It is one of the major meetings of American and world sport. An event that brings together more than 100 million Americans in front of their screens and that fans around the world are eagerly awaiting. On February 13, American Football aficionados will stop breathing – or rather put themselves in festive mode – to attend the Super Bowl, the prestigious final of the North American championship. And we now know the poster of this duel.
A week following sparkling conference semi-finals, the posters of the last four were of the same caliber, with uncertain epilogues until the end, which were written by the boot of the scorers.
Like the unpredictable scenario of last week, where he tipped the game in favor of his own at the last second of regulation time at the Tennessee Titans, Evan McPherson made the difference in favor of Cincinnati, by sending the ball between the opposing posts in extra time. His fourth shot on goal in as many attempts, in this match, to stay at 100% (11/11) during these playoffs, a record.
The feat achieved in the lair of the Kansas City Chiefs is all the more remarkable as the Ohio franchise lamented 18 points behind at the end of the second quarter. No one had ever managed to overcome such a large deficit in a conference final. A sort of tribute to Rafael Nadal’s comeback in the Australian Open final.
Revived, following quarterback Joe Burrow threw a first touchdown for Samaje Perine, one minute from the break, to bring the score to 21-10, the Bengals were perfect in defense in the second half, begging star Patrick Mahomes, intercepted once and “sacked” four times. The fate of the game was decided in overtime. Kansas City benefited from a favorable coin toss to inherit the first possession, a considerable advantage because in the event of a touchdown, the sudden death rule would have applied.
But what happened last Sunday, at the expense of the Buffalo Bills, beaten on a final pitch by Mahomes, was not repeated, the star quarterback continuing to miss everything he undertook, before being intercepted once more .
The disillusion is immense for Kansas City, which was aiming for a third consecutive final, following its coronation of 2020 once morest San Francisco and its failure last year once morest Tampa Bay and the legendary Tom Brady, who might well decide to retire soon. Announced on Saturday by many media, this information has not yet been confirmed by the person concerned, who has not come out of his silence.
A big rap concert at halftime
The indecision also took a long time to settle in Los Angeles, where the Rams, though trailing 17-7 at the start of the fourth quarter, also owed their salvation to their striker Matt Gay, author of the winning shot between the poles at one minute 46 seconds from the siren. Their defense was also imperial, muzzling quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, intercepted in the final seconds. Cooper Kupp managed his team’s two touchdowns, in the first and last quarters, on receiving two shots from quarterback Matthew Stafford, whose risk taking, sometimes very large, ended up paying off.
The receiver also broke an NFL record, with a 13th game at least 100 yards covered. He will be, once morest the Bengals engaged in the third final in their history (following those lost in 1982 and 1989 once morest the… 49ers) one of the main weapons of the Rams, who will aim for a second Super Bowl following that gleaned in 2000 – when the he team was in Saint-Louis – which stopped a black series of three finals lost in 1980, 2002, 2019.
But the Californian franchise will also have the advantage of playing at home. See you next February 13 for this American-style sports and show fireworks display. Rappers Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar are expected for the traditional break concert.
