Whether hurt or just a bad game, Rams biggest task may be figuring out Todd Gurley

Was Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley hurt or did he just have a bad game in the NFC Championship?

As great as it was for fans of the Los Angeles Rams to celebrate winning the NFC Championship Game by beating the New Orleans Saints 26-23, the mystery surrounding running back Todd Gurley will pick up a lot of steam in the next week and half leading up to Super Bowl Sunday.

My question is how much stock do you put into Gurley’s own words?
100%?
99%?
75%?
50%?

Maybe zero percent.

So is Gurley lying about an existing injury? Is Rams head coach Sean McVay being honest when saying his lack of touches was due to the flow of the game? Maybe this is simply a cover story to misdirect leading up to the Super Bowl? Or did he simply have a bad game and get swallowed up by a big moment?

Obviously, and as I wrote recently, fans and media probably won’t know the whole and entire truth until after the Super Bowl. With that said, it further emphasis how important and fortuitous it was that the Rams found and signed veteran running back C.J. Anderson.

Anderson, who has been a critical part of the Los Angeles offense since a Week 16 win against the Arizona Cardinals, will likely be a significant part of the game plan when the Rams play the New England Patriots in Atlanta, whether Gurley is truly injured or not, depending on each and every presser between now and Super Bowl Sunday.

The bright side for fans, is that Anderson has filled in capably. With the exception of the game against the Saints, where the running game was a struggle early on, Anderson has been a strong backup.

One other thing worth noting is how valuable the bye week was leading up to the playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys. That extra week worth of rest provided Gurley and the Rams a huge game from both running backs, with Anderson collecting 123 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and Gurley another 115 yards and kicking in another TD.

Whatever you believe regarding Gurley, McVay’s comments, or social media, that single story will be significant leading up to the Super Bowl. Thankfully, the addition of Anderson allows for a partial sigh of relief.