INGLEWOOD, CA - The 2021 NFL season has officially come to an end.
Super Bowl LVI concluded one of the most thrilling postseasons in NFL history with a dramatic game-winning drive by the Los Angeles Rams, who defeated the Cinderella story Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 to win their second Super Bowl in franchise history.
The Super Bowl also provided answers to several pre-game storylines, whether the Bengals would win their very first championship, whether Rams superstar Aaron Donald would complete his legacy with a ring, etc.
But while many questions were answered, more would arise once the game clock ran out. The Rams and Bengals are heading in very different directions; the champions were solely built for the present and had capitalized on their best chance, while the runner-ups were built for the future but happened to make a deep run much earlier than expected.
So how did this game affect both teams moving forward?
Los Angeles Rams: Title Defense?
Although the Los Angeles Rams have become one of the most successful teams in the NFL since hiring coaching prodigy Sean McVay, the 2021 season was THE year for them to bring a Lombardi Trophy to their new city (the franchise had relocated from St. Louis to Los Angeles in 2016).
General manager Les Snead had thrown the team's entire draft capital into trade packages to acquire several key pieces over the past few years. Most notably, they sacrificed two first-round picks in a 2020-midseason trade to acquire All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Jacksonville Jaguars, and two more first-rounders (and starting QB Jared Goff, who they drafted first overall in 2016) to bring in veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions.
Although not involving first-round picks (as they had almost none at this point), the Rams used more of their draft capital in a midseason trade this year, trading a second and third-round pick for this year's draft to add Von Miller from the Denver Broncos, one of the best pass rushers of the past decade.
Snead was also no stranger to signing free agents to improve the club, as he had signed players such as cornerback Marcus Peters, offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth (the latter of whom was on this year's championship team), and safety Eric Weddle (who was initially signed in 2019 but came out of retirement before this year's playoffs to have a second stint with the team) to notable contracts.
Like the Miller trade, another key free agent signing came during the season when Snead signed the controversial but immensely talented Odell Beckham Jr. to a contract that would last the remainder of the 2021 season, after Beckham was released by the Cleveland Browns.
Although these moves put the Rams' long-term future in serious danger, it would all be worth it if they won a Super Bowl. 2021 was the best year to win it all, due to many players being in the final year of their contracts, some contemplating retirement, the Super Bowl being in their home stadium, and most importantly, a championship would prove they belonged in their new city.
Needless to say, they accomplished that goal on Sunday. The Rams' "all-in" year was a glorious success that was rewarded with football immortality. But why stop at just one title?
Although 2021 was their best chance, not much is stopping the Rams from a title defense attempt in 2022. Many of their core players are still under contract, and while they are currently over the salary cap, the league-wide cap is set to increase. This gives the Rams more flexibility, and they can save up on cap space by converting several 2022 salaries into signing bonuses, such as Stafford, Ramsey, Leonard Floyd, and Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp.
With the salary cap largely a non-issue, the Rams can deal with a major priority this offseason: signing Von Miller. The former MVP of Super Bowl 50 had begun to show his age in recent seasons with Denver, but was outstanding in Los Angeles; it was almost as if he returned to his prime years. Bringing him back would greatly aid the team's already fearsome pass rush.
Unfortunately, Odell Beckham Jr. might not be a viable option for the Rams. Although he was a major component of their offense this year, he tragically tore his ACL during Super Bowl LVI and likely will miss the entire 2022 season. Beckham is also a free agent, and because he had already torn his ACL before, this could severely hurt his production in the future.
But the biggest of the Rams' worries is the future of defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Being one of only three players in NFL history to win Defensive Player of the Year three times (the others being J.J. Watt and the legendary Lawrence Taylor), Donald is widely considered to be the best defensive player of his generation and possibly the best defensive lineman since Reggie White. However, needing only a Super Bowl ring on a resume that would near-guarantee him entry to the Hall of Fame, Donald shockingly told NBC pregame analyst Rodney Harrison that he would likely retire if the Rams won. Needless to say, many are awaiting Donald's decision as he earns his ring.
Losing a generational defender in his prime would be a huge blow to the Rams' chances to repeat. But if Donald decides to run it back, Los Angeles is in prime position to make another run. They are still very much in "win now" mode, and would love to capitalize as many times as possible when their championship window is still open.
