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Super Bowl 56 Instant Reaction: 5 takeaways from Rams-Bengals

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INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Super Bowl 56 was a blast. The Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals put on a show fitting of La La Land. Here are our five instant takeaways as yet another NFL champion has been crowned.

5 Takeaways from Super Bowl 56: Rams’ stars shine brightest at biggest time

The Los Angeles Rams are world champions because they have Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford, and Aaron Donald.

Both players made massive, season-changing, and career-defining plays late in the Rams’ 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday.

Stafford directed a go-ahead touchdown drive late in regulation, completing 7 of 11 passes for 57 yards and the deciding score.

And Donald got to Joe Burrow on fourth down, forcing a game-sealing incompletion. Donald finished what might be his final NFL game (he’s floated retirement) with 4 tackles, 2 sacks, and that very important hurry.

Rams forget, then remember they have Cooper Kupp

The Rams’ fourth-quarter touchdown drive was a legacy moment for Matthew Stafford. But it was also a come-to-his senses moment for Sean McVay. Down two of his top three wide receivers, he didn’t do the obvious thing: Throw the ball to Cooper Kupp on every down.

Kupp was largely a non-factor for the game’s first 50 or so minutes.

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Bengals’ offensive line struggles too much to overcome against Rams in Super Bowl 56

But on that final drive, he was everywhere. His jet sweep on fourth-and-1 went for 7. Then, he caught an absolute laser from Stafford on a crossing route that went for 22 yards.

Kupp then capped the biggest drive of his career by hanging onto a 1-yard touchdown pass from Stafford.

Ben Skowronek is no Odell Beckham Jr.

In the first half, Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a significant injury to the same knee that he shredded less than two years ago. He went to the locker room and did not return.

The Rams’ offense missed him. Already without Robert Woods (who suffered a knee injury of his own earlier this season), the loss of Beckham put great strain on Sean McVay’s scheme.

McVay had to turn to the likes of Ben Skowronek, a rookie who caught just 11 passes on 20 targets during the regular season. Matthew Stafford still went to him early in the second half — but with disastrous results. Skowronek bobbled a pass and caused it to be intercepted by Chidobe Awuzie.

The Bengals’ offensive line could only hang on for so long

The biggest mismatch on paper was between the Bengals’ offensive line (which had already given up 9 sacks in a playoff game this year) and the Rams’ defensive line (which has two future Hall of Famers in Aaron Donald and Von Miller).

But for much of the first half, the Bengals schemed and played well enough to keep Joe Burrow upright. That script flipped after halftime, however, when the Rams destroyed the Bengals up front. LA sacked Burrow 5 times in the third quarter alone, keeping the game close despite their offensive implosion.

Another sack early in the fourth quarter was the scariest of the bunch. Burrow got rolled up and immediately grabbed his right knee in pain. He managed to avoid major injury, though.

Jalen Ramsey’s no-good, very bad day

The Bengals are too young to know things that the elders of football think they should know, namely: Never throw at Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

Clearly, Burrow doesn’t believe in that philosophy. He’s got ultimate confidence in his receivers — and with Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd, and Tee Higgins, who could blame him?

Burrow was rewarded for his faith in his teammates — at Ramsey’s expense. He connected with Chase for 46 yards down the right sideline in the first half, and then with Higgins for 75 and a touchdown down the left sideline to start the second. Ramsey was in coverage both times.





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Taylor Swift Is Shown Chugging a Beer on the Jumbotron at Super Bowl 58

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Global superstar Taylor Swift made it to the big game to support her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce. In the second quarter, it was evident that she was having a good time at the Super Bowl after taking a 12-hour flight from Tokyo the night prior.

Taylor Swift Seen Chugging Beer at Super Bowl

Swift’s attendance has been highly anticipated, as many fans questioned whether she would be able to make it to the big game since she had been in Japan until Saturday for her Eras Tour.

Sure enough, she made it to the Super Bowl and was seen making a grand entrance alongside Blake Lively and Ice Spice.

Swift made it back to the States with plenty of time to make it to Allegiant Stadium to support Kelce. After a leg of her Eras Tour, where she performed several nights in Japan, the singer appeared to let loose.

In a box full of friends, Swift was shown chugging a beer with Ashley Avignone. She was shown on the jumbotron and slammed her cup down after she finished her beer.

There was a mix of cheers and boos as Swift was shown on the big screen, and a long pass to Mecole Hardman was the only highlight of the first half for Swift and her friends. The 49ers led the Chiefs, 10-0, late in the second quarter.

