Michigan Football: An underrated play by David Long in Super Bowl LVI

Michigan football players have won plenty of Super Bowls but this year, two other Wolverines won it, including David Long who made a key play late. 

It wasn’t Tom Brady but another former Michigan football player (two actually counting Blake Countess) was part of the Los Angeles Rams team that defeated the Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI.

David Long, a Michigan football standout at corner, was drafted by the Rams in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft. Eventually, he worked his way into a starting role with the Rams and started in five games this season while playing in all 16 for the second straight year.

Long became an important contributor for the Rams. He intercepted one pass, defended four more, and also had 40 tackles to his credit.

The former Michigan football standout also made a key play in the final minute of the Super Bowl, one that went unnoticed but certainly helped the Rams prevail.

After the Rams took a 23-20 lead with less than two minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Cincinatti still had time to answer and the Bengals actually moved the ball near midfield when they were forced to attempt a fourth down.

Joe Burrow wound up attempting a pass and after getting some pressure from the pass rush, he threw an incomplete pass and from there, the Rams took a knee and started celebrating.

David long’s underrated contribution

While Aaron Donald and the pass rush get the obvious credit, Ted Nguyen pointed out on Twitter that David Long also deserves credit for his contributions to the play.

As Nguyen points out, Long is in coverage in the flat when he realizes Tee Higgens is going to come open on the slant and jumps in front to take that away.

Burrow was looking in that direction and had to hold onto the ball which allowed Donald to hit him and effectively end the game.

If Long hadn’t reacted the way he did, Higgins would probably have gotten the ball and likely a first down as he appeared to have a step on the other Rams’ defender.

It could have even gotten the Bengals into field goal range. So while Matt Stafford and Aaron Donald will get most of the credit, as they should, David Long, the former Wolverine should get his too because without his play, who knows if the Rams would be Super Bowl champions.