Season in Review: Los Angeles Rams

Story posted February 7, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Neil Conley

The Los Angeles Rams are set to face the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. This Super Bowl appearance is their second in four seasons and it will take place at the Rams’ home stadium. The Rams are currently 15-5 overall this season while the Bengals are 13-7 overall.

Regular season

The Rams were 3-0 before hitting the first bump in the road against the Arizona Cardinals. Los Angeles hosted Arizona and struggled in its 37-20 loss.

Wasting no time, the Rams got back on the horse and won four consecutive contests. However, that success did not last long as all good things must come to an end.

The Rams got bucked off the horse and dropped their next three affairs. Now 7-4 overall, the Rams calm the horse and get back on again and win the next five games straight.

Perhaps too much partying from recent success led to a close 27-24 overtime home loss against the San Francisco 49ers. The Rams fell off the horse once again at the very end of the regular season, losing to the NFC West foe for the second time in the regular season.

The Rams finished the regular season 12-5 overall.

The regular season was certainly entertaining. Los Angeles gave its supporters hope early in the season, then anxiety, then hope again. The Rams secured a wildcard spot in the playoffs.

Playoffs

Los Angeles hosted the Arizona Cardinals in the wildcard round of the playoffs. The Rams were 1-1 against the Cardinals during the regular season. The Rams handled the situation with ease and defeated the Cardinals 34-11.

Next, the Rams traveled to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers. Los Angeles led 27-3 until a miraculous Buccaneer comeback tied the game at 27 with less than a minute to play.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford heaved the ball downfield and found Cooper Kupp, which put the Rams in field goal position. Without any timeouts, Stafford hurried the Rams to the line but waited to spike the ball until everyone was perfectly set.

If the Rams were called for a false start, there would have been a 10-second runoff, which would have ended the game. The spike was successful and placekicker Matt Gay sent the Rams to the NFC championship. The Rams won 30-27.

The Rams hosted the 49ers in the NFC championship. San Francisco appeared to have bested the Rams for the third time this season until the fourth quarter.

The 49ers led 17-7 moving into the fourth quarter but gave up 13 unanswered points in the final quarter. The Rams brought the score to 20-17 with less than a minute left.

Travin Howard intercepted a pass from Jimmy Garoppolo on the 49ers' last try at points, which sealed the deal for the Rams. Stafford ended the game with a kneel-down and the Rams won the NFC championship.

Los Angeles is headed to Super Bowl LVI and it will go to battle against Cincinnati in SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022.

Neil Conley is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email nzc5252@psu.edu.