NFL: 2022 Super Bowl preview, picks

Super Bowl LVI

Bengals (10-7, 3-0) @

Rams (12-5, 3-0)

Super Bowl LVI is set to kick off between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Sunday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 PM. Los Angeles is the second consecutive team to host the Super Bowl in their home stadium, joining the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were eliminated by the Rams a few weeks ago. Cincinnati is looking for the first championship in franchise history after losing in their two previous appearances in 1981 and 1988. The Rams are 1-3 in the Super Bowl, most recently a loss to the New England Patriots in 2019.

According to ESPN, the Rams have a 66.3% chance to edge the Bengals on Sunday evening. Cincinnati is certainly used to being an underdog after pulling off back to back upsets on the road against the top seeded Tennessee Titans and defending conference champion Kansas City Chiefs just to get to this point. The Rams are currently 4.0-point favorites (and the over/under is set at 48.5) with the must-see matchup just days away. Even though the offenses have been equally explosive, putting up 27.1 points and more than 385 yards per game, the Rams defense could be the biggest difference maker.

Aaron Donald, Leonard Floyd, Von Miller, and the entire Rams pass rush will look to get after a depleted offensive line consisting of Jonah Williams, Quinton Spain and Isaiah Prince, who took over last month after Riley Reiff was injured. If Cincinnati allows nine sacks and constant pressure like they did against Tennessee in the divisional round, then it's going to be difficult to best the Rams. Los Angeles gives up 109 less yards per game than the Bengals defense and Jalen Ramsey is a huge reason why. Not only do the Rams have an elite pass rush but they also have the best cornerback in the league.

Ramsey will have his hands full defending a pair of dangerous young wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Chase set the rookie record with 81 catches for 1,455 yards, and his connection with quarterback Joe Burrow is seemingly unmatched after winning a championship together at LSU in 2019. The Bengals are just the second team in Super Bowl history to have their leading passer, rusher and receiver age 25 or younger (along with the 1996 Patriots). Burrow finished the regular season with a league-best completion rate (70.1%) and Joe Mixon has big play ability out of the backfield as well.

Sean McVay's team has plenty of offensive firepower to combat the Bengals attack though. Matthew Stafford will continue to target Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr. to stretch the field and test the Cincinnati secondary early and often. Kupp racked up an NFL-high 1,947 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns on 145 receptions in 2022. Bengals defensive backs Jessie Bates III and Eli Apple have played well during the playoff run but it's going to be a tough task shutting down Stafford and his receivers. Trey Hendrickson and DJ Reader are other key players as Cincinnati hopes to win their first ever Super Bowl.

Odds per Draft Kings.

Moneyline: Rams (-200)

Spread: Bengals (+4.5)

Over/Under: Over (48.5)

MVP: Cooper Kupp (+600)

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Photo Credit: Telegraph.