“Super Bowl Game Day”

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It’s upon us, Super Bowl Sunday.
Here come the Rams.  Those are the Bengals

Questions to consider going towards Kickoff:

Can the Bengals pass protect for Joe Burrow? He’s been sacked 63-times this year.

How are the Bengals going to pass block the fierce pass rusher Aaron Donald, when the offensive front of Cincinnati is viewed as a liability.

Can the Bengals go up tempo, wear out the Rams defensive front and stop the Rams from substituting packages?

Can the Bengals get RB-Joe Mixon gaining yards early making him something else LA has to pay attention too?

Ja’Marr Chase averaged 18-yards per catch in season, but in the playoffs he is averaging 13-yards per catch, and now he has to face Jalen Ramsey on pass routes.  Can he bust big plays?

How do the Rams deploy their undersized secondary against the 6’2, 6’3, 6’4 wideouts the Bengals put into the pattern?

Do the Rams come out throwing early trying to create mismatches and chunk plays right from the start?

Can  Matthew Stafford find receivers if Cincinnati rushes three and drops eight into coverages as they did in derailing Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City?

What role will Sony Michel, Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson play in the run game?

Do the Bengals double Cooper Kupp and hope the single coverage holds up against Odell Beckham and Van Jefferson?

Do the injuries to both starting tight ends change the offenses much?

The Rams have a combined 27-sacks from Aaron Donald, Von Miller and Leonard Floyd, do they get blitz happy to knock Burrow out of sync early?

The Rams defense has given up just (220Y) passing per game in  the playoffs..does Burrow have to throw for over (300Y) to be in this game?

The Rams defense is holding opposing teams to 18%-conversion rate on third downs and just (55%) passing.  What happens if Burrow gets behind the chains on his possessions?

Will Jalen Ramsey clamp down on Chase or will they rotate coverages?

Evan McPherson is (40-45) on field goals this season, in a relentless assault on the NFL record.  He has to get Cincinnati points on all the possessions they have doesn’t he?

Will Shaun McVay be as bold with challenges and timeouts as he was in the NFC title game, which almost blew up in his face?

The Bengals have won 6-of-7 and have all those key road wins in hostile places like Kansas City, Tennessee, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and more.  They have yet to be rattled-but is the stage too big?

The Rams have won 8-of their last nine, having benefited by not going to Lambeau Field to Green Bay.  They have shown big ability to come from behind.  Does playing at So Fi give them an edge?

Who’s going to win?

RAMS 37
BENGALS 27

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