INGLEWOOD (Calif.) – We’ve heard the story about the Los Angeles RamsThat is it they “went all-in” to win this particular Super Bowl. They were willing to put their future at risk for it. The key to their team-building approach, is the fact they constantly trade away first-round draft picks for winnow helpers.
They were about to lose it. Super BowlThe Cincinnati BengalsThe man who saved the Rams was the Eastern Washington receiver they drafted in the third round five-years ago. The guy that sealed the win was actually a first-round draft they made in 2014.
Cooper KuppTook eight passes for 92 yard and two touchdowns. win Super Bowl MVP honorsThe Rams returned in the fourth quarter. beat the BengalsSunday night. The 15-play fourth-quarter drive, which turned a 20-16 Cincinnati lead into an 23-20 Rams win, saw four of those catches and 39 of those yards. One of those touchdowns was on that play.
It was the driving force behind the career of the quarterback Matthew StaffordHe has 45 career win drives and was also one of the “all-in” moves that the Rams made this year to win. Kupp saved them, undoubtedly. His best play on that drive wasn’t even an catch — it was a seven yard run play from his own 30 yard line on 4th and 1, with five minutes left. L.A. will almost certainly lose the game if they fail to get that yard. They couldn’t keep the ball running all night. They decided to give it to their top offensive player. He delivered.
Kupp stated, “Whatever my job is on a given play or in a given game,” Kupp said. We went a bit faster on the last drive, which kept us entertained. [the Bengals]Matthew and myself were able to call some zones, which allowed us to find some soft spots.”
Stafford looked at Kupp every season when he needed to see a play. Kupp’s year was a remarkable one. He led the NFL in receiving yards (1.947), receiving touchdowns (16), and catches (145). He was also named Offensive Player and Year. He was also awarded the Super Bowl MVP Award. Jerry Rice, perhaps you’ve heard about him, is the only player to have done all three of these things in a single career. Kupp only did them all in one year.
Sean McVay, Rams coach said, “You guys hear about ‘competitive genius’ until it’s blue in my face.” “But that was displayed tonight.”
Do not mistake the Rams were in trouble. The Rams had a 13-10 halftime advantage, but it wasn’t enough to last. Bengals quarterback Joe BurrowFind it Tee HigginsThe touchdown was a 75-yard pass. Stafford then threw his second interception for the Rams on the Rams first offensive play. The Bengals converted it into a field goal. Cincinnati, which had displayed as much toughness in this NFL postseason as any team, suddenly held a lead of 20-13 and was stifling Rams’ offense with their defensive line.
Los Angeles lost wideout Odell Beckham Jr. (another “winnow” pick they made in November after the Rams cut his) to a second quarter knee injury. Star wideout Robert WoodsSince November, he has been missing with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Starting tight end Tyler HigbeeA knee injury sustained in the NFC Championship Game rendered him inactive. In the game, the Rams ran 43 yards on 23 carries. After the field goal, which cut the lead to 20-16, they went three-and out on three consecutive possessions. The Rams couldn’t get it and the Bengals had no other options in their passing game so they could focus on Kupp.
Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp connect for an 11-yard touchdown that extends the Rams’ lead.
McVay claimed, “They made this really difficult.” “I have a lot respect for the Bengal defense. Once we got down in tight, [red-zone]It felt like we had to play 60 plays to get the fade in. Cooper Kupp is the man.”
Stafford stated, “It was difficult.” Stafford stated, “But…he’s an incredible player, I’m just so proud.”
It was hard. To win, the Bengals had to be outdone by the Rams. But they showed their resilience in the right places. Six out of seven of their seven Burrow sacks came in the second period, with two of them by. Von MillerAnd two more by Aaron DonaldBurrow’s pressure on him during the Bengals’ last 4th-and-1 play resulted in an incompletion that sealed the championship for the Rams.
