Derrick Henry: 'I Am Pissed Off' over Titans' Playoff Loss to Bengals
Feb 10, 2022
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 22: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans carries the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Nissan Stadium on January 22, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Titans running back Derrick Henry is in Los Angeles for Sunday's Super Bowl between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals, and, understandably, Tennessee's divisional-round loss isn't sitting well with him.
Speaking with Jim Wyatt of the team’s website, Henry said he's still "not over the fact" the Titans lost to the Bengals after they earned a first-round bye with a 12-5 record.
“I am pissed off about it, and I will be pissed off about it,” Henry said. “... I can’t wait to play football again.”
Henry added:
“When I see anything about football, whether I am watching TV or see something on my phone about football, it brings that sick feeling back. While I’m here, you just have to deal with it the best you can. It still hurts.
“I am still not over the fact that we lost, and we’re not here. It will replay in my head until we get back to football, which is going to be a while. But yeah, it still replays in my head every single day. I wanted [to win the Super Bowl] bad, and I know all of my teammates wanted it bad. Everybody was shocked when we lost. So that will be in my head until I am able to strap up again and play in a game.”
Henry appeared in Tennessee's first eight games before undergoing surgery after suffering a broken bone in his foot. He didn't return for the remainder of the regular season and appeared in the Titans' 19-16 loss to the Bengals with a steel plate in his foot.
The 28-year-old was ineffective in that game, rushing for just 62 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. However, the loss wasn't blamed on Henry.
A lot of the blame fell on Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who completed just 15 of 24 passes for 220 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
Despite the disappointing exit, the Titans have a lot to look forward to in 2022. Henry, who rushed for 937 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2021, should again be one of the NFL's best backs.
Tannehill, who has revived his career in Tennessee after six underwhelming seasons with the Miami Dolphins, will be back for at least one more shot at a Super Bowl title, as his contract runs through 2023 but carries a potential out after next season. In addition, wide receiver A.J. Brown and much of the Titans offense will return.
Super Bowl 56 Average Ticket Price Is $8,869; Highest Average Resell Value Ever
Feb 9, 2022
INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 8: A view of the SoFi Stadium during Super Bowl LVI media availability day on February 8, 2022 in Inglewood, CA before Sundays game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Fans looking to get a ticket to Super Bowl LVI might want to look at a different secondary site than StubHub.
Per Darren Rovell of the Action Network, the average ticket price for Sunday's game between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals is up to a record $8,869.
StubHub says the average sold Super Bowl ticket price is now $8,869, which would be the highest average secondary price in history.
There is some volume left and the he-ins are currently at $5,050.
27% of buyers are from host California, 11 percent from Bengals home of Ohio.
Prices for Super Bowl tickets have been a hot topic of discussion, especially in the wake of former Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson pointing out the difficulty most fans will have in securing a seat to see their favorite team in the big game:
It's not a surprise that this year's Super Bowl would set a record for ticket sale price. The game is being played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where ticket prices for sports and entertainment events will often be on the higher end of the spectrum.
Cameron DaSilva of Rams Wire wrote in August that the average ticket price for a Rams home game has nearly doubled from $109.24 in 2019 to $212.16 in 2021.
Part of the increase in ticket prices for Rams games can be attributed to SoFi Stadium. The team spent its first four seasons in Los Angeles from 2016-19 playing at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
SoFi Stadium opened in September 2020, but fans weren't allowed to attend Rams home games last season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Rams and Bengals will play on Sunday to determine the NFL champion for the 2021 season. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET.
Rob Gronkowski Open to Playing with Bengals' Joe Burrow After Tom Brady's Retirement
Feb 9, 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 23: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on before the game against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on January 23, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Rob Gronkowski has spent his entire career catching passes from future Hall of Famer Tom Brady, and the pair made for quite the dynamic duo.
But with Brady retired and Gronk about to hit free agency, the veteran tight end revealed Tuesday the quarterback he'd like to play with next.
