Fansided

5 reasons Los Angeles Rams will win Super Bowl 53

By Russell S. Baxter

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 20: Brandin Cooks #12 of the Los Angeles Rams makes a catch over P.J. Williams #26 of the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 20: Brandin Cooks #12 of the Los Angeles Rams makes a catch over P.J. Williams #26 of the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 20: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams runs the ball against the New Orleans Saints during the fourth quarter in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 20: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams runs the ball against the New Orleans Saints during the fourth quarter in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

3. Todd Gurley flourishes as a pass-catcher

The Los Angeles Rams wound up finishing third in the NFL season in rushing yards per game this past season. They managed that feat with versatile Todd Gurley in the backfield for the majority of the year. But when he was hobbled late in the season and wound up being inactive the final two games, the club latched onto unemployed veteran C.J. Anderson.

He responded with some big performances down the stretch, totaling a combined 43 carries for 299 yards and two scores in wins over the Cardinals and 49ers. The one time Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 champion also rushed for 123 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns in the 30-22 divisional playoff victory over Dallas.

Regardless of the reasons, Anderson wound up being the main ball carrier once again in the team’s 26-23 overtime win in the NFC title game as Gurley (admittedly not injured) spent many minutes on the sidelines. But Super Sunday is another day. “We’ll see how the game plan plays out, we still got some time,” said McVay (via Clarence Dennis of TheRams.com). “I think the point is, you want to be able to give Todd some time — more opportunities, more attempts carrying the football.”

Carries or receptions? During the regular season, the prolific performer finished third on the club with 59 catches, good for 580 yards and four touchdowns. So could this be Gurley’s primarily role against the Patriots, with Anderson doing the pounding? Food for thought.

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