Super Bowl LVI's big story – Officiating.

Cincinnati Bengals win Super Bowl LVI!!! ...uhh…not quite.  

After 58 minutes of letting the teams slug it out, officials threw back-to-back-to-back questionable flags, giving the Los Angeles Rams two fresh sets of downs, the last of which was on Cincinnati’s 1-yard line. Rams QB Matthew Stafford found receiver Cooper Kupp, this year’s MVP, for the go-ahead touchdown and the win, 23-20.

But wait. On the first play of the second half the officials missed a facemask penalty on Cincinnati’s wide receiver Tee Higgins, allowing him an easy score to give Cincinnati the lead. Were the officials trying to make up for one bad call with a series of others? Questionable calls marred an otherwise exciting edge-of-your seat game.

In a season plagued with officiating snafus, the Super Bowl ends up the same. The noticeable lack of penalties for most of the game was refreshing to watch, allowing an unimpeded ebb and flow of momentum. To have the last two minutes so marred it changed the outcome of the contest is deplorable. The goal of all officiating is don’t be the story; don’t let a bad call be what they talk about. Officiating any sport is tough; on the biggest sports stage in the world, it is a huge challenge.  Nonetheless NFL officiating needs an overhaul.  

 The Rams’ plan worked. Trade for talent – including the Denver Broncos sole defensive standout, Von Miller – and build a one-season team to win the Super Bowl. But they paid a heavy price. The Rams traded away their drafts for the next several years and it is notoriously hard to keep a Super Bowl team together.  

The NFL’s lack of minorities in head coaching jobs has been an ongoing controversy. On Super Bowl Sunday, President Joe Biden called out the disparity and told the NFL they must do better.

The Super Bowl half time show, a tribute to Dr. Dre, is being hailed as one of the best ever. Dre’s protégés, including Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar, honored the master. Eminem took a knee in solidarity with NFL players supporting Black Lives Matter. Hip-hop and rap are a comfortable fit in the NFL.  

This was likely announcer Al Michaels’ final broadcast for NBC. Michaels’ smooth, urbane style has made him one of the NFL’s best – and most loved – announcers. Michaels, 77, is being wooed by Amazon, which will have a Thursday night game next year. It was also Michele Tafoya’s last game. NBC parted ways with their stellar sideline reporter.

The Rams become the second team in Super Bowl history to win the big one in their home stadium. Tampa Bay did it last year.  

Billie Jean King, the tennis superstar, tossed the coin to start the game. Going into Super Bowl LVI, the team winning the coin toss had lost the previous seven times. Make that eight. Cincinnati won the toss.  

– john van becay, Aurora