Super Bowl LVI Tale of the Tape: Who has the edge at each position group?

Here's how the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams stack up against one another at each position ahead of Super Bowl LVI:

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It's crazy how things can change during an NFL season.

Matthew Stafford, in his first year with the Rams, was one of the NFL's most efficient quarterbacks and an early MVP candidate in September. But Stafford declined as the regular season progressed. He threw an NFL-high 17 interceptions, including three pick-6s.

Joe Burrow's campaign was the opposite of Stafford's. Burrow led the league in interceptions midway through the season but started 2022 as one of football's hottest players.

But both quarterbacks enter Super Bowl LVI trending up. While Stafford got back on track this postseason, Burrow picked up where he left off in the regular season.

Here are both passers' playoff stats this year (3 games):

Granted, Stafford shrugged off his mistakes and looks to be in sync with his weapons. But Burrow is a man on a mission. He's overcome every adversity thrown at him this postseason while finding ways to win games for Cincy.

Advantage: Bengals

Running backs

Los Angeles moved the ball well on the ground in the wild-card round but hasn't replicated that success since. The team is averaging only 2.9 yards per carry this postseason.

Akers, who tore his Achilles earlier this year, has mostly struggled this postseason despite leading the Rams with 151 yards; his two lost fumbles late in the divisional round almost cost L.A. the game. If Akers isn't the answer, Los Angeles can turn to Michel or Henderson, who hasn't played since December due to a knee injury but could return for the Super Bowl.

Things aren't much better for the Bengals, who've averaged only 3.8 yards per carry in the playoffs so far. Mixon had a career year with 1,205 rushing yards and 16 total touchdowns during the regular season, but he's averaged under four yards per carry in the postseason. Still, the Pro Bowl rusher has topped 100 scrimmage yards over his last two games; Cincy will need a similar contribution from him Sunday.

Expect both teams to try to establish the run early, as Mixon is one of the Bengals' best weapons and the Rams lead this postseason with 97 rushing attempts. Although neither club has caught fire on the ground in the playoffs, Cincy has the best running back of the group.

Advantage: Bengals

Receivers

If Super Bowl LVI doesn't live up to the hype, it sure won't be because of the pass-catchers. Both receiving corps have been a major reason for their respective team's success.

It's hard to imagine Cincinnati without Chase. He put on an absolute show during the regular season with 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns, and he already set the playoff record for the most rookie receiving yards (279). The Bengals also have another 1,000-yard receiver in Higgins.

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As good as Cincy's pass-catchers are, the Rams' receivers are even better. Kupp is enjoying a historic campaign - he captured the receiving triple crown and recently became the only player ever to notch 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in a season, including the playoffs. No team has come up with a game plan to stop him.

However, both clubs have questions at tight end, as Higbee and Uzomah are dealing with MCL sprains. They each still have a good shot at playing Sunday, though.

Los Angeles' receiving group did take a hit after Robert Woods suffered a year-ending injury midway through the campaign. But Beckham turned out to be a spectacular in-season acquisition. He's caught 19 passes for 236 yards and one touchdown through three games this postseason.

Advantage: Rams

Offensive line

Cincy's offensive line is its biggest concern. Burrow was sacked a league-high 51 times during the regular season, and things didn't get much better in the playoffs. The Tennessee Titans sacked him nine times, a single-game postseason record. Burrow was sacked only once in the AFC Championship Game, but that was mostly due to his ability to make jaw-dropping plays while running for his life.

On the other side, the Rams' offensive line ranked first in pass-block win rate - which measures how often an offense gives up pressure within 2.5 seconds of the snap - during the regular season. L.A. also has a clear advantage over Cincy in both postseason pass- and run-blocking, according to PFF.

Each line will face a tough front seven in Super Bowl LVI, but the Bengals haven't shown any signs they'll be able to hold their own against the Rams' disruptive pass rush.

Advantage: Rams

Front seven

No one wants to face the Rams' front seven right now. Los Angeles has arguably the most disruptive interior lineman of all time in Donald, whose Hall of Fame-caliber resume is only missing a championship ring. When opponents focus on containing him with double teams inside, Miller and Floyd get favorable matchups outside. Miller, in particular, has two sacks and four tackles for loss this postseason.

The Bengals' pass rush may not be as scary as the Rams' unit, but that doesn't mean Cincy can't wreak havoc up front. Just ask Patrick Mahomes, who was sacked four times in the AFC title game. Hendrickson and Hubbard each have at least 2.5 sacks over the past three contests.

Cincinnati has a clear edge at inside linebacker with Wilson and Pratt, but Los Angeles still wins the front-seven battle due to its star power.

Advantage: Rams

Secondary

What Cincinnati's secondary has done this postseason is pretty remarkable. The unit did enough to beat the Las Vegas Raiders before handing Ryan Tannehill one of the worst performances of his career. After the Bengals looked dead in the first half of the AFC title game, Cincy's secondary made Mahomes look like an average quarterback. The team's six interceptions this postseason lead the NFL by a significant margin.

Keep an eye on Hilton, who'll have to cover Kupp in the slot when the Bengals play man coverage. Hilton has been a key member of Cincy's defense, but he'll have his toughest challenge of the year Sunday.

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Things will also be fun for Ramsey, the NFL's top cornerback. Los Angeles plays a high percentage of zone coverage, but when Ramsey is lined up on the same side as Chase - or when L.A. goes man-to-man - we'll have another must-watch cornerback-receiver matchup.

Expectations were high for the Rams' secondary before the season due to its talent. However, the unit lacked consistency for most of the campaign before stepping up in the playoffs, allowing only 220.7 passing yards per game. Weddle coming out of retirement to join the team for the postseason also gave this group an extra spark.

Both secondaries weren't flawless during the regular season, but they figured out most of their issues in January. The Bengals' defensive backs might be hotter right now, but the Rams' unit is more talented. This is a close call, but L.A. takes it.

Advantage: Rams

Special teams

McPherson has been one of the main characters in the Bengals' Super Bowl run. The rookie kicker hit the walk-off game-winning field goal to send both the Titans and Kansas City Chiefs home, and he's now 12-for-12 on postseason field-goal attempts.

Gay, who was more consistent than McPherson during the regular season, has already missed two kicks in the playoffs. Though the Rams have no big reason to be worried about their Pro Bowl kicker, McPherson has the edge as the hottest kicker in football right now.

L.A.'s special teams unit struggled on kick returns during the regular season but has seemingly figured out those issues. Special teams is always unpredictable, but McPherson is the ultimate X-factor here.

Advantage: Bengals

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This is one of the most interesting matchups in Super Bowl LVI.

Zac Taylor began the season on the hot seat but quickly changed that narrative, guiding Cincy to its first AFC North title since 2015. He has an opportunity to prove the student has become the master Feb. 13 after working on Sean McVay's staff from 2017-18 before moving to Cincinnati.

Meanwhile, McVay has already established himself as one of the NFL's top coaches and one of the game's brightest offensive minds at age 36. The 2017 Coach of the Year is headed to his second Super Bowl appearance after losing to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII.

The Bengals' coaching staff has done a tremendous job this postseason, especially defensively. However, the Rams have a significant coaching advantage with McVay, whose staff is also more decorated than Taylor's.

Advantage: Rams

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