Los Angeles Rams win Super Bowl LVI | CNN (2024)

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay calls a play during the second half.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is now the youngest coach to ever win a Super Bowl.

McVay, who turned 36 on January 24, surpasses Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who was 36 years, 10 months, and 18 days old when he won Super Bowl XLIII in 2009.

Los Angeles Rams players celebrate at the end of the fourth quarter.

The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI on Sunday.

The suspenseful game ended with a fourth down stop by the Rams to win it all.

The Rams controlled much of the first half, with receiversOdell Beckham Jr.andCooper Kuppscoring the first two touchdowns of the day. The Bengals answered back late in the second quarter witha trick playthat led to a touchdown and an interception by safetyJessie Bates III.

The big game took place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the second time in Super Bowl history a team played on its home field. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the first team to do so when Raymond James Stadium hosted the big game last year.

Read more here.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp is embraced by quarterback Matthew Stafford after a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp was named the Super Bowl MVP.

Kupp had eight receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

The Rams’ star wide receiver grabbed the game-sealing TD with a 1-yard reception in the end zone from QB Matthew Stafford with a minute and a half left on the clock.

See every Super Bowl MVP

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald pressures Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.

The Los Angeles Rams are Super Bowl champions.

Cincinnati’s last stand fell short when, on 4th down, Rams lineman Aaron Donald pressured quarterback Joe Burrow into a flailing pass attempt which fell harmlessly to the turf.

That turned the ball back over to the Rams, cementing LA’s 23-20 victory.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp catches a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Matthew Stafford and the Rams just marched down the field to take the lead with less than a minute and a half left on the game clock.

Stafford found star wide receiver Cooper Kupp on 2nd and goal from the 1-yard line. Rams now lead 23-20.

On the drive, LA went 79 yards on 15 plays in 4:48. It was the Rams’ first TD since 12:51 in the 2nd quarter.

BIG PLAY:On a 4th and 1 on their own 37-yard line, the Rams lined Kupp up in the slot. Kupp came around for the handoff and peeled off a 7-yard run for the first down.

Kupp added 31 yards of receiving on the drive with three key catches, including the TD.

Cryptocurrencies took center stage during the ad breaks of Super Bowl LVI, even asbitcoin prices have tumbledmore than 35% from theirall-time highs just a few months ago.

The priciest Super Bowl commercials cost a record $7 millionthis year, according to NBC. To put that into terms many of the big game’s advertisers will understand, that’s about 160bitcoinor 2,200 ether.

FTX, a crypto exchange that recently raised fundingvaluing it at $32 billion, has had the now retired seven-time Super Bowl champTom Bradyappear in its previous spots and will ran an ad during the game. (Brady and his wife, Gisele Bündchen, alsoown a stake in FT.)

The company wouldn’t disclose if Brady or any other celebrities would be in its ad, but it is promising togive away bitcoinsas part of the promotion.

Toronto-based crypto trading firm Bitbuy has a Super Bowl ad that only ran in Canada that featured Miami Heat player Kyle Lowry. The ad urges investors to not miss out on crypto trading and pokes fun at the number of shots Lowry has missed in his career.

Lowry told CNN Business that many athletes are talking about investing in cryptos, so advertising for it during one of the biggest sports events in the world makes sense.

“There are lot of conversations in the NBA talking about doing more in NFTs and cryptos,” Lowry said. “People are trying to figure it out and trying to learn.”

Bitbuy added in an email to CNN Business that the goal of the Super Bowl ad is to reach older Gen X and younger baby boomers who still may be on the crypto sidelines.

“Bitbuy has reached the point where growing our customer base means attracting new consumer segments,” the company said. “You can’t keep speaking to the same early adopters over and over again who have already jumped in crypto.”

Read more here.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow walks off the field after being injured on a sack.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow limped off the field after going down hard on a 3rd down play.

Burrow was on the ground clutching his right knee at the end of the play and looked to be in some pain.

The Bengals lead Super Bowl LVI 20-16 in the 4th quarter.

D.J. Reader of the Cincinnati Bengals sacks Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was walking gingerly after being sacked by Bengals defensive tackle D.J. Reader.

Reader, who weighs more than 300 pounds, rolled onto Stafford’s left leg while bringing the Rams quarterback to the turf.

Following the play, Stafford was seen receiving treatment on the sideline. He has returned to the game.

Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will not return to the Super Bowl, the team said.

Prior to injuring his knee in the first half, Beckham Jr. had a pair of catches for 52 yards and a TD. Along with Cooper Kupp, he’s a key part of the Rams’ passing attack.

Evan McPherson of the Cincinnati Bengals reacts with teammates after a successful field goal in the third quarter.

Just over four minutes into the 3rd quarter and the Bengals have put up 10 points in the second half.

Evan McPherson connected on a 38-yard field goal to make it 20-13 Bengals.

Eminem takes a knee

Rapper Eminem took a knee during his halftime performance, a gesture often done to protest racial injustice in the country.

Colin Kaepernick, former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, was heavily criticized for starting this form of protest in 2016 at a preseason game during the national anthem.

Since then, this particular form of protest has come under scrutiny, not only by the NFL, but by other large sporting organizations.

The moment happened right after the legendary rapper ended his performance of his hit song “Lose Yourself” and rapped the iconic line “This opportunity comes once in a lifetime. you better lose yourself.”

Eminem has a history of supporting Kaepernick’s efforts. In 2017, during the BET Hip Hop Awards, he performed an explosive 4.5-minute freestyle rap, calling out former President Trump and embracing Kaepernick and his message on racism and police brutality.

The Detroit rapper raised his fist and rapped: “F— that, this is for Colin, ball up a fist and keep that s— balled like Donald the b—-.”

Kaepernick tweeted, “I appreciate you @Eminem,” along with a fist emoji.

