The Definitive Breakdown Of Super Bowl LVI: Date, Winner, And 15 Shocking Facts You Missed

The 2022 Super Bowl, officially Super Bowl LVI, was a landmark event in NFL history, taking place on Sunday, February 13, 2022. This date was significant because it marked a shift in the traditional Super Bowl calendar, primarily due to the league's expansion of the regular season to 17 games, pushing the championship game into the second week of February. The highly anticipated match-up featured the Los Angeles Rams facing off against the Cincinnati Bengals in a thrilling contest that ultimately crowned a champion in their home stadium for the second consecutive year. The game itself was a defensive battle and a showcase of high-stakes drama, culminating in a narrow victory that etched the Rams' names into the history books. Beyond the final score, Super Bowl LVI delivered a globally celebrated halftime show and set several new records, cementing its status as one of the most memorable championship games of the modern era.

Super Bowl LVI: The Core Event Details and Key Entities

The event, which determined the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2021 season, was a spectacle of sport and entertainment. Here is a complete breakdown of the game's essential details and the key figures who defined it:

• Official Date: Sunday, February 13, 2022
• Location/Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
• Competing Teams: Los Angeles Rams (NFC Champion) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (AFC Champion)
• Final Score: Los Angeles Rams 23, Cincinnati Bengals 20
• Game Winner: Los Angeles Rams
• Super Bowl MVP: Cooper Kupp, Wide Receiver, Los Angeles Rams
• Head Coaches: Sean McVay (Rams) and Zac Taylor (Bengals)
• Attendance: 70,240
• Halftime Show Performers: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and surprise guest Anderson .Paak
• National Anthem Performer: Mickey Guyton
• TV Network: NBC (also streamed on Peacock)

The Historic Home-Field Victory and MVP Spotlight

The Los Angeles Rams' victory was historic for several crucial reasons. They became only the second team in NFL history, and the second team in as many years, to play and win the Super Bowl in their home stadium. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had achieved the feat the previous year in Super Bowl LV. This unique home-field advantage at the state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium provided an electric atmosphere for the Rams' faithful. The game's most valuable player, Cooper Kupp, delivered a performance for the ages. Kupp, who had already secured the receiving Triple Crown (leading the league in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns) during the regular season, capped his legendary year with the Super Bowl MVP award. His game-winning touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter, a one-yard pass from quarterback Matthew Stafford, sealed the 23-20 victory for Los Angeles.

Why Super Bowl LVI's February 13th Date Was a Game Changer

For decades, the Super Bowl was traditionally held on the last Sunday of January or the first Sunday of February. The shift to a later date for Super Bowl LVI was not arbitrary; it was a direct consequence of a fundamental change in the NFL's structure. The primary reason for the February 13th date was the expansion of the NFL regular season from 16 games to 17 games, which began with the 2021 season. This addition of an extra week of regular-season play pushed the entire playoff schedule, including the Super Bowl, back by one week. This change not only affected the 2022 date but also permanently established the Super Bowl as a mid-February event moving forward, a key piece of topical authority for any discussion about the Super Bowl dates timeline.

The Battle of Quarterbacks and Coaches

The game pitted two teams with compelling storylines against each other. The Rams, led by veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford and defensive superstar Aaron Donald, were a "win-now" team that had gone all-in by trading for high-profile talent. Super Bowl LVI marked the first and only Super Bowl appearance for Stafford, who finally achieved the championship after years with the Detroit Lions. On the other side, the Cincinnati Bengals, quarterbacked by the young and charismatic Joe Burrow, were the underdogs. Burrow, in only his second NFL season, led the Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance since the 1988 season. The Bengals' incredible postseason run, including a stunning comeback victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship, captivated fans and was a major LSI keyword in all coverage. The coaching battle was also notable, as Rams coach Sean McVay (36 years old) and Bengals coach Zac Taylor (38 years old) were two of the youngest head coaches in the league, with Taylor having previously served as McVay’s assistant.

15 Fascinating Facts and Records from Super Bowl LVI

Super Bowl LVI was a treasure trove of records, milestones, and interesting trivia. Here is a list of definitive facts that contributed to the game's legacy:

1. Home-Field History: The Los Angeles Rams became the second team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl in their home stadium (SoFi Stadium).
2. Second Consecutive Home Win: The Rams' victory followed the Buccaneers' win in Super Bowl LV, marking the first time in history that two consecutive Super Bowls were won on the home team's field.
3. The 17-Game Effect: The game's date, February 13th, was a direct result of the NFL’s 2021 decision to expand the regular season to 17 games.
4. Emmy-Winning Halftime Show: The all-star hip-hop performance led by Dr. Dre was the first Super Bowl Halftime Show to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live).
5. Record Commercial Cost: The average price for a 30-second commercial spot during Super Bowl LVI hit a record-breaking $6.5 million, a key indicator of the game's massive viewership.
6. Viewership Milestone: The game drew an average of 101.1 million viewers, a significant increase from the previous year, highlighting its immense cultural reach.
7. Kupp's Triple Crown MVP: Cooper Kupp became the first player to win the receiving Triple Crown, the Offensive Player of the Year award, and the Super Bowl MVP in the same season.
8. Stafford's First Ring: Matthew Stafford won his first Super Bowl in his 13th NFL season and his first with the Rams.
9. Aaron Donald's Legacy: The game secured a Super Bowl ring for defensive tackle Aaron Donald, widely considered one of the best defensive players of his generation.
10. Bengals' Drought Continues: The Cincinnati Bengals' loss extended their franchise's Super Bowl drought, as they have yet to win a Super Bowl in their history.
11. Youngest Coaching Matchup: The combined age of Sean McVay and Zac Taylor made it one of the youngest head coach matchups in Super Bowl history.
12. Odell Beckham Jr.'s Impact: Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. caught the game's first touchdown but left the game early with an injury, a major talking point in the Super Bowl LVI highlights.
13. The Dr. Dre Showcase: The halftime show was a celebration of West Coast hip-hop, featuring a lineup of legendary artists all connected to Dr. Dre.
14. First Super Bowl for SoFi: Super Bowl LVI was the first Super Bowl to be hosted at the newly built SoFi Stadium, a major milestone for the venue.
15. Burrow's Postseason Record: Despite the loss, Joe Burrow's performance throughout the playoffs, including leading the Bengals to a 3-0 postseason record before the Super Bowl, was a historic achievement for the franchise.

The Super Bowl LVI date of February 13, 2022, will forever be remembered as the culmination of a historic NFL season, defined by a home-field championship, a legendary MVP performance, and a shift in the league's calendar that continues to shape the schedule today.