Miller was also a Rams win-now pick. They sent a second and third-round pick to them Denver BroncosHe was a huge help at the trade deadline and made a significant impact. Miller recorded nine sacks in the Rams’ eight final games, four regular-season and four playoff games. L.A. won seven. Miller was a formidable addition to the Rams pass-rush, but he also provided a veteran player for the Rams locker room. Miller was the Super Bowl MVP for his dominant performance against. Cam NewtonAnd the Carolina PanthersJust six years ago, a team that was confident in its abilities was able lift itself to great heights with the support of an expert in this area.
The Rams do have a foundational player, however, for every new and exciting acquisition. Donald was the Rams’ No. In 2014, the Rams picked Donald as their No. 12 overall selection. This was at a time when they were still able to pick that high in rounds. Donald is the only person who can win this Super Bowl with the Rams.
McVay declared, “Guys like Aaron make it worthwhile to coach.” McVay said, “He has raised everybody. “He has made everyone feel better. That’s the essence of greatness. Aaron is exactly that. He’s the effin man.”
Donald was a first round pick in 2014. Kupp was a third-rounder for 2017. Taylor Rapp, David Long Jr., Greg Gaines… All the key defensive players, and all 2019 Rams draft selections. Brycen HopkinsFourth-rounder in 2020, he had four catches for 47 yard in the Super Bowl. He had only one catch in his entire NFL career prior to Sunday.
Yes, despite all the talk about “pushing all their chips in”, these Rams owe their title just as much as the players they drafted and developed to them as to those who just came along. Although they have not made a first round pick since McVay made it in 2017, and they don’t have one either this year, they have made 45 picks between Rounds 2-7. That’s more than any other team except Minnesota in the past five years. Their current roster features 29 of their draft picks. This is a number that ranks among the top 10 teams in the league. Their roster-building strategy goes far beyond the simple “they trade away all of our picks for veterans”.
What they do is to trade late-first-round picks in exchange for guys who can assist them now. Despite the fact that the Rams pick late in the first round, it’s unlikely they will be acquiring players with first-round grades. Instead, why not use these picks to get a Matthew Stafford? Jalen RamseyTo help you get to the top
McVay expressed his pride in being associated with a group who isn’t afraid to take their shot.
However, they do not tell you that the approach must be well-rounded. Is it possible that the Buccaneers won Super Bowl last season because Tom Brady was signed? Leonard Fournette Antonio Brown? Before those guys got there, the Bucs had already established a solid roster. It’s even the reason Brady got there.
By the time Stafford was traded last winter, the Rams were already very good. Three years after losing the Super Bowl, they have reached the playoffs in four out of McVay’s five years and finished above.500 in five of those five years. They made the move for Stafford because they felt like it would take them from very good to championship-caliber, and the results will show that it did.
Stafford is unable to pull it off without Kupp, who can catch his passes. Kupp caught 33 pass in the postseason’s four games, making him the NFL’s most prolific receiver. After finishing the regular-season with the second highest receiving yards, Kupp collected 478 receiving yards in the postseason, the most by any player. Larry Fitzgerald. His six touchdown catch tied him for second place in the postseason. And his 22 total touchdowns this season, postseason and regular, is second only to Randy Moss’ 24 in 2007.
Kupp is the symbol of the Rams and their past before the all-in moves that received all the attention. After being hurt, he missed the Super Bowl loss to his Rams team. However, he stated Sunday night that he had a vision after the game that he knew he would be there on the winning side of the Super Bowl. Sunday, he realized his vision.
Kupp stated that he felt so ineligible for all the awards and praises. Kupp said, “I am able to play from an area of freedom and I have great teammates around me.”
They are now all champions together. This year’s champions include the ringers who arrived for the event, as well as long-timers like Kupp or Donald who created a solid foundation that allowed those moves to succeed. The Rams may be “all-in” this year but they will likely return to the top of the charts again soon. What McVay & Co. have built here in L.A. is no flash in the pan. It’s one the best and most consistent franchises that the NFL has at the moment. On Sunday night, it was named Super Bowl champion.