In his song “Untouchable,” from his 2017 album “Revival,” Eminem rapped:

“Just keep marchin’, ‘til we reach Congress
But they’re gonna say you’re tryin’ to take an irrational stance
If you try to slander the flag but
Somebody has to be the sacrificial lamb
So they call it a Kaepernick tantrum
If you don’t stand for the national anthem
We raise it, you better praise it”

CNN’s Jason Kurtz contributed to this report.

Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals catches the ball over Jalen Ramsey of the Los Angeles Rams for a touchdown in the third quarter.

The dust had barely settled on the Super Bowl halftime show when the Bengals took their first lead of the evening.

Just twelve seconds into the third quarter, Bengals QB Joe Burrow hit Tee Higgins for a 75-yard scoring strike on the first play from scrimmage of the second half. Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey was looking for an offensive pass interference penalty as he was shoved to the LA turf by Higgins, but the referees did not agree and the play stood.

The play marked Higgins’ second TD of the game, and gave the Bengals the lead at 17-13.

Moments later, the Bengals defense added to the Rams’ second-half setback, as Rams quarterback Matt Stafford’s first down pass was intercepted by Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie.

Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, and Snoop Dogg perform during the halftime show.

A parade of hip hop legends took the field tonight for the Super Bowl halftime show. It was the first time the Super Bowl featured hip hop artists as the main act.

From the previously announced performances by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar, to cameos from 50 Cent and Anderson .Paak, the show was a love letter to the genre and Los Angeles.

The stars performed on various stages designed to look like the world’s coolest house party.

Take a look:

Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg perform during the halftime show.

Mary J. Blige takes the stage.

Eminem performs with Anderson Paak on drums.

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Snoop Dogg performs during the halftime show.

You can see more photos from the halftime show here.

50 Cent makes a surprise appearance during the halftime show.

50 Cent made a surprise appearance at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show to perform his 2003 hit “In Da Club” — partially while suspended upside down.

We knew this would be a big night for hip hop: It’s the first time the Super Bowl halftime show will feature hip hop artists as the main act. Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Mary J. Blige were previously confirmed as performers.

The show’s just getting started, so let’s see if we get any other surprise appearances.

Mary J. Blige performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on February 13.

Super Bowl audiences were transported back to the 90s and early 00s, as some of the biggest hip hop and rap stars took the stage during the half time show.

Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre took it back to the streets of Compton to kick off the show performing “The Next Episode” on a stage set up to look like the ultimate 90s house party.

In a clear celebration of the city and state where the Super Bowl is being held, Snoop and Dre then performed Tupac Shakur’s “California Love.”

In a surprise moment, 50 cent performed his club banger “In Da Club,” a staple track for any party in the early 00s.

Mary J. Blige performed a medley of her biggest hits, followed by Kendrick Lamar, who performed his song “Alright” with a group of perfectly synced backup dancers.

Eminem then made a grand, explosive entrance and performed his hit “Lose Yourself.”

Dr. Dre closed out the show with “Still D.R.E” and — for those watching from home, a perfect wide shot of the ultimate house party happening center field. The perfect end to a halftime show meant to be the ultimate nostalgic concert.

Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg perform during the halftime show.

It’s halftime at Super Bowl LVI and five of hip hop’s biggest names are about to hit the stage for the halftime show.

Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar are all performing this year. A trailer for the show was a cinematictreatin a ’90s-style video.

Never mind the action on the field at the NFL’s showcase game: for many, this weekend will be all about Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar. And the man who helped bring the nostalgic Super Bowl LVI halftime show to life is a British TV director named Hamish Hamilton.

Since 2010’s, the now 55-year-old, award-winning Hamilton has been involved in showcasing musicians so famous we know them by a single name — Madonna! Beyoncé! Gaga! — or bands that have soundtracked a generation, such as Coldplay, Maroon 5 and the Black Eyes Peas.

Global interest in the halftime show is nothing new, though 2022 does mark the 31-year anniversary of the NFL changing course from traditional marching bands to contemporary music acts — and what a change it was.

Super Bowl XXV — held in Tampa in 1991— kicked off with a sublime rendition of the Star Spangled Banner from none other than Whitney Houston.

Halftime was billed as “A Small World Salute to 25 Years of the Special Bowl” featuring New Kids on the Block, though events of the day would intervene.

Operation Desert Storm resulted in the show being tape-delayed until after the game with a Gulf War news report shown instead.

It was a watershed moment and the league never looked back, booking household names such as Michael Jackson, Diana Ross and Boyz II Men in the 1990s.

The Aughts witnessed U2’s cathartic post-9/11 performance, the infamous Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake“Nipplegate” incidentfrom 2004 and Prince in 2007 — often cited as the greatest halftime in history.

All these performances were seminal moments before Hamilton took the reins in 2010.

As we all look forward to tonight’s halftime performance, here’s a look back at some of the most memorable halftime shows.

Michael Jackson’s 1993 performance

Michael Jackson performs during halftime at the 1993 Super Bowl.

In 1993, Michael Jackson brought his trademark pageantry to the event. Before then, the show had mostly been dominated by marching bands.

Jackson’s performance — introduced by no less than James Earl Jones — opened with him springing eight feet into the air from underneath the stage (a trademark of his 1992 Dangerous World Tour), against a backdrop of pyrotechnics.

He then stood motionless for one-and-a-half minutes in a military-inspired black-and-gold ensemble, before launching into a medley of his hits.

Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake 2004 Super Bowl performance

Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake perform at halftime at the Super Bowl in 2004.

Another Jackson made headlines in 2004 for her halftime performance. Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s 2004 performance will forever be remembered as the incident that brought “wardrobe malfunction” into popular parlance.

While performing a duet, Timberlake ripped off a part of Jackson’s bustier, exposing her breast to millions of viewers, and“Nipplegate”was born.

