It was nearing the end of Super Bowl LVI, and the Los Angeles Rams were sweating the result more than a little bit. They were up, 23-20, but the Cincinnati Bengals had fourth-and-1 from the Rams’ 49-yard line with 43 seconds left in the game. Joe Burrow had already completed 22 of 33 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown, so the Rams knew that Burrow had to be respected. They also knew that their defenders had sacked Burrow seven times in the game, so there was the vulnerability to exploit. If the Rams could prevent the Bengals from getting a first down here, it was game over.
And there was only one man to make that happen, as Rams head coach Sean McVay made very clear.
"Aaron Donald's gonna make a play here.'
One of the greatest players ever, who always came through when it mattered most 💍 pic.twitter.com/YxkvA3c5KF
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) March 15, 2024
The Rams rushed just four defenders at the snap, while putting seven in coverage. But as it turned out, they could have put one guy against Burrow, and it probably would have worked out just fine.
Super Bowl LVI. Fourth-and-1 for the Bengals, down 23.-20. 43 seconds left in the game. Sean McVay tells Aaron Donald that he HAS to blow this play up.
The inevitable result: pic.twitter.com/dfu1jhTc5c
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 15, 2024
Edge-rusher Leonard Floyd took left tackle Jonah Williams from a wide-nine alignment, forcing a single-team between Donald and left guard Quinton Spain. And no offense to Quinton Spain, but everybody in the universe knew how that was going to go. Had center Trey Hopkins aligned more quickly to help Spain with Donald, that probably wouldn’t have mattered, either. Donald had his assignment, and he was going to fulfill it no matter what.
On the occasion of his retirement, it’s nice to remember that one of Donald’s most amazing plays — one that shows his unearthly attributes — came in the biggest moment of his Hall of Fame career.
“I dreamed this, man!”
Aaron Donald was overcome with emotion after becoming a Super Bowl champion. 👏 pic.twitter.com/M25vSh3qMq
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) March 15, 2024
