For the second straight year, the Super Bowl will be hosted by one of its participants.
The Los Angeles Rams outlasted the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 on Sunday, giving the team the NFC crown and setting up a title showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Rams scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to take a lead they would never surrender. Aaron Donald’s pressure of Jimmy Garoppolo and the quarterback’s subsequent interception sealed the result for Los Angeles, which snapped a six-game losing streak to Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers.
The result puts Sean McVay’s crew back in the Super Bowl for the first time in 4 years. Los Angeles embodied an all-in mentality, acquiring quarterback Matthew Stafford last offseason while adding outside linebacker Von Miller and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. during the season. Stafford won his first playoff game two weeks ago in the wild-card round, and now he and his teammates will be staying home for the Super Bowl.
Here’s a look back at how it all unfolded.
49ers-Rams final score: Los Angeles wins 20-17 to head to Super Bowl
Aaron Donald’s pressure made all the difference.
The perennial All-Pro didn’t notch a sack, but he reached Jimmy Garoppolo and forced the quarterback into a game-sealing interception by linebacker Travin Howard.
The Rams will get to stay home and face the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl 56 after all.