The Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams have plenty of star power. Here are two players you may not know set to have a massive impact in the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl LVI is around the corner, and we have heard about all the big names and their potential impact. However, there are 22 players on the field at all times who can make a significant impact on the game.
Several factors go into coming out of the top and while coaching is extremely important it may be true that in this game you are only as good as your worst player. So who are the guys that are flying a little under the radar that can really make a difference?
There are several, but these are two players whose play could have a significant impact on the outcome of the Super Bowl.
Cincinnati Bengals underrated player in Super Bowl LVI: LB Germaine Pratt
Germaine Pratt has not been a no-name to Bengals fans in recent games. In the wild-card round, he had the game-sealing interception against the Las Vegas Raiders. So why is Pratt on here? He really does not hold significant name value on this Bengals defense but he and his partner at linebacker Logan Wilson have been a massive part of the Bengals success.
So what is Pratt good at? He is good at just about everything. Pratt very much fits the jack-of-all-trades moniker given to players with no elite skills. Although he lacks elite skills, he still positively impacts the game. This was shown against the Kansas City Chiefs when he stopped the Chiefs offense in the second half.
Think of Pratt as a poor mans Devin White of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. White and Pratt have similar playstyles impacting the game for all four quarters.
He may not get the praise or recognition that Jessie Bates, Logan Wilson, Mike Hilton, and Trey Hendrickson get, but he is as important to this defense as almost anyone. Pratt has the potential to have a massive impact on the Super Bowl this Sunday.
While he probably will not have a Malcolm Smith Super Bowl MVP type performance, as one of the leaders on this Bengals defense he will be critical to slowing down the Rams’ potent offense.
Los Angeles Rams underrated player in Super Bowl LVI: TE Kendall Blanton
Kendall Blanton was a complete no-name in the NFL until about three weeks ago when he scored his first NFL touchdown in the divisional round against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Blanton followed that up with a fantastic performance in the NFC Championship when the Rams starting tight end Tyler Higbee went down with a knee injury in the first quarter.
While there was some optimism that Higbee would return in the Super Bowl from the knee injury he sustained in the NFC Championship, the Rams just waived the white flag on the prospect of Higbee playing by placing him on Injured Reserve this afternoon.
In the NFC Championship, Blanton had five catches for 57 yards and three first downs and showed he could be a capable target for Matthew Stafford when it matters.
Blanton could significantly impact this game because of the level the Cinncinati Bengals secondary has been playing throughout this playoffs. The Bengals absolutely shut down the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half of the AFC Championship.
While the Rams are extremely good at scheming their receivers open, the Bengals will stop Cooper Kupp from having the impact he usually has. Behind Kupp, the Rams still have Odell Beckham Jr. and Van Jefferson, but where they could see Blanton really has an effect. Blanton is a big target who has a knack for getting first downs. So far in his career, 64% of Blantons receptions have gone for first downs.
Stafford loses both a reliable third down and red zone target without Higbee. If Blanton steps up, it not only could help Stafford but even open things up for Kupp and Beckham Jr. even more.
Final Thoughts
It is unique that the players I chose will likely match up quite a bit in the game, but it could change the game. Blanton has been a first-down machine in the playoffs, and if that continues, the Rams will be hard to stop with all their offensive weapons. If Pratt can help slow down Blanton and guys like Cooper Kupp and Cam Akers, the Bengals will be in a much better position to stop the Rams’ offense.
Sure we all know the big names who will step on the field Sunday, but these two guys have the potential to impact the game as much as anyone else. Both of their teams likely will not be able to win unless they perform to the level they have these playoffs.