Cooper Kupp lands the MVP award for his performance in Super Bowl LVI

He may not have been voted in as the NFL’s MVP, but I’m willing to bet that LA Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp was more than happy with the ‘consolation’ prize.  Not only did Kupp land the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year honor

But more awaited him after winning Super Bowl LVI. After catching eight of ten passes thrown his way for 92 yards and two touchdowns, often against double and even triple coverage, he was voted the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl LVI.

That is quite the honor and Kupp is only the eighth wide receiver in Super Bowl history to be named the MVP.  He finished the regular season with 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns and added another 478 yards and six touchdowns in post-season play.

It was clear after LA Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. went down with 3:54 to go in the first half that the game, win or lose, depended upon the offense finding some way to get the ball to Kupp.  The Rams scored 13 points in the first half with OBJ on the football field. After he injured his knee, the offense tried to maintain the same proficiency.

Unfortunately, the Rams were unable to move the football on offense, which allowed the Bengals to climb back from a 13-3 deficit to take a 20-13 lead. After the Rams kicked a field goal to come to within four points, the Rams’ offense got the ball at their own 21-yard line. Three passes to Kupp, a couple of runs, and a pass to TE Brycen Hopkins got the ball downfield.

But the offense started to stall. Fortunately for the Rams, the Bengals secondary began to be penalized for consecutive. On second down and goal from the Bengals one-yard line, Stafford found Cooper Kupp once more in the end zone for the go-ahead game-winner

Kupp not only scored twice, but he scored when he was likely the only Rams player left on the field who could be counted on to do so. That is the textbook definition of Super Bowl MVP.

Whew! What a journey this has been.