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"Okay, here we go. Here we go" Elle clapped her hands in delight. The game had just started with the Bengals kicking off, but already it was one of the most exciting experiences for Elle.

The feeling when the Bengals came running into the stadium. Dwayne The Rock Johnson standing over on the turf introducing the game. Everything, even the singing of the national anthem just felt impressive today and Elle tried to soak in as many impressions as she could around her.

But for now, the game was on. The kick landed in the end zone and so the Rams started at the 25 yard on their own side. But the defense was present from the beginning. The Rams got a new first down, but it was their last, thanks to a quarterback sack and a running back stop after only a few yards.

Not even four minutes had been taken off the clock when Joe and the offense came on the field for the first time. But the Bengals' drive also ended scoreless after Ja'Marr failed to catch the ball on 4th & 1.

This time things went better for the Rams and with good plays and despite coverage from Mike Hilton, OBJ caught Stafford's pass in the end zone to give the Rams the lead. The field goal sat and so the first between score was 7-0 on the scoreboard.

The Bengals were unable to add to the score and gave the ball back to the Rams scoreless, but they were also unsuccessful on the next drive.

With 1:40 left in the first quarter, Joe and the Bengals got the ball back at their own 30 yard line and immediately brought it down with a run by Joe Mixon for another first down.

Joe gave the commands and immediately the ball landed in his hands. He looked around, the O-Line seemed to be able to keep the opponents away from him for a few more seconds. On his right, he made out Ja'Marr sprinting along the side of the field.

Joe knew exactly how fast Ja'Marr would be and roughly where the ball would have to land for Ja'Marr to catch it. Without a second thought, he fired the ball in the direction of his team mate.

Ja'Marr caught the ball despite being covered and made up a few more yards before being stopped at the 3 yard line. Joe clenched his fist in triumph. It was very good field position.

But a couple of penalties pulled the Bengals back further and despite three attempts they just couldn't get the ball into the end zone, eventually yielding only a field goal and cutting the margin to 7-3.

The second quarter did not start well. The Rams scored again with a touchdown, but the Bengals were able to prevent the extra point and got the ball back at 13-3.

Then something amazing happened. The Bengals were once again close to the Rams' end zone. It was the 2nd & Goal. Joe got the ball and immediately passed it to Joe Mixon who, covered by no one, scanned the end zone and saw Tee.

With a throw over the huddle at the line of scrimmage, the ball landed right in the hands of Tee, who was suddenly in the end zone with the ball in his hands.

The sideline freaked out. Elle jumped up and down excitedly. "Touchdown! Touchdown!" Nick yelled out to her, beaming all over his face.

Joe had immediately run to Joe Mixon, who had finished his little cheer dance. "Not bad" appreciatively, he patted him on the helmet before the offense ran together to the sidelines and high-fived their team mates and coach.

Evan kicked the extra point and the Bengals trailed by only 3 points.

"Oh, you wouldn't wish that on any player in the Super Bowl" Nick contorted his face in pity as they watched the Rams' ATs help OBJ limp off the field. Without any outside interference, he had just twisted his knee in the Rams' drive, and the way he limped and immediately dropped the ball, it was clear to everyone that he wasn't coming back.

"Imagine having to tell a player that it's over for him. That he has to watch the biggest game of his career from the sidelines" Elle sighed "The game is still long, Elle. It can still hit us too" Nick indicated. "I hope not" Elle muttered.

The Rams drive continued, Stafford fired the ball towards the end zone, but before the Rams WR could catch the ball, Jesse went up in the air and grabbed the ball. Interception! He had prevented another Rams touchdown.

The second quarter ended uneventfully and with a score of 13-10 for the Rams, they went into the halftime break. Elle would have liked to see the halftime show, but since she had to take care of the players, she unfortunately missed the performance and only muffled sounds arrived in the locker rooms.

The third quarter started with possession for the Bengals. Joe got the ball and spotted Tee, who was only covered by an opponent pretty close to the end zone. He threw the pass and, inexplicably, the opponent suddenly flew past Tee and onto the ground.

