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But in Super Bowls there are sometimes ignored participant who could make an impression. Let’s have a look at a couple of who may steal the highlight Sunday.
Eric Weddle, Rams security: Weddle has each motive to be ignored. He got here out of a two-year retirement to affix the Rams originally of the playoffs. Now, he’s one of the vital attention-grabbing and surprising storylines within the Super Bowl.
He was initially filling in for injured safeties, however the Rams felt ok about what they noticed from Weddle. Even although Taylor Rapp is now wholesome, the third-year security shall be backing up the 37-year previous Weddle Sunday.
Weddle has accomplished an distinctive job since returning. He turned more and more vital with every passing recreation. He had 4 tackles within the divisional spherical recreation towards the Arizona Cardinals, after which within the NFC championship, he managed 9 tackles.
For the Super Bowl, he’s one of the vital vital gamers on the Rams protection. Coach Sean McVay determined to present him the inexperienced dot in his helmet. That means he’s the one one to listen to the defensive calls, and it’s his job to line everybody up.
Evan McPherson, Bengals kicker: McPherson was the one place-kicker drafted in 2021. In the playoffs, he’s made 12 of 12 area objectives, lots of them in key, crucial components of video games. During the common season, he was 28 of 33.
He turns into extra precious if this Super Bowl is a low-scoring recreation. Naturally, if you go towards an offense pretty much as good because the Rams and a quarterback pretty much as good as Matthew Stafford, you’ll relatively have landing drives than area objectives. But Super Bowls might be tough. Look on the Rams of their Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots three years in the past — they mainly had no offense.
McPherson provides Bengals Coach Zac Taylor a way of consolation; if he will get in scoring place, he is aware of he can get factors.
Cam Akers, Rams working again: Akers had 625 yards as a rookie and this was alleged to be his breakout season in his second yr.. Unfortunately, he tore his Achilles tendon in July and missed all however one recreation within the common season.
The Rams have been cautious utilizing him within the playoffs. He had 32, 58 and 30 snaps in his three video games. That has restricted his manufacturing, which is why he has turned in solely 55, 48 and 48 yards within the three postseason outings.
The run recreation is significant to the Rams offense and with an additional bye week to prepare, it is going to be fascinating to see how McVay makes use of Akers. He is among the higher younger backs within the league, and perhaps this shall be his breakout recreation.
D.J. Reader, Bengals defensive deal with: Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard are Cincinnati’s main pass-rushers, and they’re each superb. They mixed for 21½ sacks through the common season. But Reader might be a significant a part of this recreation.
The inside of the Rams offensive line isn’t nice. During the playoffs, they’d issues with inside go rushers. Reader is probably not a sack man — he solely had two sacks through the common season — however he may put stress on Stafford and trigger issues. Clearly, he could have single blocking and might be a giant sleeper on this recreation.
Darious Williams, Rams cornerback: Williams strains up on the other facet of Ramsey, and he performed nicely sufficient this season that lots of people league assume he’ll get greater than $10 million a yr in free company. Though he didn’t get an interception this yr, he had 71 tackles.
The expectation is Ramsey will matchup a lot of the recreation with Chase. That places Williams in place to get loads of motion. Some of his protection stats haven’t been nice. He had 55 of 86 completions towards him, however he solely gave up three touchdowns. This shall be a very good showcase for him as he prepares to enter free company.
Tyler Boyd, Bengals extensive receiver: Even although he’s thought of one of many higher slot receivers within the recreation, Boyd has grow to be slightly little bit of forgotten man. That’s largely due to Chase and Tee Higgins. But if Burrow is searching for a fast choice within the face of the Rams’ unforgiving go rush, Boyd might be in for a giant Super Bowl.
During the common season, he was focused 94 occasions and caught 67 passes for 828 yards. But in three playoff video games, he solely has 10 catches, because the Bengals have been utilizing extra two- and three-tight finish units. If Bengals tight finish C.J. Uzomah, Boyd might be for much more seems to be, particularly towards the Rams’ cover-three protection. Don’t sleep on him.
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