After a quiet matches to start the game by Madden 22 coins both teams, Rams were able to score in a pretty controversial way. In a third-and-12 scenario from the Cincinnati 34-yard line Matthew Stafford uncorked a deep ball to Van Jefferson on the left side of the end zone. Originally, the officials ruled that he was out of the line of play, but a challenge made by Sean McVay led to a reversal and the Rams going up, 7-0. In all transparency the ball was clearly not in play. Jefferson could have been in out of bounds, but virtual officials ruled otherwise on reviewing the situation (Maybe video games have become more real! ).

The Bengals responded to the touchdown drive from the Rams by scoring their own. Joe Burrow completed a pass to Tee Higgins to tie the game at seven, but L.A. quickly matched that score by driving through the field and Odell Beckham Jr. scoring a seven-yard touchdown passing to make it 14-7.

It was at this point in the game that the Bengals started to get left by the wind. The Cincinnati offense entered the field following that Beckham touchdown and ended up in a third-and-9 situation from their 24-yard line.

After moving to his right side, Burrow was sacked at by Leonard Floyd and the football fell loose. Aaron Donald scooped it up and was able to rush through for the touchdown to give the Rams ahead 21-7. In the second quarter the running back Cam Akers would cap off another touchdown drive with L.A. that would extend their lead by three scores.

The Bengals did show some courage in the first quarter, even during the scoring spree of the Rams. They were able to locate the end zone with just 50 seconds remaining before halftime to buy madden coins cut the gap to 14 points after Burrow crossed the ball with Tyler Boyd.