INTERNATIONAL: The Los Angeles Rams rallied late to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 on Sunday to deliver a Hollywood ending to the Super Bowl.
Quarterback Joe Burrow, the team's cool-under-pressure leader, said he was disappointed the Bengals did not score in their final possession.
"Obviously it stings," Burrow told reporters after the game. "But we had a great year. It didn't come out this last game the way we wanted. We still have something to celebrate."
Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald wrapped up Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow on the final play to seal the win under the lights of the team's home field.
"I'm just so happy," an emotional Donald said after the game.
"I wanted this so bad. I dreamed this, man. I feel amazing. It's surreal, look at this," he said as confetti rained down on the veteran lineman and his teammates.
The Rams were forced to dig deep after they lost star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a knee injury in the second quarter and fell behind 20-13 in the third.
The ability to overcome setbacks is what makes the team special, head coach Sean McVay told reporters.
The Rams drew first blood on Sunday when Beckham made a leaping grab in the end zone for a 7-0 lead to ignite the blue-and-gold clad Rams fans on a hot day in Inglewood.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said he was frustrated to lose knowing his team had an opportunity to tie or take the lead near the end.
"We were moving the ball. We were going to try to go win it," Taylor said. "(To work) for the last six months, play 21 games, then you lose the Super Bowl - it's not a lot of fun."
Taylor and Burrow both said the players would learn from the experience and use the loss as motivation to finally deliver Cincinnati a football championship.
The second half could not have started any better for the Bengals as Burrow uncorked a 75-yard touchdown strike to Higgins on the first offensive play after the break.
Higgins appeared to pull Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey down by the face mask before making the catch but no flag was thrown and the Bengals took their first lead of the game, 17-13.
The action played out in front of a full house of more than 70,000 fans and over 100 million on T:V. Last year's Super Bowl in Tampa was limited to 25,000 spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