A lot of people were unhappy. The Federal Communications Commission reportedly received more than 500,000 indecency complaints about 9/16 of a second of exposed flesh, and levied a $550,000 fine against CBS, the network airing the game, and its affiliates. (The fine wasthrown outby the Supreme Court in 2012.)

Prince’s 2007 Super Bowl performance during a downpour

Prince performs at halftime during the 2007 Super Bowl.

Prince’s iconic Super Bowl halftime performance is the epitome of the saying “The show must go one.”

The legendary artist performed in dangerous weather conditions with a full on thunderstorm as the back drop and a very slippery stage.

Prince — dressed in blue suit and chest-bearing orange button-down, hair covered with a black scarf — performing “Purple Rain” in the middle of a torrential storm, purple “symbol” guitar in hand, was a glorious finale to a performance that saw one of history’s most incandescent performers giving his all for 140 million views.

Beyonce’s 2016 Super Bowl performance with Coldplay

Beyonce performs during the 2016 Super Bowl halftime show.

While Coldplay headlined the 2016 Super Bowl halftime show, it was Beyonce who left an impact.

Beyoncé donned a bandolier of bullets, similar to one famously worn by Michael Jackson during his 1993 world tour. Her backup dancers wore all black ensembles with berets and afros — an image that some said was reminiscent of the Blank Planter moves of the 1960s.

Beyoncé’s performance became a point of controversy and some labeled it politically motivated, some labeling it law-enforcement.

Protests were arranged and #BoycottBeyonce was created. One invitation to a protest read, “Are you offended as an American that Beyoncé pulled her race-baiting stunt at the Superbowl?”

Los Angeles Rams fans celebrate during the first half.

The Rams are leading the Bengals at halftime, 13-10.

Cincinnati won the coin toss and deferred, so they’ll get the ball to start the second half.

Heading into the locker room, here are some key stats:

• Matthew Stafford (LA): 12-18, 165 yards, 2 TD, INT
• Joe Burrow (CIN): 12-18, 114 yards
• Odell Beckham Jr (LA).: 2 catches, 52 yards, TD (return questionable)
• Cooper Kupp (LA): 3 catches, 40 yards, TD
• Joe Mixon (CIN): 7 carries, 40 yards, TD pass
• Tee Higgins (CIN): 3 catches, 25 yards, TD
• Ja’Marr Chase (CIN): 3 catches, 62 yards
• Total Plays: Rams 31, Bengals 30
• Total Yards: Rams 184, Bengals 155
• First Downs: Bengals 9, Rams 8
• Time of Possession: Rams 16:10, Bengals 13:50

What do Jennifer Coolidge, Trevor Noah, Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicholas Braun have in common? They use Uber Eats (or at least they do for the sake of a Super Bowl ad).

The ad kicks off with Coolidge picking up aluminum foil from her grocery delivery and asks, “Wait, if it was ordered with Uber Eats does that mean, I can eats it?”

The viral TikTok sample from Capone’s “Oh No” begins to play, while those featured in the commercial eat diapers, dish washer liquid and other non-food items.

Watch the ad here:

Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III celebrates with teammates after catching an interception in the end zone.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw the game’s first interception on a deep ball to the end zone.

Cincy’s Jessie Bates III recorded the pick. The Bengals earned a taunting penalty after the play for excessively celebrating the interception in the end zone.

Bengals take over with two minutes left in the half. Rams still up 13-10.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.lies on the ground after an injury in the second quarter.

Odell Beckham Jr., one of the Rams’ top receiving targets, was helped off the field after suffering an apparent knee injury after dropping a pass.

It’s unclear what happened but OBJ looked to be in pain and stayed down after the play.

Beckham has been a key part of the Rams’ offensive attack tonight with 52 receiving yards.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins catches a touchdown pass thrown by running back Joe Mixon.

In need of a TD, the Bengals go into the bag with a trick play. Running back Joe Mixon tossed to a wide-open Tee Higgins in the back of the end zone for a 6-yard score, cutting the Rams’ lead to 13-10.

The play marks the fifth time a non-QB has thrown a touchdown in the Super Bowl, NBC broadcaster Al Michaels noted.

Traditional Bengals pass-thrower Joe Burrow was tremendous on the scoring drive, completing all five of his passes. Burrow so far has completed nine of 14 pass attempts, with 99 passing yards.

The pandemic made QR codes a necessity as restaurants opted for more social distance friendly ways to cater to patrons, but did you know you can apparently also put them on a television advertisem*nt for millions to watch during the Super Bowl?

Coinbase, an app to buy and sell cryptocurrencies, spent their Super Bowl ad money on a QR code moving across the screen.

The ad promoted a give away: Anyone who joins Coinbase between today and Feb. 15 will get $15 in BTC.

Ahead of the Super Bowl the cryptocurrency brokerage kept their anticipated ad under wraps, declining to comment.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp makes a touchdown catch over Eli Apple of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Touchdown Cooper Kupp!

Stafford connects with the wideout from 11 yards for the Rams’ second score of the night.

The Rams were unable to convert the extra point due to a fumbled snap by the kick holder.

BIG PLAY: Stafford hit OBJ on 3rd and 11 on a crossing route for 35 yards. Beckham is up to 52 yards receivingon the night.

Each team scored once in the first quarter of Super Bowl LVI, with Odell Beckham Jr.’s 17-yard TD reception giving the Rams an early 7-0 lead. The Bengals answered with a field goal roughly two minutes later.

Some key stats:

First Downs: Rams 3, Bengals 2

Time of Possession: Rams 9:48, Bengals 5:12

Total Plays: Rams 15, Bengals 12

Total Yards: Rams 62, Bengals 74

Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson reacts after kicking a field goal.

It had been a slow start for the Bengals. But with the ball on their own 43 yard line, quarterback Joe Burrow went deep to rookie sensation Ja’Marr Chase for 46 yards to bring the Bengals down to the Rams’ 11 yard line.