"I kinda like this young buck quarterback," Gronkowski said during a Q-and-A for Autograph NFTs, per Pro Football Focus' Ari Meirov. "He's in the Super Bowl now. It's Joe Burrow, man. I watched him in college. I just love the way he presents himself out on that football field. In the pocket, he's just so calm, and he just slings it out on the field. And I love his swag, too. So if I could pick a quarterback, I'd go with the young buck Joe Burrow."
The Cincinnati Bengals are in the Super Bowl, and now they might just have the inside track at signing Gronkowski this offseason if they choose to go in that direction. Not a bad week for the team.
Granted, Gronkowski is 32 and missed five games this past season because of injuries. He already retired once, skipping the 2019 season, and it's fair to question how much is left in the tank, though he still caught 55 passes for 802 yards and six touchdowns this season.
So if the Bengals are in the market for a tight end this spring, one who remains a major threat in the red zone, they'd be wise to give Gronk a call. Sounds as though he'll pick up the phone for Burrow.
How Joe Burrow, Bengals Can Survive Aaron Donald, Rams Defense in Super Bowl LVI
Feb 8, 2022
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow throws a pass during the second half of the AFC championship NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
In just two NFL seasons, Joe Burrow has become a bona fide star. He smokes victory cigars after big wins. His quips during press conferences have become the stuff of legend. And most importantly, Burrow has the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl for the first time in well over three decades.
However, as the Bengals prepare to face the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI, there's a major problem facing them. An issue that could prevent Burrow from having the opportunity to fire up a stogie on Sunday after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at SoFi Stadium. An area of weakness the Bengals have to account for if they're going to reach the NFL's mountaintop.
Cincinnati's offensive line is the weakest position group on the team, and the Bengals are about to face one of the most formidable front sevens in the NFL.
To say that the Bengals have struggled in pass protection this season is being kind. In the regular season, they allowed 55 sacks. Only the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears surrendered more. Burrow absorbed 51 of those sacks—no signal-caller in the NFL went down more. As a whole, Pro Football Focus ranked the Bengals 20th in the league up front.
Things haven't improved all that much in the playoffs. Burrow has been sacked 12 times in the playoffs (most in the league), including a whopping nine in the divisional-round win over the Tennessee Titans.
Tackle Isaiah Prince told reporters that members of the offensive line have already put that clunker against the Titans out of their minds.
"I'm pretty sure we've played with a chip on our shoulders all season," Prince said. "That's what brought us to this point. Tennessee, it happened. We get back to film, we get back to the drawing board, we make the corrections and we move forward. It's not something we hang our heads about. I think we play with a chip on our shoulder every single game."
To Cincy's credit, the line played better in the AFC Championship Game, allowing just one sack. And while speaking to reporters, Burrow made it clear that while he knows the Rams possess a formidable defense, he has confidence in the players in front of him.
"They're a very good defensive front. It's going to be a challenge for our guys, but they've worked really hard to put themselves in this position. And I know that our coaching staff has a great plan for them that they're going to be able to go out and execute. But obviously, guys like Aaron Donald, Leonard Floyd, Von Miller are guys that are going to get pressure. So, it's going to be how, one, I handle the pressure — how I'm able to get the ball out of my hands and get it to my playmakers in space. And two, how we're going to be able to handle them up front. I have the utmost confidence in our offensive line to make it happen."
Burrow is absolutely right about one thing. The Rams do indeed have a very good defensive front. Per Football Outsiders, the Rams defensive line ranked tied for seventh in Adjusted Sack Rate this season. Only two teams (the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers) accrued more sacks than the 50 Los Angeles amassed in 2021. And if you're looking for a weak spot to exploit in the Rams' front, good luck.
The cornerstone, of course, is defensive tackle Aaron Donald, one of just three players in league history to win Defensive Player of the Year three times. Donald piled up a career-high 84 tackles in 2021, adding 12.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss.
