Super Bowl 2022: Breaking down Bengals vs. Rams QB matchup, keys to victory for Joe Burrow, Matthew Stafford
A dive into the big game's star signal-callers
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4 min read
The Bengals and Rams advanced to Super Bowl LVI because of a lot more than one position. Cincinnati, after all, struggled at the bottom of the AFC North even before its young star quarterback went down with a knee injury in 2020. And Los Angeles was literally built to win now with a slew of veterans at different spots, from Odell Beckham Jr. out wide to Von Miller off the edge. Still, no one can deny the fact that Joe Burrow and Matthew Stafford -- both clear-cut top-10 passers during the 2021 campaign -- are among the biggest reasons Cincinnati and Los Angeles are about to square off for a Lombardi Trophy.
As their big faceoff approaches, which QB has the advantage going into Super Bowl Sunday? And what are their respective keys to victory in Los Angeles? We've got all that below:
Bengals: Joe Burrow
Age: 25 | Season: 2nd
Playoff experience
| Season | Games | Record | YPG | TDs | INTs | YPA | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 | 3-0 | 281 | 4 | 2 | 7.7 | 96.2 |
Burrow's first and only playoff run has gone about as well as you could expect -- and then some. He was cool, keeping his eyes downfield, on off-script throws in his postseason debut against the Raiders; he stood tall despite a historic beating against the Titans in the divisional round; and he was adaptable late against the then-reigning AFC champion Chiefs to get to the big game. All in all, he has been the same steady, unfazed leader the Bengals have known all year, with an underrated knack for quickly and accurately feeding his playmakers. One more win would give him one of the finest postseason debuts in league history and cement him as one of the game's top young signal-callers.
Keys to victory:
- Take what's there: Burrow's charisma has sometimes overshadowed his technical skills as a QB, but he has been really efficient for much of the season, leading the NFL in completion percentage (70.4). The offensive line in front of him hasn't always held up, however, as evidenced by the playoff-record nine sacks he absorbed against Tennessee. That just means that making quick decisions -- even if they're more safe than spectacular -- will come in handy if the Rams' ferocious line comes to play.
- Feed Ja'Marr Chase: It's simple, yes, and the Rams will obviously be doing everything in their power to stop the connection, but the Burrow-Chase pairing has been dynamite all season. The young wideout does so much of his damage after the catch, so merely getting him opportunities will be paramount. If he's open, throw him the ball. If he's not, throw it occasionally anyway.
- Be confident: This shouldn't be an issue, as one of Burrow's greatest intangibles is his assured demeanor, but it really does matter at this stage, where the rest of a young team will be looking to him when the lights get bright. Burrow's top priority (as noted above) is playing smart football in response to the Rams' attack, but he also has reason to go in -- and play -- like the front-runner, considering L.A. featured a bottom-half pass defense for much of the season.
Rams: Matthew Stafford
Age: 34 | Season: 13th
Playoff experience
| Season | Games | Record | YPG | TDs | INTs | YPA | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | 3 | 3-0 | 302 | 6 | 1 | 9.1 | 115.6 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0-1 | 205 | 0 | 0 | 6.4 | 75.7 |
| 2014 | 1 | 0-1 | 323 | 1 | 1 | 7.7 | 87.7 |
| 2011 | 1 | 0-1 | 380 | 3 | 2 | 8.8 | 97.0 |
Like Burrow, Stafford didn't waste a whole lot of time emerging as a playoff-caliber star, overcoming a season-ending injury during his second season to spark a sudden 10-6 Lions finish and wild-card berth, complete with Pro Bowl and MVP-caliber numbers (5,038 yards, 41 TDs, 16 INTs). Unlike Burrow, however, Stafford needed another decade-plus before he could experience a postseason victory. His own trigger-happy approach played a role in his first defeat, and his production actually waned in subsequent appearances over the years, as he and his body endured a beating for an inconsistent Lions team. This season, surrounded with a star-studded supporting cast and coaching staff, Stafford translated his regular-season authority to the playoffs, showing off his big arm and downfield vision in key spots against the Cardinals, Buccaneers and 49ers. A Super Bowl win would cap a perfect playoff run 13 years in the making, and fully change the narrative of his NFL career.
Keys to victory:
- Trust the game plan: Stafford has thrived when he has played within Sean McVay's setup, whether that means leaning early on a Sony Michel- and Cam Akers-fueled run game, or getting early short-range targets to Odell Beckham Jr., or unleashing kill shots to Cooper Kupp. When he has tried too hard to salvage a slow start or extend a late lead, relying more on his arm strength than his football IQ, he has thrown himself into trouble. That happened in Detroit and again down the stretch in L.A.
- Keep Odell involved: This, of course, fits within the "trust the game plan" approach, and McVay is almost assuredly hoping to get Beckham the ball early. Why? Because the former Browns wideout has emerged as a true weapon since being invited to lessen the early-game burden on Kupp. Simply put, when Odell is invested in what's happening, the offense clicks even better. If Stafford can stay mindful of that, the Rams should have a clear path to pacing the big game's offensive showdown.
- Be selective with deep shots: We'd love nothing more than to see Stafford uncork bombs on the big stage, but the Bengals deploy a playmaker by the name of Jessie Bates III at the back end of their secondary. That doesn't mean the Rams should shy away from going deep, but it's all about choosing your spots. Cincy's "D" has proven plenty vulnerable throughout the year, but Stafford might be better off feasting on an over-the-middle matchup like Kupp against slot corner Mike Hilton.
