For the second time in four years, the Rams are headed to the Super Bowl.
Led by Matthew Stafford under center and a run-stopping defense, the Rams closed the NFC Championship Game with 13 unanswered points to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 20-17.
Up next are the AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI on February 13.
Stafford, who threw for 337 yards, took over with 6:49 to play in a 17-17 ballgame. He calmly marched the ball down the length of the field, hitting all five of his pass attempts on the drive and setting up kicker Matt Gay for the eventual game-winning field goal from 30 yards out.
The Rams, who had trailed by 10 points at one point in the 4th quarter, cemented the victory by forcing 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo into a game-clinching interception. Facing pressure from elite pass rusher Aaron Donald, Garoppolo was forced out of the pocket and slung an ill-advised pass attempt toward running back JaMycal Hasty. Hasty was unable to corral the wild toss and it ultimately bounced into the waiting arms of Rams linebacker Travin Howard, ending San Francisco's attack and crowning the Rams NFC champs.
Los Angeles got another monster game from star wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who caught 11 balls for 142 yards and hauled in both of Stafford's TD tosses. Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was also fantastic in the Rams' passing game, finishing with nine catches and 142 yards. LA's defense, meanwhile, limited San Francisco to just 50 yards rushing.
Throughout much of the game, the Rams seemed to be controlling the action, despite trailing on the scoreboard at halftime (10-7) and following the third quarter (17-7). They dominated time of possession (35:39 to 24:21), outgained the 49ers 396 yards to 282, and secured more first downs (25 to 16).
The win snaps what had been six straight head-to-head victories by San Francisco against Los Angels, and sends head coach Sean McVay and the Rams back to the Super Bowl. In 2019, LA fell 13-3 to Tom Brady and the Patriots in what remains the lowest-scoring Super Bowl in history.
This year's game, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on February 13, will mark the second time in as many years that the Super Bowl will be played on the home field of one of the participants. A year ago, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium.