Celebrating the Rams - LA's Top 5 Plays of the 2021 NFL Season

By H. Janér

Photo Credit: Mark Brown/Getty Images

They did it, ladies and gentlemen. The Rams won Super Bowl 56. 
After a year full of adversities and questions ranging from "Is Matthew Stafford good enough to lead a team?" to "Will the Rams recover from this slump?" the Rams overcame all odds and beat out the Bengals in a nail-biting Super Bowl.
The game was a shootout in the fourth quarter, eventually being decided by one of the greatest ever to do it, superstar Defensive Tackle Aaron Donald. However, Matthew Stafford and superstar Cooper Kupp's late haul put the Rams in that position by taking the lead with 1:25 to go. These two monumental plays gave the Rams their second Super Bowl in team history, which is why today, I will be celebrating the LA Rams by showing their top 5 plays of the 2021-2022 NFL season.
 
5. Ernest Jones picks off Kyler Murray at the goal line – Week 14, LAR 30 – 23 AZ
After being beaten down by Arizona 37-20 in Week 4, the Rams were out for blood in their Week 14 rematch, seeking to set the record straight. After allowing 3 points in their opening drive, Arizona was in the redzone, seeking to gain a 10-point early lead over the Rams, which would not have looked pretty for them. However, Kyler Murray throws a tipped pass towards the endzone that linebacker Ernest Jones intercepted, returning it to the Arizona 40 yard line and setting up a touchdown drive for LA.

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4. Stafford throws a game-winning touchdown to OBJ with 1 minute left against the Ravens – Week 17, LAR 20 – 19 BAL
After an incredibly messy game from both the Rams and their QB, Matthew Stafford, the Rams found themselves down 19-14, heading into the end of the fourth with no answers to an injury-riddled Ravens team led by backup QB Tyler Huntley. However, Stafford and the Rams offense pulled it together and slowly but surely built a 3:30 minute drive sealed off by a 4th down catch by OBJ, which led to a touchdown by OBJ as well. With 1:00 left in the game, the Ravens got the ball back, and Huntley was sacked by Von Miller, which ended the game.
 
3. Aaron Donald gets to Jimmy Garoppolo for the pressure before he throws a game-losing interception to Travin Howard – NFC Championship, LAR 20 – 17 S.F.
After choking a 17-0 lead in Sean McVay's first loss after leading at half in an O.T. nail-biter in week 18, the Rams faced the Niners for the third time in the season. LA had been clowned all season long by Niners fans because Kyle Shanahan was 6-0 against McVay in the previous three seasons. However, their most important meeting was in the NFC Championship on the big stage. 
It didn't matter who owned the other, as this was the biggest meeting of them all. The Rams weren't playing good defense against the Niners. However, this changed very quickly. After many stops and sacks, the Rams found themselves on top 20-17. This was the time to see if the Rams defense's momentum had carried on, and it did. After being flagged a delay of game, the Niners found themselves in a hole, in 3rd and 14. It all came down to this, and superstar DT Aaron Donald got to Garoppolo, forcing him to throw it away and causing it to be intercepted by Travin Howard, taking LA to the Super Bowl.

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2. Cooper Kupp catches a game-clinching touchdown from Stafford to win the Super Bowl – Super Bowl, LAR 23 – 20 CIN
This one is interchangeable with the number one spot, as both essentially won LA the Super Bowl. 
After somewhat of a stale offensive game for LA, Stafford and the Rams found themselves in a position to essentially seal the game, barring a touchdown and tie with a field goal. The game had been riddled with flags and controversial calls, including one which gifted the Bengals a touchdown. This drive was no different, as when they got to the redzone, three flags were called on the Bengals defense, which helped the Rams get into an ideal position. After that, Stafford saw his favourite superstar WR Cooper Kupp one-on-one and threw a pass to him, resulting in a touchdown for LA.

Photo Credit: Mark Rourke/AP Images

1. Aaron Donald hits Joe Burrow for the Super Bowl-winning play – Super Bowl, LAR 23 – 20 CIN
After the play I ranked number 2 occurred, the Bengals were still in a decent place to win the game. However, there was increasing fear that Joe Burrow would be let down by his offensive line when it mattered most.
The Bengals' offensive line had been atrocious this season, allowing 51 sacks to Burrow and losing multiple games because of that. They allowed a playoff record of 9 sacks in the divisional round, which Burrow overcame somehow and won the game. The Rams were following in similar directions, with seven sacks in the game and most in the second half. As Burrow and the Bengals marched downfield, Aaron Donald, the Rams' superstar DT stopped them in 3rd and 1, leading to a game-deciding 4th and 1. Aaron showed up once again on 4th, getting to Burrow and forcing him to throw away to get the Rams' second Super Bowl win and adding to his illustrious collection of accolades.

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