-
Tory BarronESPN Editor
The Los Angeles Rams went all in this season. Now, Matthew Stafford, Odell Beckham Jr. & Co. find themselves on the brink of a Super Bowl ring after defeating Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 in the NFC title game.
The Niners presented a daunting obstacle, considering the Rams had lost to them six straight times prior to Sunday’s game. But in the renewed rivals’ third meeting of the season, the Rams would not be thwarted.
For only the second time ever, two former No. 1 overall picks will face off in the Super Bowl (Peyton Manning and Cam Newton in 2016) as Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals travel to L.A.
The sports world reacted to the “Rams to the Super Bowl” news accordingly:
Congratulations Brudda!!!! The Story of you staring you is Amazing to watch #GetThatRing @obj #Example
— Jarvis Juice Landry (@God_Son80) January 31, 2022
@obj going to the SuperBowl!!! Did y’all see the game he just had! EARNED NOT GIVEN!!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 31, 2022
Hey, that Rams QB looks familiar! pic.twitter.com/z31Z8iOrry
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) January 31, 2022
The Super Bowl is a home game.
Let’s go Rams!!! pic.twitter.com/qnkU1HKmzS
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) January 31, 2022
Say it with us now…
GO!
RAMS!
GO!GO!
RAMS!
GO! #RamsHouse— LA Kings (@LAKings) January 31, 2022
obj 🙌🏽🙌🏽
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) January 31, 2022
Here’s how the Rams secured the NFC title and the one remaining spot in the Super Bowl:
Game-sealing interception? Game-sealing interception. The Rams are headed to the Super Bowl (well, they’re not actually going anywhere), after pressure from Aaron Donald on Garoppolo eventually resulted in a Travin Howard pick.
THE PRESSURE! THE PICK!
📺 @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/dqUUexZEIn
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 31, 2022
Two Matt Gay field goals later and the Rams secured a three-point lead with less than two minutes to play in regulation.
Matt Gay gives LA the lead with 1:46 remaining. #NFLPlayoffs
📺: #SFvsLAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/vywGt5Kgfz pic.twitter.com/7ovFuYqKSj— NFL (@NFL) January 31, 2022
And just like that we have ourselves a three-point game in the fourth quarter with the NFC title on the line. Stafford found Kupp (who else?) in the end zone for 11 yards and the TD.
Stafford finds @CooperKupp in the endzone for the second time today! 🙌
📺 @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/zdZH99l218
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 31, 2022
The Niners extended their lead with a 16-yard TD on a Jimmy G-George Kittle connection. Because when a trip to the Super Bowl is on the line, you play the hits.
GEORGE. FREAKING. KITTLE.#SFvsLAR on FOX/49ers App pic.twitter.com/WQBiv8WPTu
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 31, 2022
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Robbie Gould made the field goal. The 39-year-old stays perfect in the postseason with a 38-yard FG to give San Francisco the 10-7 edge at the half.
Of equal importance is this video of Gould remaining unbothered by potential obstacles in the way of his practice kicks.
Nothing will stop @RobbieGould09 getting his practice kicks in.
📺: #SFvsLAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/vywGt5Kgfz pic.twitter.com/SD70QeMAMv— NFL (@NFL) January 31, 2022
Hey, he’s got a job to do.
Eleven touchdowns in the past eleven games? Deebo Samuel knows a thing or two about consistency. The Niners’ star answered back with a 44-yard TD of his own to even things up at 7-7.
Anyone still asking 𝒘𝒉𝒐?
That’s ALL-PRO DEEBO#SFvsLAR on FOX/49ers App pic.twitter.com/lkPnzye3M6— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 31, 2022
If you guessed Stafford would find Cooper Kupp in the end zone to start the NFC title game scoring, you’ve clearly been paying attention this season … and you were right. Including the playoffs, Kupp now has 14 games with a receiving TD this season. That ties Randy Moss in 2007 for third most games with a receiving TD in a season all-time.
The first touchdown of the NFC Championship goes to @CooperKupp!
📺 @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/zIdx5tA2Wk
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 31, 2022
