The Cincinnati Bengals will need all the help they can get to pull of the comeback and beat the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI. So penalties like this are probably the last thing they need.
Following a Jessie Bates interception in the end zone late in the first half, the Bengals players rushed their teammate to celebrate the big play with him. Among them was cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, who was inactive for the game — and thus, wearing flip flops.
That was enough to earn him an unsportsmanlike penalty, which also marked the first penalty of the game.
The Bengals were forced to start their drive from their own 10 yard line as a result of the penalty and eventually punted. The Rams hold a 13-10 lead at the half.
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