Cincinnati Bengals: Second Chance?
Nobody expected the Cincinnati Bengals to compete for a title this soon. They had several pieces in place to compete in the future, with a generational talent in quarterback Joe Burrow, a talented group of wide receivers that included Burrow's LSU teammate in Ja'Maar Chase, and an improving defense that was headlined by big free agent acquisition Trey Hendrickson (notoriously penny-pinching owner Mike Brown opened the vault for the breakout defensive lineman).
But the main reason why the Bengals weren't taken seriously entering the year was because of their offensive line. It wasn't just bad, it was awful. Burrow had his rookie season cut short and his knee nearly destroyed thanks to their incompetence. As such, many expected the Bengals to draft offensive lineman Penei Sewell with the fifth overall pick in 2021, but Brown salivated at the idea of reuniting his QB with his former teammate (who had won awards and broken records with Burrow throwing him the ball) and chose to select Chase. It was a choice that at the time was extremely controversial, but ended up being a no-brainer now.
Chase wasn't just great, he was Randy Moss great. Although Burrow was still hampered by his abysmal O-line, the rookie wide receiver was so quick and so tricky that he was almost always open for his QB, regardless of the little time Burrow needed to throw. As such, Chase broke even more records, including the most receiving yards in a single game by a rookie, and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Burrow, who looked promising in his handful of games as a rookie, looked every bit like his Heisman Trophy-winning self in his first full season. He set nearly every Bengals QB record in the book, and was complimented by Chase, Tee Higgins, C.J. Uzomah, and multi-purpose running back Joe Mixon.
The Bengals' other major issue was their defense, which was among the worst in the NFL the past two seasons. But defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo rebuilt the defense around a core group of players, that consisted of Hendrickson, fellow defensive linemen Sam Hubbard and Larry Ogunjobi, linebacker Logan Wilson, safeties Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates, and cornerback Mike Hilton. Although the defense ranked in the middle of the pack, they often delivered in clutch situations (with the exception of Super Bowl LVI, thanks to the implosion of cornerback Eli Apple) and are young and hungry. Even rookie kicker Evan McPherson paid dividends, as he nailed high-pressure kicks with amazing consistency.
With all of these advantages, the Bengals captured lightning in a bottle and shocked the world with their first winning season, playoff appearance, and division title since 2015, and their first Super Bowl appearance since 1988. Despite the bitter loss in the big game, Cincinnati has joined the long list of future AFC contenders with their Cinderella run with a steadily improving team.
Best of all for the Bengals, they are built for future playoff runs given their unprecedented success this year. For once, Brown's cheapness has done the team some good as they have the third-highest amount of cap space of any team in the NFL. With such a young and promising team, Brown should strike when the iron is hot and open the vault, most notably giving Bates his long-overdue contract extension, and even more importantly, sign some offensive linemen to protect Burrow. The Bengals also have great draft capital, so they can build from within as well (preferably drafting offensive linemen).
So, what is the biggest obstacle for the Bengals? Unfortunately, it is a big one.
The AFC will be stacked for years to come. Burrow isn't the only young superstar QB in the AFC; he has to deal with the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, and current division rival Lamar Jackson. Although many are saying the Bengals "will be back", that is far from a guarantee. Take Dan Marino, for example: one of the greatest pure passers in NFL history was supposed to "be back" after losing in the Super Bowl in his second season, but thanks to the likes of Jim Kelly and John Elway, he never got a second chance.
Time will tell if the Bengals wasted their shot or if they have multiple ones. But one thing is certain: their future is brighter than ever.
How Will Both Teams Fare in 2022?
Both teams should be contenders next season if they play their cards right. A Super Bowl rematch would be unlikely, but it is possible. The Rams have an easier road to the Super Bowl due to the NFC severely weakening, thanks to the retirement of Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers likely leaving the Green Bay Packers (on top of many free agents leaving the team, the Packers' championship window has slammed shut). However, they don't have much more chances to capitalize beyond 2022, especially if Aaron Donald decides to call it a career.
The Bengals have the much tougher road to the Super Bowl thanks to the sheer amount of young talent coming out of the AFC. However, because of their own young talent, they will have more chances to make a deep playoff run, as long as the offensive line is rebuilt.
Both teams, however, should have everyone's attention next season.
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