INGLEWOOD, Calif. — On the primary play of the second half in Super Bowl 2022 on Sunday, Tee Higgins hauled in a go from Joe Burrow on the 35-yard line and accomplished a catch-and-run for a 75-yard landing hookup. How did Higgins shed the protection of Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey? It certain appeared as if Higgins grabbed Ramsey’s facemask and yanked him to the bottom.
There was no flag.
“The crew didn’t see any contact that warranted go interference,’’ referee Ron Tolbert stated after the sport. “It was a contested catch, and the crew didn’t see any contact that rose to the extent of go interference.”
Requested particularly concerning the facemask non-call, Tolbert stated “Our rule is that if there’s a seize and twist and switch, there’s sufficient for a foul. If there’s only a rake throughout the facemask, the place there’s not a twist and switch even when there’s a seize, there is no such thing as a foul. The officers didn’t see any contact that rose to the extent of a foul for a 15-yard facemask.”
Rams DT Aaron Donald advised NBC’s Rodney Harrison that if he wins a Tremendous Bowl he would possibly step away from the sport. “He’s huge on legacy, however he additionally advised me this: If he wins a Tremendous Bowl, there’s a robust risk that he can stroll away from the sport and retire,’’ Harrison stated. Donald, 30, simply accomplished his eighth NFL season.
“I’m simply within the second proper now and having fun with this right this moment, a few days, it’s a blessing,’’ Donald stated after the sport, when requested concerning the risk he retires.
Rams security Eric Weddle got here out of retirement for this playoff run and stated he suffered a torn pectoral muscle within the recreation.
Any participant getting known as for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty dangers the ire of his head coach. When that participant isn’t even in uniform? Oy vey. That’s what occurred late within the second quarter after Bengals security Jessie Bates intercepted Matthew Stafford in the long run zone. Bengals cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, inactive for the sport, got here off the bench to be a part of the celebration, which isn’t allowed. He was flagged for a 10-yard penalty to push the Bengals again to their 10-yard line.
Joe Mixon took a pitchout within the second quarter and tossed a 6-yard landing go to Higgins to carry the Bengals inside 13-10. It was the primary go try of Mixon’s five-year NFL profession. … That is the primary championship for the Rams since 1999, when their “Best Present on Turf’’ assault outlasted the Titans in Tremendous Bowl XXXIV.
Sean McVay turns into the youngest head coach to ever win a Tremendous Bowl. He’s 36 years and 22 days previous. Mike Tomlin was 36 years, 10 months and 18 days previous when the Steelers gained Tremendous Bowl XLIII.
The Bengals gained two video games in 2019 and solely 4 in 2020, making this postseason run a case of accelerated progress. Earlier than this season, that they had not gained a playoff recreation in 32 years. This was their third look in a Tremendous Bowl — their first since 1988 — and they’re now 0-3.
Through the pregame warm-ups, Rams WR Odell Beckham Jr. gave his gloves to North and Saint West, the youngsters of Kanye West. Beckham damage his knee and was pressured out of the sport within the second quarter.
