Unser Chat » Todd Gurley probably would have won his first NFL rus

hing title last year if the Los Angeles Rams hadn't rested every key starter in their season finale.Gurley was sanguine about the decision at the time Los Angeles Rams Jerseys 2019 , saying all the right things about the bigger picture and the Rams' playoff goals.With Gurley in the NFL rushing lead again as the regular season heads into its final weeks, the superstar running back is telling the real story about the end of 2017."Yeah, I was lying," Gurley said with a laugh. "I really did care about the title. I couldn't say nothing. No one really plays for regular (season) goals, but that would be a pretty cool thing to get. I tell people that all the time: 'You play for team goals, but who wouldn't want to be the NFL sack leader? Who wouldn't want to be the NFL passing or rushing leader? It's hard to get it.'"This time around, Gurley is openly hoping he can get the first rushing title since 1987 for the Rams (11-1) 鈥?and their race for the NFL's best overall record might actually work in his favor. With Los Angeles in a tight race with New Orleans (10-2) for the NFC's top seed, the Rams might not be able to keep Gurley off the field in December.Gurley heads into Sunday's game at Chicago (8-4) with an NFL-best 1 Darrell Henderson Jersey Cheap ,175 yards, but just 26 more than Dallas' Ezekiel Elliott, the 2016 rushing champ. Gurley also leads the NFL with 1,649 all-purpose yards and 19 touchdowns after topping the league in both categories last season.Gurley is thriving again in his role as the centerpiece of coach Sean McVay's dominant offense, putting him in the running for a second straight AP Offensive Player of the Year award. But this lifelong NFL fan also understands the historic importance of a rushing title, and he wants his name in the books beside the best running backs.Gurley went into Week 17 last season with the league rushing lead at 1,305 yards, but McVay decided a week of rest for the playoffs was more important than their last regular-season game against San Francisco. Kansas City rookie Kareem Hunt subsequently passed him with a 35-yard TD run on his only carry of the Chiefs' finale."Definitely wanted to get it last year Darrell Henderson Jersey Womens , but whatever," Gurley said. "We didn't play in the last game. I'm just going to focus on these next couple of games, and whatever happens, happens. I'm just happy that we were able to clinch a playoff spot and just go from there."The Rams are already playoff-bound after beating Detroit last week, and they could clinch a first-round bye with a win over Chicago this Sunday. But even if they beat the Bears in chilly Chicago, the Rams are likely to be pushed down the stretch by New Orleans for home-field advantage in a potential NFC championship game matchup.That race means McVay is unlikely to rest his starters unless the Rams are guaranteed two home playoff games at the Coliseum. New Orleans already beat Los Angeles this season, so the Rams need to finish one game ahead of the Saints.McVay has another reason to rely heavily on Gurley: Malcolm Brown, Gurley's backup for all four seasons of both running backs' careers Darrell Henderson white jersey , is out for the year after injuring his collarbone last week. Gurley and Brown are close friends who lift weights and hang out together away from the Rams' training complex.Brown's replacements are Justin Davis and rookie John Kelly, two solid backs with little NFL experience. Gurley generally controls his own playing time on the field, only leaving when he decides he needs a rest, but the Rams are even more likely now to lean on him in any key situation.Gurley realizes it isn't easy to be his backup, let alone a third-stringer. His 279 touches are second in the league to Elliott's 293 this season."It's pretty tough, because you're doing everything during OTAs and you're doing stuff in camp, and then it's like, if you're not a guy on the active roster Darrell Henderson Los Angeles Rams Jerseys , you're not really getting many reps at all," Gurley said. "I feel like those guys will be fine when they get in the game. They're definitely going to play, because I'm pretty sure I'll get tired a play or two." The Los Angeles Rams are in seventh heaven.The Rams (7-0) remain the league's only unbeaten team after a 39-10 rout of the San Francisco 49ers.They will look to stay unbeaten when they host Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.And the Rams are the unanimous top team in the latest AP Pro32 poll for the fifth consecutive week. They received all 12 first-place votes and 384 points in balloting Tuesday by media members who regularly cover the NFL."With (running back) Todd Gurley and (defensive lineman) Aaron Donald doing the dirty work, the league's only unbeaten team is blessed with superstars on both sides of the ball," said Ira Kaufman of Fox 13 in Tampa, Florida.The New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs are tied for second with 365 points. The Patriots (5-2) have won four in a row and are back on top of the AFC East. They will close out Week 8 when they head to Buffalo to take on the Bills on "Monday Night Football." New England has won 31 of its past 35 meetings with the division rival.The Chiefs (6-1) have the AFC's best record and rebounded in a big way from their only loss with a 45-10 rout of Cincinnati."They call him 'Showtime,' and Patrick Mahomes continues to live up to the nickname with yet another spectacular showing in a four-touchdown performance against the Bengals," Newsday's Bob Glauber said. "There may not be a defense capable of stopping him."The Chiefs will face the Broncos on Sunday for the second time this month. In the first matchup Los Angeles Rams Jerseys 2019 , the Chiefs rallied in the fourth quarter with two late touchdowns for a 27-23 win. It's their closest margin of victory in a game this season.The New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings are next at Nos. 4 and 5. The first-place NFC teams will meet on Sunday night in one of the top matchups of Week 8.The Los Angeles Chargers slipped a spot to No. 6 after holding on for a 20-19 win over the Titans in London when Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel went for a 2-point conversion instead of attempting a game-tying PAT.There was another tie in the top 10 as Pittsburgh and Carolina are both No. 7. The Steelers (3-2-1) lead the AFC North after their bye week and will face Cleveland on Sunday for the second time this season.Also Sunday, the Panthers will host the Baltimore Ravens, who slipped three spots to No. 9 after losing 24-23 to the Saints when Justin Tucker missed a game-tying PAT in the final minute. Tucker had been 222 for 222 on PATs since turning pro in 2012."I feel like I cost us the game," he said Sunday night. "Every single one of my teammates thus far has told me the opposite, and no one play wins or loses a game. But that's a tough thing to grapple with when you're the guy in that situation at the end of the game."Washington (4-2) jumped six spots to round out the top 10. The Redskins were the beneficiary of a missed kick against Dallas. Matt Baher's 52-yard attempt hit the left upright as time expired in Washington's 20-17 win.