and will send more attention their way so Lloyd will have 1-on-1 opportunities and should dominate.
Alex Menendez
Donald and Miller are Hall of Fame talents and rightfully earn the bulk of the praise, but Floyd is a premier rusher even if most people outside of L.A. don’t know much about the former Georgia star. He finished with 9.5 sacks during the regular season and netted one against Tom Brady as L.A. stunned the Bucs in the NFC title game to advance to the big game on Sunday. Simply put, the Bengals’ offensive line isn’t good. Burrow was sacked 51 times in the regular season and was sacked nine more times in the divisional round. The Bengals will have their hands full with Donald and Miller and will send more attention their way so Lloyd will have 1-on-1 opportunities and should dominate.
Ramsey receives a ton of credit because he is arguably the best CB in the NFL. He earned first-team All-Pro honors again this season, the third of his career. But Williams is no slouch. QBs completed only 60% of their passes during the ‘21 campaign throwing in his direction and he had nine pass breakups. Ramsey is probably going to be matched up with Chase a good amount in the Super Bowl. So if Williams can blanket Higgins, it’ll make Burrow’s job difficult. And if the Rams secondary can make Burrow uncomfortable — and hesitant — that’ll increase their chances of winning.
Terrance Williams
Ramsey receives a ton of credit because he is arguably the best CB in the NFL. He earned first-team All-Pro honors again this season, the third of his career. But Williams is no slouch. QBs completed only 60% of their passes during the ‘21 campaign throwing in his direction and he had nine pass breakups. Ramsey is probably going to be matched up with Chase a good amount in the Super Bowl. So if Williams can blanket Higgins, it’ll make Burrow’s job difficult. And if the Rams secondary can make Burrow uncomfortable — and hesitant — that’ll increase their chances of winning.
Robinson is one of L.A.’s better run stuffers, he finished the regular season with 49 run stops. The 49ers were bludgeoning teams on the ground throughout the regular season (127 yards per game) and playoffs (137 per game) until they ran into the Rams. The Rams crushed San Fran’s rushing attack in the NFC title game, holding the Niners to a measly 50 yards on the ground. Obviously, the entire Rams’ defensive front played a part in their success. But Robinson’s strongest trait is shutting down rushing attacks. The Rams will need his prowess against Mixon, who finished with 1,205 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns during the regular season.
Nam Y. Huh
Robinson is one of L.A.’s better run stuffers, he finished the regular season with 49 run stops. The 49ers were bludgeoning teams on the ground throughout the regular season (127 yards per game) and playoffs (137 per game) until they ran into the Rams. The Rams crushed San Fran’s rushing attack in the NFC title game, holding the Niners to a measly 50 yards on the ground. Obviously, the entire Rams’ defensive front played a part in their success. But Robinson’s strongest trait is shutting down rushing attacks. The Rams will need his prowess against Mixon, who finished with 1,205 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns during the regular season.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) moves to avoid pressure from Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Vita Vea (50) during a second-half drive in an NFC Divisional Playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on Jan. 23, 2022, in Tampa, Florida. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) moves to avoid pressure from Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Vita Vea (50) during a second-half drive in an NFC Divisional Playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on Jan. 23, 2022, in Tampa, Florida. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
