Los Angeles Rams: Ground McVay could be key to Super Bowl appearance
The ability to run the football has always been a key to success in the NFL. For the Los Angeles Rams, it may be the ticket to Atlanta in early February.
This season, only the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens totaled more rushing yards than the NFC West champions Los Angeles Rams. Even with Pro Bowl running back Todd Gurley out of action late in the season, the club was still able to come up big on the ground via veteran C.J. Anderson.
Of course, anyone surprised by Sean McVay’s game plan on Saturday night against the Dallas Cowboys may have missed the way the team played the final two games. In both of those contests, the Rams totaled at least 40 running plays.
In the 30-22 victory over Dallas on Saturday, McVay’s club totaled season highs in attempts (48) and yards on the ground (273). Anderson ran 23 times for 123 yards and two scores while Gurley added 115 yards and one touchdown on 16 attempts.
Back to the team’s losses to the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14 and 15, respectively. In each of those setbacks, the Rams totaled fewer than 20 running plays. And the only other time that happened this season was in the 45-35 loss to the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome (Week 9).
Yes, McVay’s club is 14-0 when they run the football at least 20 times in a game this season (including kneel downs) and 0-3 when it doesn’t.
Simply put, keeping the Rams’ offense on the field means that the opposing attack is on the sidelines. It’s a proven formula that has paid off for many teams, especially those with a defensive unit that has taken a bit of back seat to their offensive teammates.
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Of course, you can only protect one side of the football for so long. But for one week, McVay’s club got the job done. And now the club is off to the NFC title games for the first time since 2001.