Cincy couldn’t go any further, however, and had to settle for a field goal. It’s 7-3 Rams as the first quarter winds down.

Actor Ewan McGregor, best known for his portrayal as Obi Wan Kenobi in “Star Wars,” starred in travel website Expedia’s Super Bowl advertisem*nt.

The ad starts off with McGregor indirectly referencing the marketing of “stuff,” and focuses on how experiences better.

“Do you think any of us will look back in our lives and regret the things we didn’t buy or the places we didn’t go?” McGregor asks.

Watch the ad here:

BMW’s Super Bowl advertisem*nt aired and it featured former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and actress Salma Hayek.

The ad played off of Greek mythology, Schwarzenegger playing Zeus and Hayek as the goddess Hera, promoting BMW’s latest electric car, the BMW iX.

Watch the the full ad here:

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. catches the first touchdown of the game.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford’s 17-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. opens the scoring.

After the extra point, the Rams lead 7-0 two-thirds through the first quarter.

The drive was also highlighted by a 3rd down, 20-yard completion from Stafford to his favorite target, wide receiver Cooper Kupp.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow holds the ball during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams.

On the first possession of the Super Bowl, the Rams picked up one first down before the drive stalled. The Bengals offense was equally ineffective, going for it on 4th down and failing to convert.

The Rams now have the ball.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson introduces the two teams before kick off.

Actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson just marked the start of Super Bowl LVI, introducing the Rams and the Bengals ahead of the start of the game.

The Bengals won the coin toss and deferred to the second half of the game.

“It is time for all of us here and millions around the world to bear witness to these incredible players. Who will leave every ounce of sweat, guts and pride and legacy on this hallow field because that’s what champions do. Ladies and gentlemen it is my honor to say, finally, it is time for the Super Bowl,” Johnson said.

Tennis great Billie Jean King does the coin toss prior to kick off.

Super Bowl LVI is officially underway!

The Bengals won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. The Rams will get the ball first.

From left, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar.

Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar will headline this year’s Super Bowl halftime show.

This is the first time that the Super Bowl halftime show will feature hip hop artists as the main act.

Ahead of their performance, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Mary J. Blige spoke at a news conference and said the time has come for hip hop to take center stage.

“This is what it’s about. This is what hip hop and the NFL is supposed to be about: representing about a change, about moving forward, so we appreciate the NFL for even entertaining hop hop because we know there are a lot of people who won’t [have] hip hop on stage,” Snoop Dogg said in part.

Dr. Dre echoed his comments, saying, “We’re gonna open more doors for hip hop artists in the future and making sure that the NFL understands this is what it should have been a long time ago. We’re gonna show exactly how professional we can be, how dope we can be on stage and how exciting we are going to be to the fans.”

He added, “This should have happened a long time ago as far as hip hop [goes]. Hip hop is the biggest genre of music on the planet right now so it’s crazy it took all of this and all of this time for us to be recognized. We’re going to do a fantastic show and we’re going to do it so big that they can’t deny us in the future.”

Read more here.

Washington Commanders jerseys are displayed at an event to unveil the NFL football team's new identity, on February 2, in Landover, Maryland.

It’s been two weeks since the last NFL football game, and quite a bit has transpired in that time.

Here’s a little recap to help get you caught up:

• The Washington football franchise announced its new team name, revealing that the squad will be known as the Washington Commanders moving forward.
• Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores filed a lawsuit against the NFL and four of its teams, alleging he was discriminated against while interviewing for a new role.
• Tom Brady retired unofficially, and then officially.
• Nine new NFL head coaches were hired, filling all vacancies going into next season.
• The NFL revealed the members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022, with former coach Dick Vermeil, offensive tackle Tony Boselli, and safety Leroy Butler headlining the group.

The SoFi Stadium begins to fill up with fans before Super Bowl LVI between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams on February 13, in Inglewood, California.

The Rams are about 5-point favorites in this game in an average of Vegas odds and statistical models. That’s a fairly close line, especially given that the game is taking place in the Rams home stadium.

The idea of a close Super Bowl would have been foreign to those who watchedthe game last century. The median final margin was 15.5 points. In fact, pretty much every Super Bowl of the 1990s was a blowout with a few exceptions.

This century, however, the margins have gotten tighter. The median final margin has been just 8 points — or within a touchdown and a two-point conversion.

Even for those without a rooting interest, we can all hope for a close game.

Quarterback Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals rolls out to pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 30, in Kansas City, Missouri.

It’s been less than two weeks since the world ushered in the Year of the Tiger, but quarterback Joe Burrow has been earning his stripes since long before the arrival of the Lunar New Year.

The Cincinnati signal-caller was drafted by the Bengals — of the Panthera Tigris species — with the NFL’s first overall pick in 2020.

And prior to prowling in his current habitat of Ohio, Burrow spent a pair of seasons in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as a member of the LSU — yep, you guessed it —Tigers.

In two years as an LSU Tiger, Burrow won 25 of his 28 games, accounted for 88 touchdowns, captured the Heisman Trophy and lead LSU to the 2019 National Championship.

And while his rookie year in the NFL was far less memorable — the Bengals went 2-7-1 in 2020 — Burrow’s second season has seen the young cat cut his teeth to the tune of 36 touchdowns and a birth in the biggest game the sport offers.

Still only 25 years old, Burrow has become the first quarterback and former No. 1 overall pick to reach the Super Bowl in his first two seasons.

And with just one more win this evening, Burrow will become the first quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy, a national title and a Super Bowl.

Such an achievement would further cement Burrow’s place in a pack of quality quarterbacks, and perhaps anoint him the most-decorated to do so in animal print.

Year of the Tiger, indeed.

Super Bowlcommercials are more expensive than ever. But for advertisers, they’re a better deal than ever.

NBC — which is broadcasting this year’s game — announced last week that it is sold out of Super Bowl ads, with multiple 30-second spots having sold for a record $7 million each.