Tee, ball in arms, with no opponents around him, took off running and to cheers from the sideline and Elle in Nick's arms, he took the ball into the end zone for the Bengals' second touchdown.

Elle didn't know what was suddenly going on, because 10 seconds later, the Bengals suddenly had the ball again. Chidobe intercepted Stafford's pass after it slipped out of the hands of one of the opponents and got the Bengals offense back on the field.

The Bengals got close to the end zone again, but due to an unstable O-line and a sack on Joe, they had to settle for the field goal again, which Evan easily converted again, leaving the Bengals still in the lead at 20-13.

The third quarter brought nothing more except for a Rams field goal. With the score at 16-20, the game entered the final 15 minutes of the Super Bowl. Elle's tension grew more and more, everything was still open. Win, loss, overtime, anything could happen.

After the Rams ended their drive without scoring, the ball went back to the Bengals. It was third down as the O-line once again failed to hold up, leading to a sack of Joe. A chaotic pile of Bengals and Rams players suddenly lay spread out on the ground and were only separated by the referees' whistles. All the players stood up, all except....

"Joe" Elle groaned in shock as she saw her boyfriend lift his knee and roll around on the court, contorted in pain. She knew this wasn't good. It couldn't mean anything good.

Worry spread through her as his teammates pulled him to his feet and he limped off the court with them, anything but uninjured.

Elle tapped Nick. "Let me go there. Please let me check it out" she pleaded with him as Joe removed his helmet and took his place on the bench.

"No, Elle" Nick declined. "Why not?" Elle asked desperately. "I know his injury. I've helped build him up. I know what I'm doing."

"It's not because of that, Elle. I know you're qualified to do this, but see..." he pointed to Dan, the quarterback coach, who was giving Nick some hand signals. "What does that mean?" Elle asked, confused.

"That Joe doesn't want to be treated" Nick explained. "What, why not? It was obvious he was in pain" Elle looked at Nick startled. "Do you know what you said before? How bad it would be if we had to tell a player he couldn't play in arguably the most important game of his career?" Nick reminded her of the conversation after OBJ's injury.

Elle nodded with a sigh. "Joe would know that we would leave him out, but he doesn't want that. So he escapes that by just not letting us treat him" she concluded. Nick nodded.

After the conversation, Elle could not concentrate on the game, but focused on Joe all the time. Although in the drive that ended after an unsuccessful catch by T.B, it looked like Joe was able to put some weight on his knee, but as soon as he took a seat on the bench, Elle saw that he was in pain.

He stretched out his leg, holding it in a gentle position to ease the pain a bit. Elle didn't like that at all. Sure, it was his decision and it was the Super Bowl, but Nick as well as she had explained to him several times what would happen if he played with his injury. It could get worse. It could cost him his career.

She was so focused on Joe and his knee that she didn't notice that the Rams were back in the Bengals' end zone. It wasn't until the whole stadium cheered and she heard Nick swearing next to her that she woke up from her trance.

"What happened?" she asked. "The Rams scored a touchdown. Fuck, we're behind again. Fuck" Nick was frustrated. Elle sighed, "that sucks. But it's not too late, Nick"

There was 1:20 left on the clock when Joe took the field again with his offense. At first it looked pretty good. The passes were good, they got a first down, but suddenly they were on 4th & 1.

Everything seemed to go wrong. The O-Line didn't hold, Joe was able to fight his way free, but before he could throw a decent pass to Ja'Marr, he was grabbed from behind and pulled to the ground. The ball slipped and flew to the ground.

The stadium went wild, the Rams players ran up to each other and hugged. Elle's hope and confidence was suddenly gone, leaving an icy trail down her body. The entire sideline hung their heads.

They had lost.....

Finally got this done, hated every minute of watching the highlight video especially the end and Joes injury but its done now!!

Have a great day!!

WHO-DEY 🧡