Aaron Donald gave a speech to spark the Rams' defense, then made the play that sent his team to the Super Bowl

• The Los Angeles Rams are headed to the Super Bowl after taking down the 49ers to win the NFC.
• Before the Rams' big comeback, Aaron Donald gave a rousing motivational speech to spur his defense.

The Los Angeles Rams are headed to the Super Bowl.

And Aaron Donald — arguably the best player in football — was instrumental in the big win that sent them there.

With his team down 10 points late in the third quarter of the Rams' NFC title game thriller against the San Francisco 49ers, Donald offered his defensive squad a rousing motivational speech before they marched back onto the gridiron.

Here's the view from the crowd:

The Rams' defense didn't allow a single point from that moment on, while their offense managed to close the gap with a resurgent fourth quarter. The Rams took the lead on a 30-yard field goal with just 1:46 remaining in the game, leaving Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers an opportunity to try for a game-winning drive in the final seconds.

Enter Donald.

Just three plays into San Francisco's final possession, the superstar defensive end muscled through the 49ers' offensive line and wrapped Garoppolo up for a near-tackle. Only at the last possible moment before hitting the ground did the quarterback desperately fling the football upfield to avoid a sack, and it flew straight into the outstretched arms of fellow Los Angeles defender Travin Howard.

Ball game.

On a team with no shortage of star power, Donald was perhaps the most fitting player to clinch the massive victory. Considered by many to be the most dominant player in football, the 6-foot-1, 284-pound force regularly terrorizes offensive lines and almost always commands double- or triple-teams.

Though he doesn't get the same recognition as many of his counterparts on the other side of the ball — the quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs, and tight ends — he almost certainly has a greater impact than anyone night-in and night-out. And now, he's earned himself the chance to showcase that talent on the biggest stage of all.

Super Bowl LVI, here he comes.