Super Bowl 56 Best Bets: Los Angeles Rams vs Cincinnati Bengals
A Super Bowl that no one expected takes place at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday as the fourth seeds of each conference – the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals – battle it out for the Lombardi Trophy. Remember, an outmatched o-line was what sunk the Chiefs in last season’s Super Bowl against Tampa Bay. Cooper Kupp to be named MVP (+550)It’s no surprise that Cooper Kupp has such short odds to be named MVP of Super Bowl 56. Opening kickoff not a touchback (-118)There are hundreds of prop markets you can play on the Super Bowl. But the Super Bowl kickoff ball is used for just a single play and teams can’t warm up with it.
mlive.comBengals head coach raves about Lions OC Ben Johnson: ’One of the sharpest football coaches in this league’
You can’t throw a rock in Allen Park without hitting someone raving about new Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. “He’s just one of the -- truthfully -- one of the sharpest football coaches in this league,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said on Wednesday during a virtual chat with reporters from Super Bowl week. He joined the Miami Dolphins’ coaching staff as the assistant quarterbacks coach in 2012, the same year Johnson joined that staff as an offensive assistant. We love it all.”Once Campbell fired Lynn after the season, Johnson emerged as the favorite to become Detroit’s next offensive coordinator. “I can’t say enough positive things about Ben Johnson,” Taylor added, “and the role he’s going to have there in Detroit.”
mlive.comBengals’ decision to draft Ja’Marr Chase over Penei Sewell pays off in Super Bowl run
Chase was taken fifth overall by the Bengals, then had a rookie season for the ages. He racked up 81 catches for a ridiculous 1,455 yards, the most yards ever by a rookie in the Super Bowl era. That history was part of Cincinnati’s calculus in choosing Chase over Sewell in the first place. “He had some ups and downs (this year), and I feel like, man, over the last half of the season, he’s really grown,” Campbell said. I mean, he’s 330-something pounds.
mlive.comBengals top Chiefs 27-24 in OT to clinch Super Bowl trip
Evan McPherson kicked a 31-yard field goal in overtime after Joe Burrow kept his cool while leading a furious second-half comeback to get the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl for the first time in 33 years with a 27-24 victory over Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game.
Bengals hold on, finally win in playoffs, 26-19 over Raiders
Joe Burrow led an efficient offense that scored on six drives, including two of his touchdown passes, and rookie Evan McPherson made four field goals as the Cincinnati Bengals finally advanced in the playoffs with a 26-19 win over Las Vegas in Saturday’s wild-card game.
Inside the locker room: Lions dealing with extra frustration from punchless showing in blowout loss to Bengals
DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions and Dan Campbell are dealing with extra frustration from Sunday’s punchless performance in their 34-11 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. And defense -- if that’s the game, if that’s the way it’s going, our defense can’t allow us -- they can’t allow the opponent to score then. Things didn’t get better on offense, with the Bengals taking control in the second half on the way to their 34-11 win. Until we can begin to complement and help each other out, offense, defense -- we need special teams to make a play. I think -- like you said -- yeah, we felt he was mad in that locker room after the game.
mlive.comChargers hire Rams DC Brandon Staley as head coach
The 37-year-old Staley's name is prominent in NFL circles this month as the league's less successful teams plot their next head coaching hire. (AP Photo/Doug Murray, File)COSTA MESA, Calif. – Brandon Staley won't have to move that far for his first head coaching opportunity. Staley agreed to become the Los Angeles Chargers' coach on Sunday night after one season as the defensive coordinator for the crosstown Rams. “It’s not just that Brandon possesses a tremendous football mind that makes him the ideal head coach to lead our team forward,” general manager Tom Telesco said in a statement. He is the third assistant under Rams coach Sean McVay to get an NFL head coaching job, joining Green Bay's Matt LaFleur and Cincinnati's Zac Taylor.
Mr. Smith goes to Washington, takes another team to playoffs
Washington Football Team's Alex Smith plays during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Philadelphia. Alex Smith is the biggest reason Washington became the first team in the Super Bowl era to start 2-7 and make the playoffs. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton, File)If the Alex Smith story becomes a movie, Alex Smith doesn't want to see it. “When Alex Smith plays quarterback, they’re a heck of a football team,” Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians said. "They’re an extremely well-coached team, a ton of talent on that defensive front, but Alex Smith is really the key to everything.”How is that possible?
Burrow, Bengals hit road vs Browns on NFL's 100th birthday
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) reacts after running for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Cincinnati. Outside, Burrow got lessons on Paul Brown, Jim Brown, Boomer Esiason, Bernie Kosar, The Ickey Shuffle and Dawg Pound. “In my eyes I played terrible through 3 1/2 quarters and then played up to my standards in the last drive and almost won the game,” Burrow said. RUN OVERThe Bengals significantly overhauled the NFL’s worst run defense of last season — 149 yards allowed per game —- and had a tough start against the Chargers, who ran for 155. Bengals coach Zac Taylor expects Bullock, who fully practiced on Tuesday, to handle kicking duties against the Browns.
Joe Cool: Burrow confident in adapting to Bengals offense
CINCINNATI Back in pads for the first time since he won a national championship at LSU, Joe Burrow got a baptism in NFL red-zone defense. The new Bengals quarterback fumbled a snap a steady rain contributed and had trouble completing passes in tight quarters. Asked if he's nervous in adapting to the NFL, Burrow responded:Absolutely not," he said. Burrow got to run the offense in short-field situations for the first time with the scheduled season opener less than a month away. It wasn't what you'd like to see on a red-zone day, but it was the first one, Burrow said.
No. 1 pick Joe Burrow happy to be on field for Bengals
After waiting a few extra months to get on the practice field for the Cincinnati Bengals for the first time, No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow had a little extra energy. The Bengals last won a playoff game following the 1990 season. 1 overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer lost twice in the postseason for the Bengals, Andy Dalton had four defeats and A.J. Im going to have to continue to do my job.
Patriots deny stealing Bengals' signs, say filming on sidelines was for documentary
The Cincinnati Bengals reportedly think the Patriots tried stealing signs after a Patriots production crew was caught filming the Bengals' sideline during their game Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. The Patriots, who were punished in 2007 for taping opponents, said the crew was there to film for a documentary series. As the Cleveland Browns claimed victory over the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, suspicions brewed in the press box above. A Bengals official said he saw a Patriots employee inappropriately filming the sidelines during the game, and notified the NFL. "I'm aware that there was an incident but I know the league is investigating it, so I have no comment," Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said.
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