How the Bengals can beat the Rams in Super Bowl…

(Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports)

When opposing defenses have sent four or fewer pass-rushers against the Rams, however, Stafford has completed 370 of 557 passes for 4,443 yards, 31 touchdowns, 18 interceptions, and a passer rating of 95.8. Stafford has been sacked 27 times and pressured 155 times when he’s not blitzed, and he’s been sacked eight times and pressured 48 times when he is. Stafford can be forced to hang onto the ball too long against more complex coverages, and this leads to negative plays in all kinds of ways.

Lou Anarumo already knows this, and he knows that when his defense blitzes, the results have been less than optimal. But when sending four or fewer pass-rushers this season, the Bengals have allowed 406 catches on a league-high 608 attempts for 4362 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.

Stafford has thrown two interceptions against three or fewer pass-rushers this season. One of them came in Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings, and this look, where several Vikings defenders drop out after looking as if they’re going to bring pressure, is something the Browns have no problem throwing at enemy quarterbacks. Linebacker Anthony Barr went back for the tipped pass, and the pick.

Expect to see a lot of the same kinds of rush three/drop eight the Bengals did so well against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.

The Bengals can also zap Stafford with coverage switches when the Rams avail themselves of play-action, as the 49ers did on the agonizing play in NFC Championship when San Francisco safety Jaquiski Tartt dropped an easy interception with 9:55 left in the game.

Even more agonizing for the 49ers was the fact that Tartt played this perfectly — before Stafford turned his body for the play fake, Tartt looked as if he was coming up in coverage, which gave Stafford the go to hurl it deep to receiver Van Jefferson. But Tartt dropped deep, Stafford underthrew the ball, and had Tartt caught this arm punt, we could very well be discussing how the Bengals can beat the 49ers in Super Bowl LVI.