The Los Angeles Rams find themselves in a must-win situation entering the final stretch of the 2019 NFL season starting with a pivotal NFC West matchup with the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14.
Rams head coach Sean McVay did not mince any words when it came to the sudden emphasis to get running back Todd Gurley going in recent weeks. It is safe to say that this will no longer be the case after realizing the error in his playcalling throughout the 2019 campaign.
Gurley has enjoyed some of his best rushing performances of the year in two out of the last three games. Regardless he knows full well that the Rams will have their hands full when the Seahawks come to town.
Gurley admits he will not be surprised if this game ultimatly goes down to the wire considering that is how it has been in the past with these two teams, via Stu Jackson of the team’s official website:
“A good game,” said Rams running back Todd Gurley, when asked what he expects on Sunday night. “It’s always been a good game. Over the last couple of years, we’ve been able to tie (the season series) – usually go one (win) and one (loss). It’s always going to be a good game between us two. We know them, well, they know us well, and they always fight to the end.”
There is certainly plenty of truth to Gurley’s comments considering how these divisional showdowns have gone over the years. Very seldom is a game between these two teams won by a comfortable margin so Los Angeles will need to be fully prepared for crunch time.
The Rams will be trying to even the score after coming up short in their first matchup on Thursday Night Football earlier in the season. The 30-29 result was the third time in a row that a game was decided by seven points or less and they will be looking to get on the winning side this time around.
Although coming so close to victory on the road in Seattle is certainly no easy feat, Los Angeles is past the point where moral victories matter. If they hope to keep their playoff hopes alive they will need to do their part by winning out the rest of the way.
As a result, Gurley may need to be ready to resume his workhorse role out of the backfield for this Rams’ offense. Establishing the run game early on will go a long way in their attempts to stay in the win column.