Why would advertisers spend $7 million on one ad? Because it’s theSuper Bowl— a broadcast that is still watched by roughly 100 million viewers, even as ratings for some other big sporting events arefalling.

Nothing in the media world comes close to getting companies the exposure that the Super Bowl can. That’s increasingly important as the media landscape grows more fragmented, according to Patrick Crakes, a former Fox Sports executive turned media consultant.

“The fractionalization of attention because of streaming and social media makes the Super Bowl more important than ever,” Crakes told CNN Business. “If you’re in business with the NFL and you’re advertising during the Super Bowl, you’re a real player.”

Crakes added that there’s also examples of the big game “helping build brands.”

“Think about a company like GoDaddy. GoDaddy invested in the Super Bowl for years, did a lot of crazy things to get attention inside it, and it helped their business,” he said. “I think it’s a great investment, even at this price tag.”

Read more here.

“Who Dey” is the unofficial rallying cry of the Bengals, and it has been sung loudly and proudly by the Cincinnati faithful during the team’s surprising run to football’s biggest game.

The phrase actually predates the team, and serves as a reference to a local beer company— Hudepohl — that began brewing in Ohio in 1885. Booming-voiced beer vendors kicked off the craze as part of their marketing strategy when hocking their suds from inside the team’s stadium. Over time, “Hudy” turned to “HuDey” and when the team made a pair of Super Bowl runs in the 1980’s, “Who Dey” was dripping from the lips of beer-guzzling and non-beer-guzzling Bengals fans alike.

Now, three decades since the chant’s origin, and on the heels of three dramatic playoff wins, the “Who Dey”-fueled Bengals are back in the Super Bowl, hoping to quench a thirst that has eluded the city since the team’s establishment in 1967. Ahead of the Bengals Super Bowl appearance, Hudepohl made limited-release cans to mark the occassion:

Here’s a reminder of how the Bengals got to today’s big game:

Burrow, Cincinnati come up aces in win over Las Vegas: The Bengals bumped off the Las Vegas Raiders in the Wild Card Round, as upstart quarterback Joe Burrow announced his arrival, tossing for 244 yards and a pair of TD’s in his playoff debut. Cincinnati sealed the 26-19 win with an interception in the final minute, and the 2022 “Who Dey” chant began to froth.

Bengals beat Titans: McPherson Part 1: A week later excitement spilled over in Tennessee, as rookie kicker Evan McPherson drilled a game-winning 52-yard field goal against the AFC’s top-seeded Titans. The walk-off kick gave Cincinnati a 19-16 win and the first road playoff victory in franchise history. But McPherson, who scored 13 of the Bengals 19 points in the win, was not done.

Bengals beat Chief: McPherson Part 2: Facing the two-time defending conference champion Kansas City Chiefs eight days later, Cincinnati looked overmatched and outmanned for much of the first half, at one point falling behind 21-3.

But a stout Cincy defense kept Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes reigned in after intermission, while Burrow and the offense went to work, completing an 18-point comeback to knot the game at 21. After a 52-yard field from McPherson gave the Bengals their first lead of the game, Mahomes led the Chiefs on a 14-play, 6:23 drive, culminating with a last-second field goal by Harrison Butker to send the game into overtime.

When Kansas City won the overtime coin flip — just as they had the week prior in a thrilling win over Buffalo — even the most fervent Cincinnati supporter could feel Super Bowl dreams going flat alongside a pint of Hudepohl. However, this time around Mahomes was out of magic, as a deflected pass yielded an interception, giving the ball back to the Bengals in a next score wins situation. Enter McPherson, yet again.

Burrow promptly marched Cincinnati 42 yards, deep into Kansas City territory, setting up McPherson for his second playoff game-winner in as many weeks. The rookie from the University of Florida’s 31-yard kick sent Cincinnati to the Super Bowl, in the process sending Hudepohl into hustle mode, as the brewers quickly cooked up commemorative cans.

With one more win, and perhaps one more kick from McPherson, “Who Dey” nation’s hearts will be full, while the aforementioned cans will surely be empty.

Staying up late on Super Bowl Sunday to watch the game has notoriously left plenty of football fans needing a day to recover, win or lose.

For long-suffering supporters of the Cincinnati Bengals — who are playing in theirfirst title gamein more than 30 years — the opportunity for students and educators to sleep in has arrived as the Cincinnati Public Schools district has given the following Monday off.

“In honor of the Bengal’s first Super Bowl appearance since 1988, CPS will not have school on Monday, February 14!” the districttweeted. “Staff and students will have the day off to celebrate what we believe will be our city’s first-ever Super Bowl victory! #WhoDey”

Other districts in the area are also canceling classes, including the Ross Local School District in Butler County, according to Superintendent Chad Konkle.

Wanting the day off after the Super Bowl has become a recurring theme for sports fans, particularly in places starved for a title-winning team.

To help recuperate from the highs-and-lows experienced with each championship game,superfans,legislatorsandcompaniesalike have all called for the game to be moved to Saturday or to make the following Monday a holiday.

Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams passes the ball in the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium on January 30, in Inglewood, California.

Matthew Stafford’s journey to the Super Bowl has been a windy one, full of stops and starts emblematic of frustrating Los Angeles traffic. Perhaps it’s fitting, then, that the City of Angels serves not only as Stafford’s new football home, but also as host to the biggest game of the 34-year-old’s life.

From the Motor City to LA-LA Land

When Stafford takes his home SoFit Stadium field this afternoon, he’ll do so on the heels of his most successful season as pro, having led the Rams to a 12-5 regular-season record and a trio of postseason wins. This stands in stark contrast to Stafford’s first NFL stop — Detroit — where in 12 seasons as the Motor City quarterback he mostly idled and stalled, navigating the team to only two winning seasons and never once reaching the playoffs.

