Just about everyone was roasting Eli Apple following Super Bowl LVI. Everyone that is, except for Cooper Kupp.
The Rams wide receiver was named Super Bowl MVP following Los Angeles’ 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
BUY RAMS SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS GEAR
Kupp pulled in eight receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner with 1:25 remaining over Apple, the former New York Giants first-round pick and Voorhees, N.J. native.
But Kupp did his best to get Apple off the hook following the game, giving credit to Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. Per Pro Football Talk:
“We were able to alert things, alert and throw a little fade ball out there,” Kupp said. “Eli Apple had been playing me pretty well the entire game, really came up, challenged me, [was] doing a really good job with that. And cover zero, you’ve got that inside leverage, so I tried to just weave to his leverage, make him move in a little bit, jab him one time and be able to just give Matthew some room to put the ball wherever he wanted to. And he made a great back-shoulder throw and I was able to come down with it.”
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Here’s more on Kupp’s MVP performance Sunday, per NFL Communications:
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver COOPER KUPP was voted the winner of the Pete Rozelle Trophy awarded to the Super Bowl LVI Most Valuable Player.
Kupp recorded eight receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown catch with 1:25 remaining in the fourth quarter. He also had seven rushing yards.
He is the eighth wide receiver to be named Super Bowl MVP and the first since New England wide receiver JULIAN EDLEMAN in Super Bowl LIII.
Kupp joins Pro Football Hall of Famer JOE MONTANA (1989) as the only players to win Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player in the same season.
Kupp recorded 33 receptions during the 2021 postseason and surpassed TRAVIS KELCE (31 receptions during the 2020 postseason) for the most receptions in a single postseason all-time. He also registered 478 receiving yards this postseason, trailing only LARRY FITZGERALD (546 receiving yards in 2008) for the most in a single postseason ever.
The award is chosen by a panel comprised of 16 media members and fans interactively through the National Football League’s official website, NFL.com.
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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com.
