Now that we know that Super Bowl LVI will be played between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals, fans are starting to wonder which player will lead their team to a win.
The following are some of the key players who are in the running to be the big game’s MVP, according to the trends by the experts at the NFL betting lines.
Matthew Stafford, LA Rams QB
With the Rams favorite to win the Super Bowl 2022, it’s no real surprise to find that their quarterback is listed as the current favorite to win the MVP award. Matthew Stafford started his career as the first pick in the 2009 draft, joining the Detroit Lions. Since then, he’s had an excellent career at the Lions before joining the Rams in 2021 and excelling in the playoffs to be considered one of the season’s best signings.
This will be his first Super Bowl appearance, although he played in the Pro Bowl 2014. A look over Stafford’s career statistics reveals how good he is, as he holds various NFL records. For example, he is the fastest player to reach 20,000, 30,000, and 40,000 passing yards in his career. He also became the first QB to complete at least 60% of all passes in every game of a season.
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals QB
If the Bengals are to win the Super Bowl in the SoFi Stadium this year, it’s highly likely that this is due to their quarterback having an outstanding performance. Joe Burrow joined the Bengals in the 2020 draft, as the overall number one pick and came back from injury in his rookie season to help the team to their first win in the playoffs for three decades.
Burrow already holds the Bengals’ record in areas such as passing completion percentage and passing yards in an individual game.
They came into the playoffs on the back of the longest drought in North American pro sports but his 244 passing yards for two touchdowns secured the Bengals’ first playoff win 1990, as they beat the Las Vegas Raiders 26-19. He has now led them to their first Super Bowl since 1988.
Cooper Kupp, LA Rams Wide Receiver
Cooper Kupp has moved into third place on the list of players expected to win the MVP award in the Super Bowl. He has been with the Rams since joining them in the 2017 draft, following a college career at Eastern Washington.
The 2021 season saw Kupp rack up impressive statistics that put him at the top of the NFL in several categories. His 145 catches, 16 touchdowns, and 1,947 yards were all unbeatable, leading to him being unanimously selected for the All-Pro team. It’s been called one of the best-ever NFL seasons for a wide receiver and he could finish it perfectly on February 13.
Aaron Donald, LA Rams Defensive Tackle
Aaron Donald of the Rams is one of the best defensive players of his generation, if not of all time. He joined the LA team in the 2014 draft and quickly won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award and has taken part in eight Pro Bowls.
Donald was caught up in controversy due to rough play in the regular season and then again in the playoffs. His reputation for sacks and tackles means that he is almost certain to be in the thick of the action once the game starts.
Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver
The second Bengals player on our list is a wide receiver who must already be dreaming of grabbing the winning touchdown. Ja’Marr Chase only joined the team as part of the 2021 draft, as the fifth overall pick.
His rookie season saw him play well, earning records like the most receiving yards by a rookie in a single game, which at 266 and is also a franchise record. Chase got named in the Pro Bowl team after setting the Bengals’ record for most receiving yards in a season. If the team from Cincinnati is to win the Super Bowl, they need a huge performance from him.
Odell Beckham Jr, LA Rams Wide Receiver
Ranked among the most popular players in the NFL, Odell Beckham Jr joined the New York Giants in the 2014 draft before spending a couple of seasons at the Cleveland Browns and then joining the Rams in 2021. As an NFL rookie he attracted a lot of attention for his great numbers and for his famous one-handed catch that some people call the greatest catch ever made.
He has continued to break records since then and first got to the playoffs in 2016 following a 100-reception season. The 2021 playoffs saw him get his first postseason TD and he played an important part in the win against the San Francisco 49ers, with 9 catches totaling 113 yards.