But a March trade to Los Angeles breathed new life into Stafford’s engine, who now sits one win away from finally achieving the crown jewel befitting a former No. 1 overall pick.

The Lions picked Stafford with the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, exactly 11 years prior to the Bengals doing the same with Joe Burrow, the man Stafford faces off against in Super Bowl LVI. In fact, tonight’s showdown between Stafford and Burrow marks just the second-ever Super Bowl meeting of former #1 picks at quarterback, with Peyton Manning (Denver Broncos) and Cam Newton (Charlotte Panthers) in 2016’s Super Bowl 50 being the other.

Much like in that contest, Super Bowl LVI will see an up-and-coming talent (Burrow, Newton) challenge a more-established, veteran (Stafford, Manning), with the sport’s most-prized possession — a championship ring — hanging in the balance.

A Teen Takes Texas by Storm

But despite a pro career that, prior to this season, has been void of any post-season success, Stafford has been showing out in big games since his teens.

As a 17-year-old senior in 2005, Stafford led Highland Park High School in Texas to an unblemished 15-0 record and the State Championship, in the process throwing for more than 4,000 yards and solidifying himself as the top pro-style quarterback in the nation.

Georgia on My Mind

One of the most highly-coveted recruits in the country, Stafford took his 6’2” frame and rocket arm to Athens, Georgia, where he starred for the Bulldogs in three seasons, throwing for 7,731 yards and tallying 57 total touchdowns. In three post-season bowl games (2006 vs. Virginia Tech, 2007 vs. Hawaii, 2008 vs. Michigan State) Stafford posted a perfect 3-0 record and twice picked up game MVP honors.

So, while today’s tilt in traffic-heavy LA may be a long way from football-crazed Texas, the hedges of Georgia, and a spin-out in the Motor City, Stafford has long proven his ability to keep his foot on the gas and deftly stay the course. And now, with just one more roadblock ahead, in the form of Burrow’s Bengals, the finish line is in sight.

We’re less than an hour from the start of Super Bowl LVI. Millions of people will tune in to watch the big game — here’s what we know about the viewers:

A lot of people will watch the game: I don’t think most of us realize how many people are going to tune into this game. We’ve already had north of 50 million watch the AFC and NFC Championship gamesat their peak. Last year, more than 90 millionwatched the Super Bowl, so 100 million viewers is very reachable. If we hit 100 million viewers, it will be three times as large as the audience for any non-NFL program in 2021.

A lot of people watch the Super Bowl for the commercials: One of my favorite questions about the Super Bowl was a 2020 SSRS poll asking why people watched it. Nearly three-fifths (58%) said it was for the game. Another 24% said it was mainly for the commercials, and 13% admitted it was for the halftime show. Given that at least 90 million people watch the Super Bowl, we’re talking about more than 30 million people who are watching the game for a reason mainly other than play on the field.

The postgame show this year is … more sports and will likely be well watched: One of the big advantages of a network hosting the Super Bowl is that it gets to showcase a television program after the game. Sometimes, a network will premiere a show — The Wonder Years and Family Guycome to mind. Last year, the CBS postgame show, The Equalizer, ended up rating in the top-10 primetime programsfor the entire year. This year, NBC isputting on the Olympics, which have so farstruggled in the ratings.

Kickoff is just about an hour away and the Democratic senator from New Jersey hopes you enjoy the game.

Read the tweets:

Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

Hosting a Super Bowl party is going to be more of a financial investment than in years past. (Don’t give up. Read on.)

“Food prices in general are significantly higher than they were pre-pandemic,” said Joseph Balagtas, associate professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University. He noted that the Consumer Price Index, which measures the average change in prices for consumer goods, shows an 11% increase for food and beverage from December 2019 to December 2021.

“Much of the rise in food prices has been driven by higher meat prices,” Balagtas added. “Things like chicken wings (and) ground beef for your Super Bowl chili are more expensive this year than they were a year ago.”

Even beer prices are slightly higher, thanks toincreased packaging costsand the same labor issues affecting much of the economy. (Is nothing sacred?)

Here are some budget-friendly options for your game-watching menu. Whether it’s creamy dips and chips, classic nachos or team-specific eats, we’ve got your spread covered. And if you really want to include meat, using it to flavor your food rather than being front and center is an affordable option.

• Nachos for everyone: With a platter of cheesy nachos as a blank canvas for all kinds of toppings, it’s easy to forego the meat without anyone noticing. Make one big sheet pan ofbroiler nachosfor the family or make individual plates and let everyone garnish their own as part of a DIY nacho bar.
• Buffalo beyond wings: Even if wings aren’t in the budget, you can indulge in that classic hot and tangy buffalo flavor as part of your food lineup. Buffalo sauce is an egalitarian sauce that is welcome in many party-friendly foods, so stir it in, drizzle it on, and smother everything if you want. Creamy Buffalo white bean dipcould be the full meal for a small gathering, thanks to the beans’ extra protein that will fill you up. For the air fryer fanatics,Buffalo cauliflower bitesget crispy at the edges from the high-powered convection motor of the stovetop fryer. Don’t have an air fryer? Don’t panic — you can roast cauliflowerin the oven too.
• Stretch the meat budget: If the defense is blitzing you on the idea of an all-vegetarian Super Bowl menu, a compromise is possible. Instead of a slow cooker full of mini meatballs or a tray of wings, pick dishes that have meat as an accent. Spaghetti is not typically a Super Bowl food, but when the Cincinnati Bengals are playing for the title, there’s bound to be Cincinnati chili involved. Make the dish a little more party-friendly and a little less prone to a lap-eating disaster bybaking it in muffin cups. Mix cooked spaghetti with just enoughCincinnati chiliand kidney beans to bind the noodles, then fill the tins. Bake, then top with shredded cheddar and chopped onions. For the Los Angeles Rams side of the food faceoff, celebrate the sprawling city’s culinary diversity with one of the city’s most beloved eats: the taco. Because each taco only needs a few spoonfuls of filling, you won’t need pounds of meat to make a meal.