INGLEWOOD, CA - JANUARY 30: Aaron Donald #99 of the Rams during the NFC Conference Championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams on January 30, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Icon Sportswire)
Donald is flanked on the edges by a pair of Pro Bowl-caliber talents in Leonard Floyd and Von Miller. Miller, who has seven sacks (postseason included) since joining the Rams in a midseason trade, will all but certainly be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. In two regular seasons with the Rams, Floyd has tallied 125 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 20 sacks.
It's quite the trio of defensive stalwarts—and that's without even mentioning the 10 other players on the Rams roster who had at least one sack during the regular season.
For the Bengals to have any real chance of pulling off the upset and winning Super Bowl LVI, they have to do a better job in pass protection than the last time they faced a 3-4 base. And that means taking a few steps.
The first is the most obvious—the Bengals cannot let Donald wreck the game. A big part of the reason Burrow went down nine times against the Titans was that Jeffery Simmons dominated on the interior. That can't happen again Sunday. Throw everything and the kitchen sink at Donald. Double-team him constantly. It means that Prince and left tackle Jonah Williams are going to be one-on-one a lot against Miller and Floyd (although Cincy can use its tight ends to help), but that's just how it has to be. If the Bengals try solo-blocking Donald, he's going to be Super Bowl MVP, and the Rams are going to win.
The second is on "Joe Cool," or "Joe BRRR," or whatever the kids are calling him. Burrow has to get rid of the ball quickly. Vertical throws to Ja'Marr Chase and deep crosses to Tee Higgins are exciting plays to be sure—but Burrow isn't completing those throws from his back. Use quick passes and let the Bengals wide receivers pick up yardage after the catch.
However, the deep passing game doesn't have to be completely abandoned. Not if the Bengals take the third step of getting Joe Mixon and the ground game going. The notion of using the run to set up the pass may seem almost old-fashioned in 2022, but it works. It's not going to be easy against a Rams defense that ranked sixth in the league against the run in the regular season (103.2 yards per game). But the Bengals need to stay committed to running the football. Doing that keeps play-action on the table. And getting those pass-rushers to bite on a fake could be the difference between a 25-yard throw to Chase and Burrow looking out his ear-hole after a seven-yard loss.
None of this is going to be easy to pull off. The Bengals have questions at right guard (both rookie Jackson Carman and second-year pro Hakeem Adeniji have struggled this season), and veteran center Trey Hopkins is average on a good day. To say that group will have its hands full with Donald is a whopper of an understatement. Burrow is going to be pressured—consistently. There's just no getting around that.
But if head coach Zac Taylor and offensive line coach Frank Pollack can scheme a way to slow Donald down just a bit and the team uses quick passes and the run game to mitigate its deficiencies along the offensive line, Cincinnati can buy Burrow the time he needs to do some damage.
And there just might be one more cigar to be lit.
Rams' Jalen Ramsey: 'Of Course' I Want to Cover Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase in Super Bowl
Feb 8, 2022
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) reacts to the snap during a NFL divisional playoff football game between the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, January 23, 2022 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Menendez)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey isn't backing down from a challenge ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.
He told reporters he "of course" wants to shadow Ja'Marr Chase during the game and expanded on his approach:
It's me now, it's me, keep it real. Of course, that's what I'm asking for. That's what I want. Whoever you think their best man is, put me on him. Let me help the team win this game. That's what it's all about.
There are different areas where we might have to do something different because it might put the team in a better position to win. So, wherever the game may take us, it will take us, and we are going to do what we've got to do from there. But you're going to get to see that matchup, you're going to have the opportunity to see it, and I'm going to be ready for it.
While asking Ramsey—a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro—to simply shadow Chase is a potential option, the presence of Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd alongside the dominant rookie with quarterback Joe Burrow at the helm is one of the things that makes the Bengals so dangerous.
It will require a group effort to slow down all three, and that isn't even accounting for running back Joe Mixon.
