Live In-Game Updates: Rams Fall to Bengals 16-7 in Preseason Finale
A little over seven months since Super Bowl LVI concluded, the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals will meet again Saturday night at Paycor Stadium, though this time, the stakes will be much lower for the third and final preseason game for each team.
The Rams head into the game with a 1-1 record in preseason after taking down the Los Angeles Chargers 29-22 and falling 24-20 to the Houston Texans.
The Bengals have dropped both of their first two matchups, falling to the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants.
The Rams and Bengals hosted joint practices this week in Cincinnati ahead of the preseason bout. And as if things weren't already emotional entering a preseason finale between teams that will forever be linked after the Super Bowl meeting, the two squads had an all-out brawl Thursday that saw Rams star defensive lineman Aaron Donald swinging Bengals helmet as chaos ensured in a massive scrum.
Despite the distractions, the practices helped Rams coach Sean McVay get his starters some game-like reps, as he's been known to never play key starters in preseason since his arrival in 2017.
As the preseason draws to a close, the end result Saturday is of little concern to McVay and company, who have sights set on the Bills for a season-opening matchup at SoFi Stadium.
Still, the matchup with Cincinnati will serve as an important time for McVay and staff to make some last-minute roster decisions ahead of Tuesday's deadline.
WHAT: Los Angeles Rams (1-1) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (0-2)
WHERE: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio (65,535)
WHEN: Saturday, August 27, 2022, 3 p.m. PT
TELEVISION: KGO-TV Channel 7 / FuboTV (try it free)
RADIO: KSPN-AM ESPN 710 / KCBS-FM 93.1 Jack FM
Betting via SI SportsBook
SPREAD: L.A. Rams +2.5
TOTAL: 36.5 (o -118, u +100)
MONEYLINE: Rams +120, Bengals -143
Make sure to follow along with in-game updates as they happen with RamDigest.com.
The Bengals have won the coin toss and will receive the opening kickoff.
Cincinnati will begin at its own 25-yard line. Brandon Allen gets the start at quarterback for the Bengals.
FIRST QUARTER
The Bengals began the opening drive with a 12-yard gain on Allen's throw to receiver Mike Thomas, but were forced to punt three plays later.
change of possession
The Rams quickly went three-and-out as punter Riley Dixon sends it away. Trent Taylor returns it 27 yards to set the Bengals up at the Los Angeles 40-yard line.
change of possession
After a slow start on the first possession, Allen connected with receiver Stanley Morgan for a perfectly-placed pass that set Cincinnati up with 1st and goal after a 32-yard gain.
But the Rams held strong in a major way, as Keir Thomas got home to Allen on 3rd and goal for a 16-yard sack.
FIELD GOAL BENGALS: Cincinnati 3, Los Angeles 0: Bengals kicker Evan McPherson knocks in a 38-yard field goal after the Rams held up on the goal line.
The Rams begin at their own 24-yard line.
change of possession
After two short runs by Jake Funk and Bryce Perkins, the Bengals dropped an easy interception that fell harmlessly to the ground. Another three-and-out for Los Angeles.
change of possession
The Bengals got some momentum going before a holding penalty set them back for 2nd and 20. One two-yard gain and incompletion later, they were forced to punt for the second time today.
change of possession
Funk got the drive going for LA with a six-yard run. He got one more carry on second down before Perkins picked up the first with his legs on a read-option keeper on third down.
Perkins then found tight end Jared Pinkney for a 25-yard gain to set LA up at the Bengals' 33-yard line.
At the end of the first, the Bengals lead the Rams 3-0.
SECOND QUARTER
On a 3rd and 7 to begin the second quarter, Perkins found preseason standout receiver Lance McCutcheon for a 13-yard gain.
FUMBLE RECOVERY BY BENGALS: Facing a 3rd and 3 at the Bengals' 10-yard line, Funk took another carry as he plowed toward the goal line, but was stripped inside the five-yard line as Cincinnati recovered. LA's 11-play, 66-yard drive came up empty.
change of possession
Allen connected on another beautiful deep pass, as he found receiver Kendric Pryor for a 38-yard connection down the right sideline. He then found receiver Trenton Irwin for a 10-yard gain and a first down.
