Rams beat Bengals in thriller to win Super Bowl on home field

INGLEWOOD, California: The Los Angeles Rams rallied late to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 on Sunday (Feb 14) to deliver a Hollywood ending to the Super Bowl, securing the franchise's first championship since returning to the West Coast six years ago.

With his back against the wall, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford kept his poise to engineer a 15-play drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown pass to Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp with 1:25 left to play.

Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald wrapped up Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow on the final play to seal the win under the lights of the team's home field.

"I'm just so happy," an emotional Donald said after the game.

"I wanted this so bad. I dreamed this, man. I feel amazing. It's surreal, look at this," he said as confetti rained down on the veteran lineman and his teammates.

The Rams were forced to dig deep after they lost star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr to a knee injury in the second quarter and fell behind 20-13 in the third.

The ability to overcome setbacks is what makes the team special, head coach Sean McVay told reporters.

"I can't say enough about the resilience of this team," McVay said.

"Guys stepped up when they had to. That's what makes this team great. That's why they are world champs."

With the victory, the Rams joined last year's Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the only teams to win a Super Bowl on their home field.

The franchise's only other Super Bowl championship came 22 years ago when they were based in St Louis. The win also helps ease the pain of finishing runner-up to New England three years ago.

The Rams drew first blood on Sunday when Beckham made a leaping grab in the end zone for a 7-0 lead to ignite the blue-and-gold clad Rams fans on a hot day in