Bates is the best-known member of Cincy’s “no-name” defense for a reason. Chase and Higgins will dominate the attention of the Rams D, and so it will fall on Boyd to be the chain-mover and post-catch creator who helps Burrow to move the ball into scoring range. The defense doubles one of the top two guys and finds creative schematic quirks to isolate the other. So often in the Super Bowl, it comes down to a team’s third receiver. Donald will be aiming to destroy the Bengals’ offensive line but Cincinnati will hopefully, for their sake, be planning how they can mitigate his power. Ramsey has the talent to go one-and-one with Chase, freeing up the rest of the defense to sniff out other offensive threats. At the Super Bowl now, he has a chance to deliver his biggest career highlight since his NFT-worthy one-handed catch on Sunday Night Football in 2014. He’s been an offensive X-factor all postseason. He must play clean football, especially given the tiny window the Rams have to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. He’s clearly an upgrade over Jared Goff but he’s also not a sure thing. After toiling in the football hell otherwise known as Detroit, Stafford was rescued by McVay. It would make sense for LA to double the Bengals’ best receiver, Chase, on the outside and then use Ramsey to take away Burrow’s second option inside. The big question for the Rams is how they will deploy their star cornerback. Photograph: Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/REX/Shutterstock GS Key player for the Rams …Īaron Donald is a destructive force for the Rams. If the Bengals do stifle Sony Michel and Cam Akers that opens up extra coverage from linebackers to help slow down Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr. San Francisco stopped LA rushing in the NFC Championship and it almost worked. Cincinnati’s defense is unfairly maligned: they kept the Chiefs in check better than the Bills, after all. They were also down 21-3 in the second quarter. ![]() In the AFC championship game, the Bengals held the Kansas City Chiefs to a single field-goal after halftime. And if the Cincinnati line gives Burrow time to find him. And even though Ramsey is one of the best, he will have his hands full if the Bengals move Chase around their formations. So far Chase has yet to show there is a corner who can consistently mark him. No big deal, right? Cincy’s offensive line continues to be their weak link and the Rams (starring Donald) will be the unit’s toughest test yet. Hello, Captain Obvious here … the Bengals must stop Donald, the best player in the NFL. If Burrow and Co can outpace the Rams in the explosive plays category, while the defense forces the Rams to sustain long, droning drives, they’ll have a shot. The Rams’ secondary and linebacking corps is shaky in coverage, and that’s where Cincy will look to attack. Sean McVay needs to stick to his offensive script so Matthew Stafford can use his football intelligence to carve up the Bengals with killer throws. Keep their eyes off the scoreboard and their foot on the accelerator. ![]() If the Rams prevent Burrow from getting the ball off in time, there will be an entire offseason for the Bengals to second-guess themselves for drafting Chase over the offensive tackle. It’s the duty of this vaunted Rams defense to make Penei Sewell trend on Sunday. And while Tennessee boast a fine group of pass rushers, they ain’t got nuthin’ on Aaron Donald, unquestionably the best all-around defensive player of the era and Von Miller, a speedy, bendy, quarterback crusher. He has dragged his team to the league’s final game despite being sacked 12 times in these playoffs, including nine times in the divisional round against the top-seeded Titans. Tee Higgins, who would be the top wideout on most other teams, torched the Chiefs in the AFC Championship. ![]() But Darious Williams and company must contain Joe Burrow’s other weapons. The rest of the Rams’ secondary has been less than inspiring. Jalen Ramsey is one of the few cornerbacks fierce enough to go toe-to-toe with Ja’Marr Chase.
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