Party like it’s 1999! The Rams’ superstar players showed up when it mattered most in Super Bowl win

Happy Monday, all! I have no clue why this isn’t a national holiday, but oh well…

Let’s get right to it.

Good morning to everyone but especially to…

THE LOS ANGELES RAMS

The Los Angeles Rams were crystal clear about their intentions over the last 13 months: They were going to collect the biggest, brightest group of stars they could and see how far it would take them.

It started with Matt Stafford last January. Stafford, in turn, elevated Cooper Kupp into a star. Midway through the season, Kupp got a new running mate in Odell Beckham Jr. On the defensive side of things, Aaron Donald was already a star, and he got even more help with the addition of Von Miller.

Winning a Super Bowl requires contributions from the entire roster, but make no mistake: Last night, the stars shined brightest, carrying the Rams to a 23-20 win over the Bengals for the franchise’s second Super Bowl.

• The Rams took an early lead with Stafford finding Beckham Jr. for a 17-yard touchdown.
• Stafford later found Kupp for an 11-yard score, and the Rams took a 13-10 lead into halftime.
• Just minutes into the second half, though, Cincinnati had taken a stunning 20-13 lead (more on that in a bit).
• That’s when the Rams’ defensive stars took charge to keep things close. Donald and Miller combined for four of the Rams’ Super Bowl record-tying seven sacks (six of which came in the second half).

Then came winning time.

The Rams had gained just 58 yards — and scored just three points — on their first five drives of the second half. Stafford was out of sync following Beckham Jr. leaving the game with a knee injury, and the Rams’ running game was simply awful.

But Stafford didn’t arrive in Los Angeles to come close. So instead, he orchestrated a 15-play, 79-yard drive culminating in a 1-yard touchdown toss to Kupp (who else?!) to give his team the lead. On Cincinnati’s ensuing drive, Donald — playing in maybe his final NFL game — made a run stop on 3rd-and-1 and then forced Burrow into an incompletion on 4th-and-1 to clinch the title.

No one will mistake this for the most beautiful Super Bowl ever. The Rams’ 313 yards of offense were the fewest by a Super Bowl champion since the 2015 Broncos. But that’s what made this team championship-worthy. The defense held up when the offense stumbled. The offense scored points when needed. After all, Stafford and Co. put together fourth-quarter game-winning drives in the NFC Divisional Round, the NFC Championship and the Super Bowl.

Rams fans, here’s all your required reading:

• You want highlights? We have highlights.
• Here’s how Los Angeles rallied to win the title.
• Cooper Kupp caps his breakout season with a Super Bowl MVP.
• Will Aaron Donald really retire?
• Sean McVay is the youngest head coach to win the Super Bowl.
• The Rams pass rush dominated.
• Van Jefferson celebrated by rushing to the hospital for the birth of his son.
• Meanwhile, Taylor Rapp celebrated by getting engaged on the field.

Honorable mentions

• The Celtics have quietly won eight straight after beating the Hawks on Sunday.
• Klay Thompson is rounding into form, as seen in the Warriors’ win over the Lakers.
• Erin Jackson became the first Black woman to earn a speedskating Olympic gold, winning the women’s 500m Sunday.

And not such a good morning for…

THE OH-SO-CLOSE CINCINNATI BENGALS

The first two plays from scrimmage of the second half couldn’t have gone much better for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Every play after those couldn’t have gone much worse.

• Joe Burrow hit Tee Higgins for a 75-yard touchdown (and caught a big break from the refs) on the first play after halftime to give Cincinnati its first lead of the game, 17-13.
• On the next play from scrimmage, Chidobe Awuzie intercepted Stafford.

But the Bengals couldn’t take full advantage, having to settle for a field goal. And from there, any momentum they had completely fizzled out. Over the Bengals’ final five possessions, they ran 23 total plays for 64 yards — a paltry 2.8 yards per play — and did not score a point.