Therefore, don't be surprised if the Rams use Ramsey all over the field against such an explosive offense, but his individual matchup with Chase is one of the biggest talking points going into the game.
Super Bowl Opening Night 2022: Best Moments and Twitter Reaction from Media Day
Feb 8, 2022
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) holds the Lamar Hunt trophy after an AFC championship NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. The Bengals won 27-24 in overtime. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, gone are the Super Bowl media days where players would all gather together under one roof to answer questions from hundreds of media members.
Those often produced amusing moments from marriage proposals to late-night television shows getting in on the fun. Football frequently took a backseat, which was somewhat appropriate since the Super Bowl is a spectacle that captures the attention of the country and goes well beyond the X's and O's of breaking down a game.
Alas, the ongoing pandemic meant something like that couldn't realistically happen this year before Sunday's clash between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams.
Instead, players from both teams answered questions virtually from their respective home cities. Here is a look at some of the most notable quotes.
Bengals
Much of the discussion surrounding the Bengals was about quarterback Joe Burrow, which should come as no surprise.
After all, he is already the franchise savior in his second season after being the No. 1 overall pick and is one win away from leading Cincinnati to its first Lombardi Trophy. He even outdueled Patrick Mahomes in the AFC Championship Game to get this far and has turned heads with his swag off the field.
That swag and his confidence came up Monday:
.@JoeyB knows all the nicknames, but at the end of the day...
Burrow isn't even the only notable LSU product on the Bengals with his own sense of style, as No. 1 wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is well-known for the "Griddy" dance he unleashes when he scores a touchdown:
The connection between Burrow and Chase that has led to so many of those touchdown dances has fueled Cincinnati's offense, which made it all the more notable when the wide receiver didn't list his quarterback among the five best-dressed players on the team.
"Might have to talk to him about that one," Burrow said with a smirk.
The quarterback also revealed he listens to Kid Cudi and had some advice for young players:
In terms of on the field, there may not be a bigger question mark for Cincinnati than tight end C.J. Uzomah's health after he suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee during the AFC Championship Game win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
"I'm not missing the biggest game of my life," Uzomah said while providing some welcome news for Bengals fans. "I'm not missing it. That's my approach going every day into rehab."
That means he could be ready to suit up in the offense alongside Chase and running back Joe Mixon, who said they attempt to model themselves after Dez Bryant and Marshawn Lynch, respectively:
While the players generated many of the headlines Monday, the coaching matchup is a key storyline as well considering Zac Taylor was on Sean McVay's staff in Los Angeles prior to coming to Cincinnati.
Taylor doesn't believe there will be any additional motivation from his past working with McVay.
"There's so many people in this league at this point, 10 years in, that are always on the sidelines across from you, and that's just part of the game," he said. "There's no added 'Oh, I want to beat this guy,' no. It's the Bengals playing the Rams for the Super Bowl. Our team wants to beat their team. It really has nothing to do with the relationships on the other side of the ball or across the other sideline."
Rams
These playoffs have felt like something of a coronation for Burrow, and the Rams have certainly noticed the second-year quarterback taking the league by storm.
The Cincinnati signal-caller was a big topic of discussion for the NFC representative as well, and there was no bulletin-board material provided because it was nothing but praise:
Los Angeles has plenty of star power of its own, and one of those stars will be tasked with stopping the Burrow-to-Chase connection. Jalen Ramsey said "I believe I'm the best defensive back in the NFL" and is looking forward to the opportunity to go against the game-changing wide receiver:
While the focus is on stopping Burrow and Co., some members of the Rams defense also took the time to reflect on defeating Tom Brady in the playoffs in what turned out to be the final game for the all-time great:
Having Aaron Donald, Von Miller and Ramsey on one side of the ball should at least help Los Angeles prevent Burrow from completely taking over this game.
But the offense is still going to have to put up some points, which will probably start with Cooper Kupp. All Kupp did was lead the NFL across the board with 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns while helping lead his team to the Super Bowl.
