Rams thrived on adversity: NFL's Kupp

Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp says the adversity his Los Angeles Rams faced during the season drew the team together and served them well in the Super Bowl when they rallied for a late touchdown to beat the Cincinnati Bengals.

Rather than panic when they lost three consecutive games in November, a run that raised questions as to whether they could handle other play-off contenders, Kupp said the Rams - a team flush with big-name talent - came together.

"A lot of times you get into a place where that isn't the mentality, that's when the finger pointing starts happening and you feel like you got to start from scratch or re-write your process and change things," said Kupp.

"But we believed in what our process was: win or lose we are going to find ways to get better and stay the course."

That mentality was on full display on Sunday when the Rams, trailing 20-16, got the ball back with six minutes and 13 seconds left in regulation time and 79 yards to go.

Kupp came to the rescue for his team on that final drive as he converted a fourth down and caught four passes, including the game-winning touchdown with 85 seconds left in a 23-20 victory.

It was the second touchdown of the game for Kupp, who was often double-teamed by the Bengals secondary after an injury to fellow receiver Odell Beckham Jr in the first half.

"Football is a game of ebbs and flows, there's mountains and valleys through a full season, through a game, through a quarter, through a practice week," said Kupp.

"There's adversity, it's inevitable you are going to face it. The belief that we have is that you are a different team at the end of the season than when you start and we want the team to climb."

Rams head coach Sean McVay said Kupp, who during the regular