When the game is on the line, you turn to your stars, so it was only right that Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald combined in the closing seconds at SoFi Stadium to capture Super Bowl 56 for the Los Angeles Rams. The wisdom of risking the future of the franchise, after haemorrhaging draft picks and stretching the salary cap over a number of years, was questioned at times. But a dramatic drive culminating in a Kupp touchdown was paired beautifully with the ferocity of Donald on defense to cruelly deny Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in a thrilling game.
It felt like destiny for so long for the Bengals, thriving in a first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years. Zach Taylor magnificently rallied his group after an ominous start when his gutsy call on fourth down backfired in their first possession. The gift was gladly gobbled up by Stafford and the rejuvenated Odell Beckham Jr - a symbol of this Rams era after a mid-season move following a turbulent spell with the Browns. The flashy OBJ seen with the Giants returned and a slick route enabled him to snatch the ball for the opening score of the game.
