![]() ![]() ![]() The triple crown-winning receiver threw across the field to his wide-open quarterback. The Bengals tapped on three with another McPherson field goal.Ī major missed opportunity defined the Rams' next possession.įaced with 3rd-and-3in Cincinnati territory, Stafford threw to Akers, who pitched to Kupp. Upon replay, it was revealed Higgins grabbed and twisted the facemask of the defender in an uncalled foul.Ī disastrous start snowballed for the Rams when Stafford looked to receiver Skowronek across the middle but he bobbled it and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie picked it off. A Rams three-and-out gave the Bengals the ball back but Burrow kneeled down to close out a noteworthy quarter.Ĭontroversy reigned in the opening seconds of the second half as Burrow found Higgins down the sideline for a 75-yard touchdown after it appeared Jalen Ramsey fell down. The Bengals failed to capitalize on the turnover, thanks to a Los Angeles pass rush that started getting closer and closer to Burrow. The non-contact injury forced him to the sidelines and five plays later, Stafford threw a critical pick in the end zone as safety Jessie Bates III jumped in front of the pass. The star of the game to that point, the wideout dropped the pass and fell to the turf, clutching his knee. With momentum on the opponents' side, Stafford went to Beckham on a 2nd-and-9 play. Nick Scott bit on the play and Mixon tossed a touchdown to Higgins. With the Rams keyed in on stopping the run, Burrow hit Mixon in the flat. Joe Mixon rushed for 25 yards, while Burrow added passes to Chase and Higgins as the Bengals marched down the field. followed and an 11-yarder to Kupp off a roll-out to his right earned the Rams their second TD of the game.Ī bad hold on the conversion by punter Johnny Hekker left the score at 13-3 but was a microcosm for the way the rest of the quarter would go for the NFC champions.įirst, Cincinnati established its run game. A 25-yard, cross-field completion to Darrell Henderson Jr. Stafford shook off a rare miss to Kupp with a 35-yard pass to Beckham. The Rams appeared poised to pour it on the Bengals as they opened the second quarter. ![]() The Rams' failed attempt to get the run game started early continued as the quarter came to an end, wrapping up an eight-carry, 13-yard campaign to this point. Ramsey also saved a touchdown, ripping a ball away from Tee Higgins and forcing the AFC champions to settle for a field goal. The rookie beat Jalen Ramsey en route and set his team up in the red zone. Not to be outdone, Burrow responded two possessions later, finding Ja'Marr Chase 46 yards downfield. It would be the last time Cincinnati would run that particular one-high coverage scheme in the quarter. With Vonn Bell in the middle of the field, Stafford looked left and found Beckham one-on-one with Mackensie Alexander in coverage, completing a 17-yard pass for the first touchdown of the game. In a television production that embraced the similarities of Hollywood and the Super Bowl, the stars burned brightest in the first quarter of the game.Īfter Los Angeles punted and then held Cincinnati on a 4th-and-1 from their 49, the Rams notched the first points of the contest. ![]()
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