Rams to play Super Bowl in home stadium after big 4th quarter vs. 49ers

Associated Press
Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022 9:59 p.m. | Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022 9:59 p.m.

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49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo scrambles away from Rams defensive end Greg Gaines.

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Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp gets past the 49ers’ Jaquiski Tartt (left) and Pitt product K’Waun Williams during the second half of the NFC championship game Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif.

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Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is stopped by 49ers cornerback K’Waun Williams (left) and Emmanuel Moseley during the second half of the NFC championship game Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Travin Howard made a game-sealing interception with 1 minute, 9 seconds to play, and the Los Angeles Rams rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to secure a spot in the Super Bowl at their home stadium next month with a thrilling 20-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game Sunday night.

Cooper Kupp caught two touchdown passes from Matthew Stafford for the star-studded Rams (15-5), who began the fourth quarter down 17-7 after wasting a multitude of scoring opportunities.

But after Kupp’s second TD catch and a tying field goal on a drive extended by Jaquiski Tartt’s brutal dropped interception, the Rams drove for Matt Gay’s go-ahead, 30-yard field goal with 1:46 to play.

Los Angeles’ defense then won it when Penn Hills alum and Pitt product Aaron Donald had Jimmy Garoppolo under heavy pressure, allowing Howard to pick off his final pass, which was an underhanded flick toward the sideline.

Los Angeles will welcome the Cincinnati Bengals in two weeks for Super Bowl LVI in Rams owner Stan Kroenke’s multibillion-dollar SoFi Stadium.

After 54 consecutive Super Bowls without an NFL team playing in its home stadium, the Rams are the second team to do it in two seasons after Tampa Bay broke the streak last year.