Allen then found running back Chris Evans for an eight-yard completion on third down, bringing up a 4th and 1. The Bengals would go for it and convert, as Allen calmly found Irwin for another catch and first down.
The passing production continued, as Allen threw to receiver Kwamie Lassister II for an 11-yard gain.
But the Rams finally snatched some momentum back, sacking Allen for the second time of the day on a eight-yard loss that brought up a 3rd and 12. The Bengals failed to convert on the next play.
FIELD GOAL BENGALS: McPherson connected for a 39-yard field goal to give the Bengals a 6-0 lead. The three points capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive.
change of possession
The Rams begin at their own 25-yard line after a touchback.
But they didn't keep the ball long. LA went three-and-out after Perkins was sacked for a six-yard loss on third down.
change of possession
Jake Browning replaces Allen at quarterback for the Bengals.
After a penalty apiece by both teams, Browning found Irwin for another grab and first down.
He connected with the receiver for yet another first down as the Bengals got set up outside the red zone.
FIELD GOAL BENGALS: McPherson connected on a 35-yard field goal in the final seconds of the second quarter.
At the half, the Bengals led the Rams 9-0 after three McPherson field goals.
THIRD QUARTER
The Rams received the second-half kickoff.
change of possession
After picking up only three first downs in the first half, there wasn't much change coming out of the locker room.
Perkins and the Rams faced another third down, but failed to convert. He was sacked and fumbled, but LA recovered and punted again.
change of possession
The Bengals used five plays to move 30 yards on their opening drive of the second half, but punted after the LA defense held strong near midfield.
change of possession
LA faced another early third down on the drive, but Perkins found McCutcheon for a first down at the sticks.
A few plays later, Perkins hooked up with Landen Akers in a extremely tight window for an eight-yard gain.
FUMBLE RECOVERY BY BENGALS: But the promising 10-play, 52-yard drive ended with more disappointment, as running back Trey Ragas fumbled the ball. Cincinnati recovered at their own 30-yard yard.
change of possession
Thankfully for LA's sake, Cincinnati was unable to capitalize on the turnover and punted it away after a three-and-out.
change of possession
Perkins began the drive with a nifty spin move as he picked up an 11-yard gain with his legs. He then found McCutcheon for a 19-yard gain on the next play.
At the end of the third, LA still trailed 9-0.
FOURTH QUARTER
Ragas made up for his earlier fumble and picked up a first down on a 4th and 1 to begin the final quarter.
Perkins then connected with McCutcheon for a 32-yard gain to set the Rams up for a 1st and goal.
TOUCHDOWN RAMS: Bryce Perkins showed off his elusiveness as a scrambler, as he ran from right to left before eluding defenders and crossing the goal line for the three-yard score. The Rams were finally on the board, trailing the Bengals 9-7 with 11:25 left in the fourth.
The touchdown capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive.
change of possession
The Bengals began their next drive with a 14-yard catch from Irwin, who had his eighth catch of the day at that point. Browning then found Lassiter for an 11-yard gain.
The former Washington quarterback then scrambled to his right for a nice throw down the sideline to running back Trayveon Williams for 20 yards. The Bengals were now knocking on the red zone.
Despite an unsportsmanlike penalty from the Bengals, the offense recovered. Browning scrambled for 12 yards to bring Cincinnati inside the five-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN BENGALS: Browning found tight end Justin Rigg for a three-yard touchdown, as the Bengals took a 16-7 lead with 4:34 remaining. The score capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive.
change of possession
LA used up the last four minutes of game time to move just 33 yards, showing little effort or desire to attempt a comeback.
The Rams drop to 1-2 in preseason play as the regular season is set to begin against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, Sept. 8 at SoFi Stadium.
FINAL: Bengals 16, Rams 7
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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