He will be playing this time instead of watching it with nachos:
Dylan Schefter asks @CooperKupp how he used to spend Super Bowls growing up.
Kupp isn't the only impact wide receiver on the roster after the Rams added Odell Beckham Jr. following his exit from the Cleveland Browns. He wasted little time proving himself on his new team but said it isn't all about proving his past doubters wrong.
"No," he said when asked if he took satisfaction in proving others wrong. "A younger me would have. ... I don't take satisfaction, it's not that deep for me because I know who I am."
Beckham was also surprised by a former teammate:
Jarvis Landry surprised his former teammate OBJ during his media availability.
Matthew Stafford will be the one throwing the ball to Kupp and Beckham, and he opened up about coming to Los Angeles from the Detroit Lions and teaming up with McVay:
"I was excited about the opportunity to come to Los Angeles."
Matthew Stafford reflects on the offseason trade that landed him on the @RamsNFL.
McVay has something Stafford doesn't in Super Bowl experience, and the head coach reflected on his past loss to the New England Patriots.
"You look at yourself in the mirror, you take accountability and then you keep it moving," he said. "... I'll never run away from the fact that I didn't do a good enough job for our team."
That was also a missed chance for a ring for Donald, but he is looking to change that Sunday:
Why did @AaronDonald97 point to his ring finger during the NFC Championship game?
"The one thing I feel that I'm lacking is being a world champion."
All that stands in the way of a complete resume is one victory.
Bengals' C.J. Uzomah Says He Plans to Play in Super Bowl 56 Despite Knee Injury
Feb 7, 2022
Cincinnati Bengals' C.J. Uzomah (87) in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers-, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Cincinnati Benagls tight end C.J. Uzomah remains optimistic about his availability for Super Bowl LVI despite spraining his MCL in the team's AFC Championship Game victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
"I'm not missing the biggest game of my life," he told reporters Monday. "I'm not missing it. That's my approach going every day into rehab."
Uzomah added he's basically day-to-day because of the injury but that he's mentally preparing as if he'll be on the field.
He described his rehab as a "grind" but said he's feeling better ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Los Angeles Rams.
"I feel really good, I feel really, really good"@cj_uzomah gives an update on his status 6 days out from Super Bowl LVI
Uzomah caught 49 passes for 493 yards and five touchdowns in the the regular season. He saw his usage in the playoffs climb as he became a key player in the passing game in victories over the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans. In those two contests he had 13 receptions, 135 yards and one touchdown.
Pass protection has been a problem for the Bengals all year. Joe Burrow was sacked a league-high 51 times during the regular season, and the Titans got to him nine times in the divisional round.
A Rams front seven that includes Aaron Donald, Von Miller and Leonard Floyd is likely to get consistent pressure on Burrow throughout the Super Bowl.
Ja'Marr Chase is an electrifying pass-catcher, but targeting him downfield is much more difficult when Burrow is flushed from the pocket or having to get rid of the ball quickly.
Those situations are where Uzomah can be worth his weight in gold. His presence would be a big boost for the Bengals offense if he gets the green light to play.
Bengals Beat Rams, Joe Burrow Named MVP in Madden NFL 22 Super Bowl 56 Sim Video
Feb 7, 2022
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) holds the Lamar Hunt trophy after an AFC championship NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. The Bengals won 27-24 in overtime. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Spoiler alert: The Cincinnati Bengals are winning Super Bowl LVI—at least if Madden 22's simulation proves accurate.
EA Sports released the result of its annual Super Bowl simulation Monday, with the Bengals coming away with a 24-21 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Joe Burrow captured MVP honors, throwing for 317 yards and two touchdowns against an interception. Tee Higgins (10 receptions, 119 yards, one TD) and Ja'Marr Chase (six receptions, 88 yards, one TD) came through with huge games for the Bengals offense.
