In the build-up to Super Bowl LVI, one of the biggest questions facing the Cincinnati Bengals when they were on defense was how they wouuld defend the slot, particularly talented slot receiver Cooper Kupp.
The Los Angeles Rams scored the first touchdown of Super Bowl LVI and it indeed came from a receiver aligned inside, but instead of Kupp it was Odell Beckham Jr., who worked himself open on a vertical route thanks to formation, alignment and execution.
After the Rams defense forced a fourth-down stop of the Bengals on Cincinnati’s first possession, the Los Angeles offense got moving. Facing a 3rd and 3 in the red zone, head coach Sean McVay emptied the formation, putting Matthew Stafford in the shotgun and aligning three receivers on the right.