The same major issue that nearly derailed the Bengals’ season so many times popped up again at the worst time. Cincinnati surrendered a Super Bowl record-tying seven sacks, six of which came in the second half. The Bengals’ offensive line versus the Rams’ pass rush was always going to be a mismatch, and it was especially true down the stretch.

Even with that major disadvantage, the Bengals will look back at a few major moments and be disappointed.

• CIN up 17-13, Bengals 3rd-and-3, early third quarter at Rams’ 11-yard line: Burrow sacked (Bengals settle for FG)
• CIN up 20-16, Bengals 3rd-and-9, mid-fourth quarter: Tyler Boyd dropped pass right at the marker (his first drop all year)
• CIN up 20-16, Rams 4th-and-1, late fourth quarter at Rams’ 30-yard line: Kupp converts jet sweep for first down
• CIN down 23-20, Bengals 3rd-and-1, late fourth quarter near midfield: Backup RB Samaje Perine stuffed on run (Burrow incomplete on fourth down)

Burrow was disappointed in his own performance, saying in part, “you live and you learn.” The Bengals will look back at those plays and learn just how close they were. It will be a tough pill to swallow.

Not so honorable mention

• The Colts are “likely” to part ways with Carson Wentz, according to a report.
• Kyler Murray‘s social media scrub of all Cardinals-related content is hinting at bigger issues between the quarterback and the organization.
• Players are calling for a ban on turf fields after Beckham Jr.’s injury.

Best of Super Bowl commercials, halftime show, other performances

The Super Bowl itself did not disappoint, and neither did all the theatrics surrounding the game.

• The star-studded halftime show — featuring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and Eminem — was terrific and had me bobbing my head throughout. You can check out the performance here.
• The commercials featured tons of fun cameos, from LeBron James (both real and CGI) to Larry David to Kanye West to Dolly Parton to Peyton Manning to Zendaya to Dr. Evil. Here’s what you may have missed when you were up getting snacks.
• Mickey Guyton sang a truly amazing national anthem (and hit the “over” on her time, too!)

Packers prepared to go ‘all in’ with Aaron Rodgers

There was some other NFL news that happened over the weekend. Ever since the Packers lost in the NFC Divisional Round, all eyes in Green Bay have been on Aaron Rodgers. The latest developments are good news for Cheeseheads everywhere.

According to reports, the Packers plan to go “all-in” to keep Rodgers in Green Bay and improve the team around him.

The Saints set a precedent late in Drew Brees’ career, spreading a large amount of money into future years. The Packers could look to do the same in order to retain some of their own free agents — most notably Davante Adams — and acquire others.

Rodgers — who stayed in Green Bay to discuss the team’s 2022 outlook after the season-ending loss — has said he will finalize his plans before free agency starts.

Scottie Scheffler wins Phoenix Open in thrilling fashion

Here’s to the first of many, Scottie Scheffler! The 25-year-old earned his first PGA Tour win Sunday at the Phoenix Open, rolling in a 25-foot, 7-inch birdie putt on the third playoff hole to beat Patrick Cantlay.

Scheffler, who had claimed 17 top-10s in 70 career starts entering this week, earned a high mark from our golf expert Kyle Porter:

• Porter: “It feels wrong to say ‘it’s about time’ regarding a 25-year-old who isn’t even close to 100 PGA Tour starts, but that has been a bit of the feeling surrounding Scheffler, given everything else he’s accomplished… After narrowly making the cut by a stroke on Friday and being overshadowed all weekend by more romantic stories and more accomplished players, the guy everyone expected to get his first victory in 2022 found the winner’s circle when everyone least expected it. Grade: A+“

What we’re watching Monday

Virginia at Virginia Tech, 7 p.m. on ESPN
Spurs at Bulls, 8 p.m. on NBA TV
Oklahoma State at No. 8 Kansas, 9 p.m. on ESPN
 Warriors at Clippers, 10:30 p.m. on NBA TV