There’s a common belief in the NFL that wide receivers don’t win championships – and for the most part, it’s true. They can help a team win the Super Bowl, but they’re nowhere near as valuable as quarterbacks, offensive linemen or even pass rushers.
Cooper Kupp might be the exception to the rule. And if history is any indication of how Super Bowl LVI will go, the Rams will be crowned champions of the football world on Sunday night.
According to NFL Research, Kupp is just the third player to reach the Super Bowl after leading the NFL in receiving yards. Jerry Rice did it twice and Drew Pearson did it once.
In the three prior instances, the team with the leading receiver won the game. Kupp and the Rams will try to make it 4-for-4 this weekend.
.@CooperKupp is the 3rd player (4th instance) to reach the Super Bowl after leading the NFL in receiving yards
In every other instance (@JerryRice in SBs XXIV & XXIX and Drew Pearson in XB XII) the receiving yards leader won the game@RamsNFL | #SuperBowlLVI
📸: Doug Benc/AP pic.twitter.com/msrwMZ3a76
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) February 8, 2022
Kupp not only led the NFL with 1,947 yards, but he also had the most receptions (145) and touchdown catches (16) this season. He fell just 18 yards short of breaking Calvin Johnson’s single-season receiving record, coincidentally making a run at it with Matthew Stafford as his quarterback – just as Stafford was during Megatron’s historic campaign.
Kupp’s production didn’t slow down after the regular season ended, either. Even though he only had 61 yards against the Cardinals, he erupted for 183 yards in the divisional round and another 142 yards in the NFC title game against the 49ers.
In three playoff games, he has 25 catches, 386 yards and four touchdowns, leading all receivers in catches and yards again; Gabriel Davis had five touchdowns this postseason.
The Rams will need Kupp to keep up that steady production against the Bengals and if he does, they’ll likely be Super Bowl champions.
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