Rams head coach Sean McVay acknowledged Sunday night after Los Angeles won Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals that the receipts would come to light, and he potentially would be awaiting them.
"I promise you guys I was mic'd up so you guys can hear," McVay told reporters, per Pro Football Talk. "When it was fourth down, and they got in the shotgun, and you knew they probably were not going to run the football, I said Aaron's going to close the game out right here. And he is (expletive) man."
Donald essentially ended the game by pressuring Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, nearly sacking him, and forcing an incompletion on fourth-and-one with 43 seconds left. It propelled LA to a 23-20 victory.
A mic'd up McVay, as he said he did, spoke it into existence.
"Hey, Aaron. This is the moment. Right now," McVay told Donald prior to the fourth-and-one, per NFL Films. "For the world championship right here. Aaron Donald's gonna make a play."
McVay chased down Donald to celebrate after the win.
"Aaron. Aaron. Hey. Come here. I knew. Great job. I knew you would make that play! I knew you would make that play!," McVay exclaimed.
Donald recorded a team-high seven pressures with two sacks in the win. He was exceptional in the pass rush, and helped the Rams record a season-high pressure rate of 41.5% (!). He made a solid case for Super Bowl MVP, but the honor was given to Rams wideout Cooper Kupp.
NFL Films also gave a glimpse into what Matthew Stafford told Joe Burrow after Sunday's contest.
NESN's big game coverage was presented by Berkshire Bank.