On social media, Swift garnered plenty of support from NFL fans.

If you’re hating on her you can kick rocks man she’s the best,” one user posted on X

“The one thing I learned this season is that she is actually fun,” another said. 

“Booing Taylor Swift chugging a beer is so soft. She’s just one of us now and I respect it ,” another posted. 

At the time of the beer chugging, Kelce, Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, has had one catch for a single yard. It came on the first possession, which ended up being a three-and-out. The Kansas City Chiefs hadn’t done much otherwise.

They did have a deep pass play to Hardman, which put them in the red zone, but Isiah Pacheco fumbled on the very next play — one that Kelce was surprisingly on the sideline for.

Swift and Kelce have garnered much media attention as their romance has taken off throughout this NFL season.

Swift was able to support her boyfriend at many of his games throughout the final stretch of the season, as her Eras Tour was on a break. But starting on Feb. 7, she went back on the road.

MORE: NFL World Reacts to Unbelievable Super Bowl Trick Play

Despite performing in Tokyo the night before the Super Bowl, she was able to make it in time to support her boyfriend due to the time difference and is having a good time doing so.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find the PFN Fantasy Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.  Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Check out the PFN Fantasy Podcast on our Fantasy YouTube channel.





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What Happened to the 49ers Linebacker?

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The San Francisco 49ers sustained a massive blow during the second quarter of Super Bowl 58, as linebacker Dre Greenlaw left the game on a medical cart.

CBS Sports confirmed that the veteran Greenlaw suffered an Achilles tear, ruling him out for the rest of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

What Happened to Dre Greenlaw?

The outside linebacker, who had already been battling past injuries to his hamstrings and calves, left with what appeared to be a leg injury.

And somehow, his left leg looked like it buckled as he tried to trot onto the field with the Niners’ defense.

Greenlaw clutched his left leg in agony before being helped off the field.

CBS Sports sideline reporter Evan Washburn reported that the outside linebacker left with what was ruled as a lower leg injury. He was later determined to sustain an Achilles injury.

Greenlaw was declared out for the rest of the game.

Greenlaw Carted Off in Passenger Seat

Even more noticeable was where Greenlaw sat on the cart.

He ended up leaving not in the back of the medical vehicle but ended up riding shotgun with his leg injury.

One would think that with an injury like an Achilles ailment, medical officials would try to make the player as comfortable as possible before they leave. It wasn’t the case here.

MORE: San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart

Regardless, Greenlaw was replaced by Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles for the rest of the first half. Greenlaw became the most significant injury of the game.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find the PFN Fantasy Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.  Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Check out the PFN Fantasy Podcast on our Fantasy YouTube channel.





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NFL World Reacts to Epic Super Bowl Intro From CBS

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Super Bowl 58 is here and it’s going to be exciting. The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs are facing off in the final game of 2023.

CBS is broadcasting the game and the opening was nothing short of amazing. How is the NFL world reacting to the electric Super Bowl-opening video?

Epic CBS Super Bowl Intro Garners Reaction From NFL World

The video, which spanned four minutes and 19 seconds, featured players from both teams talking about the big game and what it means to them. It also featured their families talking about their journeys to this point.

“Amazing intro! Reminds me of my dad! Bravo on the intro!,” one NFL fan said on X (formerly known as Twitter)

Additionally, Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” played in the background, giving it a near-movie feel. “This was incredible.,” another person said on X. “And so, the @49ers and @Chiefs face that final curtain,” CBS Sports said.

The 49ers finished the regular season as the top seed in the NFC with a 12-5 record. After their first-round bye, they defeated both the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions to earn their trip to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl. Both of their victories came in comeback fashion, including an NFC Championship-record 17-point comeback.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, had a more uphill battle. Entering the playoffs as the AFC’s third seed, they finished the regular season with an 11-6 record. In the playoffs, they defeated the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens to punch their ticket.

Super Bowl 58 is a re-match of Super Bowl 54 when the Chiefs defeated the 49ers 31-24. The win was the first in Patrick Mahomes career, as he also won Super Bowl MVP. Four years later, the Chiefs have made three more and won another. For the 49ers, this is their first trip back to the big game since.

The game kicked off at 6:30 p.m. ET with the 49ers receiving the opening kick. In addition to being broadcast on CBS, the game is also being streamed on Paramount+.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find the PFN Fantasy Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.  Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Check out the PFN Fantasy Podcast on our Fantasy YouTube channel.





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