The Los Angeles Rams or Cincinnati Bengals? No one knows what the outcome ofthe Super Bowlwill be. But one thing seems certain. No matter who wins, sports betting companies could score financial touchdowns.

This year stands to be the biggest one yet for the industry — and that’s because it’s the first Super Bowl since New York State legalized mobile sports betting.

But these betting operators may need to generate big bucks in New York to turn their fortunes around this year. So far in 2022, like the rest of the market most gambling stocks have not been winning propositions.

The popularity of legal sports gambling has ramped up since2018, when theSupreme Court ruled all states could set up sportsbooks. But New York is an important milestone because it’s a gigantic potential market. It’s the fourth most populous state in the country, and it is the biggest one to legalize sports gambling.

So far, six companies have been approved to set up online sportsbooks in the Empire State: DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, Rush Street Interactive’s BetRivers, MGM and PointsBet.

Though that’s good news, those companies’ stocks have been hit hard lately. That’s mainly due toconcerns about how much the companies are spendingon advertising to attract new customers. Casinos and other gambling stocks were 2021 losers, too, for that reason.

FanDuel ownerFlutter, which is also the parent of Paddy Power in the UK and Ireland, is down nearly 7% this year. So are shares ofMGM. The stocks ofDraftKings,Caesars andPointsBethave all plunged about 20% this month. AndRush Street Interactivehas plummeted 40%.

Read more here.

Marquise Copeland of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates getting an interception with teammates in the second quarter of the game against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at SoFi Stadium on January 17, in Inglewood, California.

Home cooking has been on the menu for the 2021 Rams who, counting this evening’s Super Bowl, will have played all but one of their playoff games on their own field, Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium.

To that point, Super Bowl LVI marks just the second time ever — but the second time in as many years — in which the host stadium also serves as the home field for one of the game’s participants. A year ago, newly-retired quarterback Tom Brady led the Buccaneers to victory at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

In finding their way home, the L.A. Rams had to win three straight playoff games, including a thrilling, walk-off victory over Brady and the aforementioned Bucs. Here’s a look at their past to the Super Bowl:

Rams Deck the Cards: L.A. opened the post-season against division-rival Arizona, grounding the Cardinals in a 34-11 Wild Card win on Jan. 17. In the victory, quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 13 of his 17 passes, tallying 202 yards and accounting for 3 touchdowns while the Rams defense kept Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray in check to the tune of just 143 total yards.

LA tops Tampa Bay: Six days later it was off to Florida for the Rams sole postseason road game. Facing the defending-champion Bucs in the Divisional Playoffs, L.A. watched as Brady and Tampa Bay rallied from a 27-3 deficit, scoring 24 unanswered points and tying the ball game with 42 left in regulation. But Stafford keyed a masterful drive with back-to-back passes to his favorite receiver — Cooper Kupp — setting up kicker Matt Gay for a walk-off 30-yard game-winning field as time expired.

The victory moved the Rams into the NFC Conference Championship Game and ultimately moved Brady into retirement.

Rams defeat 49ers and earn a Super Bowl home game: Back home once more to meet another division rival — this time the 49ers — it was the Rams dealing with a deficit, as L.A. trailed San Francisco by 10 heading into the final quarter. But once again Stafford was unphased by the moment, leading L.A. on three straight scoring drives as the Rams scored 13 unanswered points to take a 20-17 lead. An elite pass rush and interception with 1:09 to play sealed the win, sending LA back to the Super Bowl for the second time in four years.

In 2019, the Rams fell to the New England Patriots 13-3 in what still stands as the lowest-scoring Super Bowl of all time. But this time around, playing in their own stadium for the third time in four weeks, the Rams hope to schedule one more hometown event — a Super Bowl parade through the streets of L.A.

Move asideJoe Burrow, the true franchise star of the Cincinnati Bengals is rolling towardsSuper Bowl LVI— get ready for “The Cart.”

More commonly found in high-school classrooms, the Bengals’ three-tiered metal cart went viral in October after being wheeled out for media conferences.

The contraption was initially used by the Bengals to conduct interviews outdoors as a result of Covid-19 restrictions with journalists placing microphones, recorders or phones on the cart.

Like all true sporting comeback stories, the improvised mic stand was initially mocked before becoming a beloved in-joke of the Bengals team and fans.

It even has its ownunofficial Twitter account, further reinforcing affection for the cart by running a campaign of support for local Cincinnati charities in the run up to the Super Bowl on February 13.

And as the Bengals get ready to take on the Los Angeles Rams on their own turf — only the second time in NFL history a team has played the Super Bowl at their home stadium — the mic cart is having a bit of a Hollywood moment.

“Starting route to SoFI Stadium,” the GPS voiceover says, in avideoposted on the Bengals’ official Twitter account.

“The journey of a lifetime. Official: The Mic Cart is going to the Super Bowl,” the accompanying tweet read.

Read more here.

Helmets of the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals sit in front of the Lombardi Trophy on February 9, on the SoFi Stadium campus in Inglewood, California.

Put America’s most popular sporting event in its second-largest metropolitan area. Put the stadium’s home team in the game facing an opponent that has never won a championship.

What do you get? Unsurprisingly, you get recordSuper Bowl ticket prices.

SeatGeek said that the average price customers are paying for tickets as of Monday was $10,427. StubHub has an average of $9,800. The cheapest seats to Super Bowl LVI are being sold for about $7,000.

Ticket prices could go up in the coming days. A record number of tickets are expected to be sold for the big game between theLos Angeles Ramsand theCincinnati Bengalsat LA’s SoFi Stadium.

“This is LA. The entertainment capital of world, where prices for everything are through the roof. This is a perfect storm,” said Adam Budelli, spokesperson for StubHub.

