Who Won the 2022 NFL Super Bowl? Complete Game Recap and Highlights

I still remember sitting on my couch with my buddies, surrounded by empty chip bags and soda cans, watching the 2022 Super Bowl unfold. We'd been debating all season about whether Matthew Stafford could finally get his ring or if Joe Burrow would complete his Cinderella story. Let me walk you through exactly how the Los Angeles Rams secured that 23-20 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals - not just the final score, but the crucial moments that decided the championship.

First, you've got to understand the context leading into this game. The Rams had gone all-in during the offseason, trading for Stafford and adding Von Miller midseason. Meanwhile, Burrow was coming off that devastating knee injury from the previous season and had taken the league by storm. Personally, I thought the Rams' experience would give them the edge, but my friend Mark kept insisting Burrow was destined to win it all. The game started exactly how I expected - Stafford connecting with Odell Beckham Jr. for the first touchdown. But then Beckham went down with that knee injury in the second quarter, and suddenly everything changed. I remember turning to Mark and saying this could completely shift the momentum.

Here's where the game really turned into a chess match. Without Beckham, the Rams had to rely heavily on Cooper Kupp, which everyone knew was coming but couldn't stop. The Bengals adjusted by dropping more players into coverage, but Stafford just kept finding ways to get Kupp the ball. Meanwhile, Aaron Donald was absolutely terrorizing the Bengals' offensive line. I've never seen a defensive player take over a game like that - he was in Burrow's face on nearly every passing down. The third quarter was particularly brutal - three consecutive possessions ending in punts for both teams. My buddy Steve actually fell asleep during this stretch, which we still give him grief about.

The fourth quarter is where championship games are won, and this was no exception. With the Rams down 20-16 and the clock ticking away, they put together that legendary 15-play, 79-yard drive that consumed over five minutes. Every single person in my living room was on their feet when Stafford connected with Kupp for that final touchdown with just 1:25 left on the clock. What many people forget is that the Rams actually scored too early - they left Burrow just enough time to potentially mount a comeback. But then on Cincinnati's final drive, Donald broke through for that game-sealing pressure on third down, and the confetti started falling.

Looking back, what strikes me is how this game perfectly illustrated the resilience required to win championships. The Rams lost Beckham early, struggled to establish the run game, and faced a determined Bengals team that refused to quit. It reminds me of what one player said after a tough loss earlier in the season: "That's just the situation now we're with the team. Yes, we're gonna be down but with so many games to come, you could never cut us out of this scenario. As much as we want to cry, there's nothing that's gonna change the outcome of this game." That same mentality applied here - both teams faced adversity, but the Rams found a way to overcome it when it mattered most.

The final numbers tell part of the story - Stafford throwing for 283 yards and 3 touchdowns, Kupp with 8 catches for 92 yards and 2 scores, Donald with 2 sacks and 4 quarterback hits. But what the stats don't show is the emotional rollercoaster of that final drive, the pressure of the moment, and the sheer will it took for the Rams to finish the job. Personally, I think this was one of the most dramatic Super Bowls in recent memory, even if the final score doesn't suggest it. The game had everything - star power, unexpected twists, and a finish that kept us debating long after the trophy presentation.

So when people ask who won the 2022 NFL Super Bowl, the simple answer is the Los Angeles Rams. But the real story is how they won - through resilience, strategic adjustments, and players rising to the occasion when everything was on the line. That championship drive in the fourth quarter will be studied for years to come, a masterclass in clutch performance under pressure. It's why we watch sports - for those moments where greatness reveals itself, and for stories that remind us why no lead is ever truly safe until the clock hits zero.