Look, if you’re a football fan, the phrase Cincinnati Bengals vs Rams probably triggers a very specific memory. You see Aaron Donald pointing at his ring finger. You see Cooper Kupp running that iconic route in the end zone. You see Joe Burrow sitting on the turf at SoFi Stadium, just a few seconds and a couple of yards away from a different reality.
It's been four years since Super Bowl LVI. Four years.
In NFL time, that’s a lifetime. Rosters have flipped. Coaches have moved on. But when these two teams show up on the schedule, the energy in the stadium—and on social media—is just weirdly intense. It's not a traditional rivalry like the Bengals and the Steelers, or the Rams and the 49ers. It’s a "what if" rivalry.
The Ghost of Super Bowl LVI
Honestly, we have to talk about that February night in 2022 because it defines everything about this matchup. The Rams won 23-20. It was the game where Matthew Stafford finally "proved it" and where Burrow became "Joe Brrr" on a global stage.
The Bengals were the ultimate underdogs back then. Nobody expected them to be there. They had the worst offensive line in the league and were going up against a defensive front that featured Aaron Donald and Von Miller. It felt like a mismatch on paper, yet the Bengals were leading 20-16 in the fourth quarter.
Then came the drive.
Stafford to Kupp. Over and over. It was like they were playing catch in a backyard. When Kupp caught that 1-yard touchdown with 1:25 left, it broke Cincinnati’s heart. And that final play? Aaron Donald getting into Burrow’s face, forcing the desperation heave? That image is basically burned into the retinas of every Bengals fan.
Where Are They Now? (The 2026 Reality)
Fast forward to 2026, and the landscape is pretty different.
The Bengals are currently navigating a bit of a transition period. The 2025 season was tough for them—they finished 6-11, missing the playoffs for the third straight year. It’s a far cry from that Super Bowl run. Burrow is still the guy, obviously, but the roster around him has been through the ringer. Names like Ja'Marr Chase still provide that "lightning in a bottle" feeling, but the AFC North is a meat grinder. The Bengals actually split their season series with the Steelers and Browns in 2025, but a 1-1 record doesn't get you to January anymore.
Meanwhile, the Rams have stayed surprisingly relevant. They finished 2025 with a 12-5 record, proving that Sean McVay's system is basically evergreen. Matthew Stafford is still slinging it, even in 2026, though the talk of his retirement is getting louder by the day. He’s got new weapons now, like Puka Nacua, who has essentially become the new Cooper Kupp in terms of reliability.
Head-to-Head Stats You Should Know
- All-time Record: The Rams hold a slight edge, leading the series 6-9 (or 9-6 depending on which way you look at the win/loss column for Cincinnati).
- Most Recent Meeting: They played back in September 2023, where the Bengals actually got a bit of revenge with a 19-16 win at Paycor Stadium.
- The London Factor: Remember 2019? They played at Wembley Stadium. The Rams won that one 24-10. It’s a matchup that travels well.
Why People Still Obsess Over This Matchup
It's the "Zac Taylor vs. Sean McVay" factor. Taylor was McVay’s quarterbacks coach. He’s the protégé. Whenever they meet, it’s a chess match between two guys who know each other's favorite coffee orders, let alone their playbooks.
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There's also the betting angle. In 2026, when these two play, the money usually flows toward the Rams. Why? Because the Rams have shown they can rebuild on the fly. They "mortgaged their future" for that 2022 ring, but somehow, they never actually went bankrupt. They keep finding gems in the middle rounds of the draft.
Bengals fans, on the other hand, are perpetually waiting for the front office to go "all in" again. There's a feeling in Cincinnati that the window is still open, but the frame is getting a little rusty.
What to Watch for in Future Games
If you’re watching a Cincinnati Bengals vs Rams game this year or next, keep your eyes on the trenches. It sounds like a cliché, but it's the truth. The Rams’ defensive identity changed after Aaron Donald retired, but they’ve replaced that star power with a "swarm" mentality.
For the Bengals, it's all about protection. Can they keep Burrow upright? In that Super Bowl, he was sacked seven times. Seven. In their 2023 meeting, they did a better job, and they won. It’s the simplest math in football: Keep #9 clean, and you win.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you're looking at this matchup from a strategic or betting perspective, here is what actually matters in 2026:
- The "Home" Advantage is Real: These teams play better in their own time zones. When Cincinnati has to fly to SoFi, the jet lag and the "showbiz" atmosphere of LA seems to affect their rhythm.
- Monitor the 2026 Draft: The Bengals have the 10th pick in the upcoming draft. They are heavily linked to defensive tackles like Caleb Banks or linebackers like Sonny Styles to shore up a defense that gave up 429 yards to the Cardinals late last season.
- The Stafford Retirement Clock: Every game Stafford plays in 2026 could be his last. The "Revenge Tour" vibes are strong in LA right now, and the betting lines reflect that—the Rams are often 3 to 4-point favorites in these cross-conference matchups.
- Prop Bets on Nacua: If Kupp is limited or bracketed, Nacua is the volume king. In the 2025 playoffs, he was a lock for over 6.5 receptions.
The Bengals are currently looking at their 2026 schedule with a sense of urgency. They have home games against the Chiefs and Jaguars that will define their season. If they can rediscover that 2021 magic, a rematch with the Rams in the future might finally give Cincinnati the closure they’ve been looking for since that night in Inglewood.