Conference Championship Record: 1-1 (Correct: Rams Incorrect: Chiefs)
Overall Playoff Record: 8-4
Cincinnati Bengals over Los Angeles Rams: In terms of real football matchups, the Rams have a significant advantage in most areas. Sean McVay knows everything his former understudy Zac Taylor is going to do on offense, Matthew Stafford is a more seasoned quarterback than Joe Burrow, the Rams offense has done a much better job of turning their redzone trips into touchdowns this postseason, Aaron Donald and Von Miller are in a great spot to feast against a shaky Bengals offensive line that surrendered 9 sacks to the Titans in the Divisional Round and finally, the game is being played in their damn home stadium. So why the hell am I picking the Bengals? Very simple: I'm a superstitious asshole that believes they're a team of destiny.
How the Bengals have been able to grind out the 3 victories that brought them to the Super Bowl is incredible. They've never been in complete control or even looked particularly impressive in any of these games, but they've played smart, taken advantage of their opponents' mistakes and showed a ton of a resiliency along the way. Heart, grit and discipline is a trio that can you take a long way in the NFL, particularly when it's paired with the talent that Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Joe Mixon and several of the other top Bengals possess and these largely mental intangibles is the lone area where the Bengals have a notable advantage over the Rams. Ultimately, I believe those qualities will put them in a position to pull off the upset on Sunday night and if they manage to do it, they will've capped off the most unlikely title run since the Ravens raised the Lombardi in 2012.
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