The fact that LA fans won’t have to pay for travel and hotels is also going to drive up the price, said Budelli. And this year’s Super Bowl will be the first held in Los Angeles in 30 years.

“Proximity to the game for the teams’ fans is always a major factor in pricing,” he said.

About last year’s Super Bowl: A ticket to last year’s Super Bowl, held in Tampa, Florida, averaged $8,600 on SeatGeek. That game also included a home team: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But those tickets had a somewhat distorted price, as capacity was limited because of Covid precautions. The last pre-Covid Super Bowl, the 2020 game in Miami, averaged $8,550 a seat on StubHub.

Keep reading.

Crypto.com, a cryptocurrency exchange that has used actor Matt Damon in its commercials, confirmed to CNN Business that it will have an ad during the Super Bowl. The company wouldn't say if Damon will appear in the Super Bowl spot.

The priciest Super Bowl commercials willcost a record $7 millionthis year, according to NBC. To put that into terms many of the big game’s advertisers will understand, that’s about 160bitcoinor 2,200 ether.

Cryptocurrencies will be taking center stage during the ad breaks of Super Bowl LVI, even asbitcoin prices have tumbledmore than 35% from theirall-time highs just a few months ago.

FTX, a crypto exchange that recently raised fundingvaluing it at $32 billion, has had the now retired seven-time Super Bowl champTom Bradyappear in its previous spots and will run an ad during Sunday’s game. (Brady and his wife, Gisele Bündchen, alsoown a stake in FTX.)

The company wouldn’t disclose if Brady or any other celebrities would be in its ad, but it is promising togive away bitcoinsas part of the promotion.

Crypto.com, a cryptocurrency exchange that has used actor Matt Damon in its commercials, confirmed to CNN Business that it also will have an ad. The company wouldn’t say if Damon will appear in the Super Bowl spot.

Read more about this here.

A Los Angeles Rams fan watches players warm up before an NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Rams and the Arizona Cardinals on January 17 in Inglewood, California.

All attendees atSuper Bowl LVIwill be given KN95 masks and will be reminded to keep their face coverings up at all times unless drinking or eating, Los Angeles County of Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said last month.

How they’re preparing ahead of the Super Bowl: Fans who visited to theNFLExperience at the LA Convention Center, the NFL’s “interactive football theme park” that launched the week ahead of the Super Bowl, were expected to receive free take-home test kits “with messaging to test before the big game,” said Ferrer.

She said the NFL anticipates distributing over 60,000 test kits. The county had also planned to set up vaccination sites at the NFL Experience and anyone receiving first, second, or a booster dose of vaccine would be given free entry to the event.

Free Covid testing: The NFL will offer free rapid testing at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and the LA Convention Center “so that all attendees can test to know their status before they enter events” said Ferrer.

From left, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar.

Get ready for some California love.

Five of hip hop’s biggest names are hitting the stage Sunday for theSuper Bowl halftime show.

Who is performing: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar will headline what is sure to be a rousing rendition of their greatest hits. Ahead of their performance, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Mary J. Blige spoke at a news conference and said the time has come for hip hop to take center stage.

This is the first time that the Super Bowl halftime show will feature hip hop artists as the main act.

Buzz has been building around the performance ever since “Straight Outta Compton” director F. Gary Graydropped a teaser trailerfeaturing the artists.

How to watch: The Super Bowl is scheduled to take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, where the Los Angeles Rams will take on the Cincinnati Bengals. The game will be broadcast on NBC and Telemundo and streamed live on Peaco*ck.

The interior of SoFi Stadium is seen days before the Super Bowl NFL football game on February 8, in Inglewood, California

AtSuper Bowl LVI on Sunday, both teams will be playing with more than 1,000 tons hanging over their heads.

Suspended 122 feet above the field, the 120-yard long, oval-shapedInfinity Screenby Samsung is the largest videoboard in the history of sports, according to the Korean electronics giant. But while it’s been in place sincemid-2020, it won’t have had a showcase quite like the Super Bowl before.

The screen is a key feature inside SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, a massive, reportedly$5 billionfacility shared by two NFL teams — one of which happens to be playing in this weekend’s big game.

When the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals clash on Sunday, fans inside the 70,000-capacity arena will have access to all manner of game data as a result of the giant screen. Instant replays and close-ups, statistics, scores and interactive updates will all be programmed on the screen in panels ranging from20 to 40 feet high.

With 70,000 square feet of ultra-high-definition screen totaling 80 million pixels on its inside and outside surfaces, fans sitting lower down watch the screen inside the oval, while fans higher up will see the outside. Basically, there are no bad angles.

The display is making a lot of noise — literally. It’s fitted with the equivalent of 1,500 home theater speaker systems, meaning there’s no chance of missing a referee’s call.

Though SoFi stadium hosted its first game in September 2020, Covid protocols meant fans weren’t allowed inside until the followingApril. The Super Bowl represents something of a Hollywood premiere after a season of previews.

The stadium was designed byHKS, and Samsung worked with architectural drawings to optimize the spectator experience, says Mark Quiroz, vice president of marketing for Samsung Display Division. “The pure complexity of the building, from concept to design to construction was a challenging feat,” he told CNN.

“Timing was also a very real challenge, ensuring that the Infinity Screen was ready for the NFL season opening day, a day that cannot be moved,” he added. “This was also coupled with the early days of the pandemic, and the ability to put proper health protocols in place to protect the workers.”

The need to innovate was paramount, however.

Some sports fans argue — in many cases rightly — that they can see more of the game and receive more in-game analysis from the comfort of their homes, and teams are having to work harder than ever on their stadium experiences.

“There is always going to be competition, as the home viewing experience has become so good with larger and sharper screens, requiring venues and technology providers (to) raise the bar on what the live fan experience needs to become to continually attract fans and guests,” Quiroz said.