In a result that epitomizes the postseason he's had, rookie kicker Evan McPherson sealed the title for the Bengals from 49 yards out as time expired.
The Rams fell just short despite a strong effort from their own passing game, with Matthew Stafford throwing for 280 yards and two touchdowns against a pick. Cooper Kupp closed out his historic season with a 12-reception, 102-yard performance, while Odell Beckham Jr. also hauled in seven passes for 89 yards and a score.
EA Sports will be looking to get back to winning ways after last year's projection had the Kansas City Chiefs defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Since the developer began releasing official Madden simulations with Super Bowl XXXVIII, the game is 11-7 in picking the winner.
However, after correctly predicting eight of its first 10 Super Bowls, Madden has gone 3-5 over the past eight years.
Joe Burrow Gifts Rapper Kid Cudi His Game-Worn Bengals Jersey from AFC Championship
Feb 4, 2022
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 30: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals calls a play during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 30, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Actor and rapper Kid Cudi posted a
picture Friday of the game-used jersey he received from Cincinnati
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow following Sunday's win over the Kansas
City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game:
😭😭😭😭😭
Ok. So after the Bengals win against the Chiefs, I hit Joe and congratulated him and asked if I could have his jersey. He said yes and sent it right away 🥲 rockin this bitch to the game and then framing it. I am so geeked right now. #ohiolove@JoeyB@Bengalspic.twitter.com/mHWHfVRkR6
After the 27-24 comeback win over the
Chiefs, Burrow told reporters Cudi, who was one of his "childhood
idols," reached out to him the day before the playoff game.
The Bengals quarterback also said listening
to the song "New York City Rage Fest" by the 38-year-old Ohio
native is one of his pregame rituals.
Auctioneer Ken Goldin told Darren
Rovell of the Action Network the jersey is likely worth around
$100,000 right now and would jump in price if the Bengals
win the Super Bowl.
Burrow was off to a strong start to his
rookie season in 2020 before suffering multiple knee injuries,
including a torn ACL, in a game against the Washington Commanders
last year.
The 25-year-old LSU product returned
for the start of the 2021 campaign and established himself as one of
the NFL's top young quarterbacks, a status he's further cemented by helping guide the Bengals to wins over the Las Vegas Raiders,
Tennessee Titans and Chiefs in the playoffs.
Cincinnati will attempt to cap the run
by winning the franchise's first Super Bowl title when it faces off
with the Los Angeles Rams on Feb. 13.
Cudi's post suggests he'll be in
attendance at SoFi Stadium for the NFL's championship game donning
his new Burrow jersey.
Mattress Mack Bets $4.5M on Bengals to Win Super Bowl 56; Largest Mobile Wager Ever
Feb 4, 2022
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 17: Houston business owner Jim Mattress Mack McIngvale poses for a portrait at his store Gallery Furniture in Houston, Texas on February 17, 2021. Gallery Furniture opened up its doors to help people with food and shelter during the power outages.
(Photo by Mark Felix for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The sports gambler known as Mattress Mack has made the largest mobile bet in United States history picking the Cincinnati Bengals to win the Super Bowl, according to Darren Rovell of the Action Network.
Jim McIngvale placed $4.5 million in moneyline bets on the Bengals to beat the Los Angeles Rams next week:
.@MattressMack's $4.5 million money-line bet on the Bengals (+170) with @CaesarsSports is to mitigate risk from a promotional giveaway he's running at his furniture store. Customers who spend $3,000 on furniture will get a refund should the Bengals win the Super Bowl.
Mattress Mack is no stranger to big wagers, notably winning $2.75 million when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won last year's Super Bowl over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Of course, there have also been some notable losses, including a $2.4 million bet at the Kentucky Derby.
He also bets on the hometown Houston Astros to win the World Series nearly every season.
McIngvale will hope for more luck this time around, while his customers will hope for the same. Anyone who spends $3,000 at his store will get a refund if the Bengals pull out the victory.
