Bengals vs. Rams: Who has the edge on offense in Super Bowl LVI?

2. Who will establish the run?

The running game for the Bengals and Rams has been impressive and disappointing, all in the same breath. We’ll explain why.

Currently, Joe Mixon of the Bengals leads every postseason runner in rushing yards with 190, or 63.3 yards per game. Gone are the days where running backs were used as a primary weapon in big games, not including the Tennessee Titans and Derick Henry. On average, Mixon has gotten just 3.7 yards per game and broke through the TD goal line only once. His counterpart on the Rams side of the ball has been even worse.

Cam Akers has rushed for 151 yards, third-most in the playoffs, only 2.8 yards per carry, and zero touchdowns. Yet, like we just eluded to, he has the third-most rushing yards in the entire postseason.

Neither of these backs have been impressive or game changers and we don’t expect the fate of the Super Bowl to be in either of their hands. Nonetheless, Mixon has been the more consistent and explosive player in the regular season. And although that hasn’t exactly translated to the playoffs, we believe he’s the far more impressive player.

Verdict: Bengals