Rams running back Todd Gurley will be key after the bye week

Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley may be the key to a successful playoff run for LA as the bye week closes.

An off week for the Los Angeles Rams will end, as they ramp up for Week 9 and a game against the New York Giants.

More from Ramblin' Fan

• NFL Trade Rumors: Would Rams trade for Jonathon Taylor?
• Look for 49ers players to follow DeMeco Ryans to Texans
• Ryans to the Texans, will Rams Raheem Morris be next?
• Broncos mimic LA Rams, go All-In pairing Payton with Russell
• Need a new Los Angeles Rams hat for less than $10?

The Rams will travel east for a game against a 1-6 New York team whose offensive struggles, especially on the line, have NFL pundits and fans already wondering if the Giants have seen the best of veteran quarterback Eli Manning.

Los Angeles will roll into NY, or New Jersey to be geographically accurate, with a 5-2 record to kick off what is, in effect, part two of a season where expectations are running high.

One big part of the first seven games has been the play of running back Todd Gurley, who has put the doldrums of a sophomore slump behind him and may be in line for postseason honors.

I’d bet he’d settle for postseason play instead.

For the Rams, any success after the bye week will have Gurley leading the way offensively. As efficient and management like second year quarterback Jared Goff has been, it’ll be the LA running back who will carry this team into the latter fall and holiday months.

Gurley, who has rushed for 627 yards through these first seven games, is clearly on pace to erase a disappointing 2016. To add to his numbers on the ground, he’s also managed to be a reliable pass catcher out of the backfield, with 27 receptions for another 293.

That’s the kind of production that has helped Goff improve form a dismal seven games his rookie season, to a solid first seven games in 2017.

Related Story: Cupp a bigger impact than Watkins through 7 games

Count on Gurley to continue as a feature for the Rams as the bye week comes to a close.

They’ll need him to be, if they want to play beyond New Year’s Eve.