Skill player stuff...
QB- Could make a case for Even match, but Burrow less likely to make the mistake or miss a pass. Stafford been iffy on the long throws a few times but also nailed a few in big spots through the Playoffs. If I need 6" on a sneak, Burrow has the edge. Stafford struggled with those against Cards and came up short last night too. He's not comfortable doing it obviously
RB- I'll give to the Rams on depth of the pairing of Akers and Michel, though Mixon is a great dual threat and has gotten stronger as the game wore on in the last 2. Akers had those 2 costly fumbles in Tampa but looks like the staff had full confidence against the Niners
WR- Strengths for both teams, Cupp & OBJ vs Chase & Higgins is a wash talent wise. Both teams may be missing their top TE. Uzomah looked to have a serious knee injury. I never heard what happened to Higbee other than he wasn't returning to the game last night. Van Jefferson has really disappeared for the Rams, just 9 targets in the Playoffs for 5 catches. Tyler Boyd gives Bengals edge in the 3rd option.
Special Teams- Big factor in the game IMO.... Both Punters have seemed good, but the kicking game favors the Bengals right now as McPherson has been perfect and Gay has missed a FG in each of last 2 games, including coming up dead short from 47 in Tampa. Gay had been solid all year though.
Because it’s Chinese New Years tomorrow 
No one seems to be giving the Bengals secondary any credit. Easily the best coverage unit of the playoffs.
The Rams are gonna want to run the ball often, this will keep Burrow off the field, and the ball away from that secondary.
All 3 of their opponents challenged their secondary in the playoffs.
The Raiders averaged 5.74 ypa when passing, 7.36 ypa when rushing. 54 passes to 14 rushes was idiotic, borderline criminal. Carr held to a 69.2 rating.
The Titans averaged 9.17 ypa when passing, but got picked 3 times. Vrabel tried to run more than the other playoff teams, 27 attempts for 140. Tannehill rating was 66.7.
KC averaged 5.79 per carry. Ran 24 times to Mahomes 39 pass attempts. Mahomes threw 2 pics and was stone walled in the 2H. Mahomes rating 91.3.
Teams will always turn to their qb's to win. Perhaps the Bengals pass D is best equipped to challenge them.
That's pretty well known, so it'll be about how fast Burrow gets the ball out (like against KC). How well he moves forward in the pocket (depending on where Miller and Donald are coming from). If they keep Miller and Donald on the edges Burrow can step forward and make plays quickly. If they bring them from the same side, I think that causes more problems. One goes upfield and other darts in underneath. Screen game could be huge for Bengals too if those rushers are too overzealous to get in the backfield.
How about coaching?
Seems like McVay hasn't met a lead he can't blow. Those reviews were awful, he seemed to be in full panic mode as I heard after the game he had only challenged a few calls all season yet went for both of those that were obviously not getting overturned. Spots are hard enough to get moved, let alone on a big pile. The second one was awful too as the secondary angles clearly showed elbow down. Rams definitely have the names on the sidelines and in the booth but it seems like they still aren't always on the same page. I can't say there is an edge to the young Bengals staff though, hard to say what the differences in preparation will be like.
I give a profound edge in coaching to McVay.
For starters in his 5th year as a HC, he has never had a losing record, his team has made the playoffs 4 out of 5 times, and is now in its 2nd Super Bowl. Most of those stats were compiled with Goff as his QB.
Here are his teams records:
2017 11-5
2018 13-3
2019 9-7
2020 10-6
2021 12-5
The Rams were 4-12 the year before he took over.
Rams are 6-3 in playoff games under McVay.
Regarding the 2 challenges yesterday, those decisions normally come from the booth. Were they horrible decisions? Of course. But who made those bad decisions? I don't know what the guys in the booth were telling McVay, but until someone from the organization states that it was solely McVays decision against advice from the booth, then I can't lay the blame on him.
Lastly, McVay has been here before. That counts for something.
My initial lean was Bengals, but the more I type the more I am swaying myself to the Rams 
this, especially the last part, IF it was something his decision then yeah he’s a dumbass, but I too believe these decisions are made by someone else that radio down to him to challenge or not
Fox showed McVay holding the challenge flag while staring and pointing at the scoreboard replay while talking to that sideline official who stands by the coach. I believe it was the Stafford sneak. I fully believe he made that call to challenge it
That's where I am for a starting point.
It was overwhelmingly obvious that Shanahan was hiding Garoppolo at all costs. He tried to run plenty, but the Rams stopped the run. I noticed Eric Weddle playing near the line of scrimmage a ton. Could you believe that he led the Rams with 9 tackles? One for a loss on a 3rd n 1. They held the Niners to 2.5 ypr, including Deebo. They sold out to stop the run.
It's hard to say how well Mixon does against em, but if he gets stone walled at least they have Burrow who seems to take on any kind of challenge, and can take the top off a defense. If they put Wedle near the line of scrimmage Burrow will torch them.
I haven't been a fan of the Bengals run D all year. The biggest friend they have had is when opposing teams abandon the run.
McVay is a run first guy at heart, there's no reason for a steady diet of Michel and Akers imo. We'll see.
Vs the pass, the Bengals don't blitz much at all. And that's a good way to play Stafford. Vs KC they were willing to rush 3 and drop 8. Stafford isn't fleet of foot, any sacks will be coverage sacks.
Vs the pass, the Rams will see a much different offense than a Garoppolo led Niners O. For the most part the Rams had great coverage but didn't tackle well as the Niner wr's got massive yac for most of the game.
We heard a lot about the Bengals running more empty sets than anyone before yesterday's game. Well after getting sacked 9 times vs the Titans, they left a back in the backfield(sometimes 2) on shotgun snaps vs KC.
......
makes me sad, no good chinese down here.......plus up there you can order a side order of blow with your pu pu platter
@yaongingy
Somebody who watched the same games I did....Chiefs got greedy tried to KO
the Bengals at halftime...Sloppy tackling on the screen to Perine..made it 21-10..
A backup WR for the Rams had a ball clang off his hands 14-7...halftime..
No Niners go up 10-7...Niners led by 10 into the 4th...ran outta gas late..13-0 in the 4th...
Wished the Niners had one more TO ,so the Rams could win by 6....
@bigred84
Mahomes says he was gassed in the 2H. So would I if ran 30 yards in circles every time I dropped back to pass. It's his own fault. Always trying to make the highlight reel play rather than being decisive. He's gifted but selfish. No shame in QB'ing the Chiefs to 4 straight AFC championship games though. He just needs to know when to quit on a play.
The Buccaneers didn't make it. The chap with that info last year played for them, still rostererd.
I know, sucks. Flip a coin this time? 
well fuck, Super Bowl ruined!
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