3 bold predictions for the LA Rams in Super Bowl LVI

Jailbreak pass rush

Much has been made of the Bengals young quarter Joe Burrow’s poise, particularly in the face of getting rattled by an unrelenting pass rush. But keep in mind that while Burrow was getting sacked nine times, his counterpart, QB Ryan Tannehill, tossed three interceptions. It seems that Tannehill is better at managing a game than winning one.

Burrow was relatively untouched in the other two playoff games. In three playoff games, he has never dropped back and passed fewer than 34 times in a game. Conversely, the Bengals average fewer than 20 rushes per game. Those simply are not the ratios that work well against the LA Rams.

The Cincinnati Bengals offensive line is vulnerable to a pass rush, particularly one up the middle. And the Rams pass rush is quite capable of stunting, shifting, and aligning All-Pro Aaron Donald anywhere on that defensive front. That will force the Bengals to shift their blocking towards Donald. And that cat-and-mouse game will go on all game long.

By the end of the game, I predict that the LA Rams pass rush will get 5+ quarterback sacks. I just don’t believe that the Bengals offense can run on the LA Rams, and will abandon any attempt to do so midway through the second quarter. From that point on, it will be a shooting gallery for the Rams pass rushers, and I believe that they will find ways to get to Burrow.