Super Bowl LVI - Rams vs. Bengals

[RaynorShyne]

Hard to get "up" for the football side of this one.   I have a modicum of interest in seeing Stafford do well:  At this point of his career, this game will go far in the public perception of his legacy - either prove him redeemed in LA, or a continuing reason for the Lion's struggle.
I have no interest in the Bengals at all.   
If it's a normal (of late) super bowl, the first half will be sloppy, and hopefully will be a good 2nd half game.   It'll be interesting to see how the NFL sells the periphery.
Rams 31-28

[mcmillenandwife]

I don't know what to think. Lately, I simply can't escape the specter of the NFL potentially scripting aspects of games and WWF-ing their way to close finishes to improve ratings and justify the multi-multi-multi billion dollar TV contracts. 

Especially now that I understand doing so is 100% legal. Still blows my mind. 

I don't trust what I see, but I will watch tonight in hopes that it will be a "real" game. Like Lucy and Charlie Brown with the football. 

The Rams have a better team. Not a great team, but a better team. It's hard not to root for Stafford after all the suffering he endured in Detroit, never complaining, always soldiering on.

And despite being division rivals, it's hard not to root for Cinci. I've hated the "thuggery" of the Marvin Lewis era with guys like Burfect and Pacman and the "me-me-me" of Chad Johnson. I couldn't STAND Sam Wyche and Boomer. Carl Pickens was a douchebag (not really,  but I couldn't stand him). The Icky Shuffle was dumb AF. "Who Dey" is dumb AF. Carlson Palmer was a p#$$y.  I couldn't stand Ken Anderson, either, for no good reason other than he was a Bengal. And Cris Collinsworth? Don't get me started...

And yet... I really LIKE this Bengals team. Sorry, I know many Steelers fans will recoil at this. But Joe Burrow is flippin' AMAZING. Best young QB in football, already has future HOFer written all over him if he can stay healthy. Coolest cucumber on the shelf. Dude absolutely rocks. The rest of the team? Gritty. Workmanlike. Kind of nondescript, despite their rookie of the year Ja’Marr Chase at WR. 

So... I hope Cinci wins. I'll be happy for Stafford if he gets a ring. But it's a QB's league and Joe Burrow is the $#!t. I think he gives Cinci the edge, despite LA having a better overall team.

No prediction. If recent history is any indicator, the script includes a comeback by one team and a last-second (or overtime) victory. We'll see.

[mcmillenandwife]

Rock... you had one job. 

And you announced the Bengals...  as the champions of the NFC. 

[mcmillenandwife]

Refs don't call shit until the last 2 minutes. 4-5 penalties on that Rams 15-play drive.

WWF NFL. Scripted nonsense. Legal. But bullshit.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Agreed, glad Stafford got the ring, but the NFL and refs don’t even hide it anymore.

Didn’t catch it all but the NFL is now tied to a legal betting house?

Way to go, Rog! Don’t tarnish the shield.

[Chucktownsteeler]

It looks like all you need to do is watch the last 4 or 5 minutes of NFL games.