49Stafford kept his eyes in a position that tied
Cincinnati safety Vonn Bell to his area. The
move created a slim void of space for him to
sidearm a pass to Kupp, moving them closer
to the end zone and a victory that seemed
out of their reach just a few minutes before.
On second-and-goal with 1:25 remaining
in the fourth quarter, Stafford checked out
of a run call when he noticed the Bengals in
Cover 0. His relationship to Kupp now solidi-
fied, he and his top target knew what that
meant. Quick fade. Cornerback Eli Apple was
giving inside leverage. Kupp was going to
weave him a little bit, grabbing the ball with
his outside shoulder, falling to the ground.
Of course Donald would end it a few sec-
onds later, throwing Burrow down to the
turf one last time on fourth-and-1 as Joe Cool
heaved a desperation ball that fell incom-
plete. Of course he helped tie an NFL record
for team sacks (seven) in a Super Bowl. Of
course Miller’s two sacks in this game gave
him a share of the record for most (4½) by
an individual in Super Bowl history. Of
course the Rams became the first team in
Super Bowl history to average less than two
yards per rush and win the damn game.
Of course the postgame haze was a beau-
tiful mix of celebrity and intimacy. There was Kroenke
holding up the Lombardi with Prince Harry. There
were Anthony Anderson and Cedric the Entertainer
hollering at linebacker Ernest Jones in the victory tun-
nel. There was Whitworth, sending a text message a
few hours later: “I’m still considering [playing next
season]. But this is it. Haha.”
At last, a million factors—homegrown talent, stars
acquired, rosters melded, a coach who found (some)
balance, a pass rusher who said “come get me,” an all-
time great defender reaching a new peak and an indel-
ible season—coalesced. They were stitched together
by dozens of moments, binding everything, and every-
one, one last time. Call it fate or kismet, well planned
or well executed. But the football team that trains near
Hollywood had somehow delivered, in 365 days and
two weeks, the perfect script, the end one last wink
from the universe.which created a pipeline for Miller. Unblocked, he shot
into the backf ield. Burrow tried to bail to his right, but
Miller dragged him down by the waist.
Before Los Angeles took possession with 6:13 left in
the fourth quarter with the team down 20–16, running
back Cam Akers roused the offense on the sideline. “We
deserve to be champs!” he shouted. Somehow, depleted
and out of answers, the Rams discovered their efficiency
again. They picked up a fourth-and-1 conversion deep
in their own territory by blocking the play as if it were
a quarterback sneak up the middle. All the offensive
linemen cut and dived forward, but Stafford handed
the ball off to Kupp, who was moving across the line
in a jet-sweep motion.
Stafford’s throw on a second-and-7 from the 47-yard
line was so devious that his coaches hummed about it
amid their walk to the postgame party buses. To set
up what would become a game-winning touchdown,LOS ANGELES RAMSPUT ’ER THERE
After his clinching takedown of Burrow,
Donald gestured to the finger that
will soon bear a championship ring.JOH
N^ W
.^ M
CD
ON
OU
GH