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CITY OF STARS

Los Angeles Rams profile: Todd Gurley and Jared Goff have brought play-off football back to the ‘City of Angels’

Here is SunSport's lowdown on the Los Angeles Rams ahead of the play-offs

Todd Gurley and the LA Rams have marched into the play-offs as NFC West champions

PLAY-OFF football is coming back to Los Angeles for the first time since 1993 after the Rams won the NFC West.

Not since the LA Raiders 24 years ago has a team from the Californian city reached the NFL post-season.

 Todd Gurley and the LA Rams have marched into the play-offs as NFC West champions
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Todd Gurley and the LA Rams have marched into the play-offs as NFC West championsCredit: Getty Images

But, in their second year since moving back to LA from St Louis, the Rams have done the business and will be on the road to the Super Bowl in January.

SunSport runs the rule over the NFC West champions.

SEASON SUMMARY

New head coach Sean McVay has unlocked the Rams' offensive potential this year and turned them into the highest scoring team in football.

The Rams were powered to the post-season by the highest scoring offence in football, scoring 40 or more points four times in the season.

The defence struggled in the early part of the year, but as the weeks went on that unit started to click too and the Rams became the complete product.

This is the Rams' first division title since 2003 and the youthful exuberance of coach McVay, 31, quarterback Jared Goff, 23 and running back Todd Gurley, 23, have made them a fun team to watch.

 Head coach Sean McVay has unlocked Jared Goff and the Rams' potential
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Head coach Sean McVay has unlocked Jared Goff and the Rams' potentialCredit: Getty Images

TURNING POINT

The Rams' hard work earlier in the season threatened to be undone in week 15.

Following defeat by the Philadelphia Eagles at home on Dec 10, the Rams travelled to division rivals Seattle knowing defeat would leave the Seahawks in control of the division.

Seattle had already beaten LA at the Coliseum back in October, but Gurley and Co wiped the floor with the Seahawks on their own back yard.

Los Angeles ran out 42-7 winners and then beat Tennessee on Christmas Eve to seal their play-off berth.


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KEY MAN

If Todd Gurley doesn't become the first non-quarterback to win the NFL MVP award since 2006 this season, no running back may ever win it again.

The running back has been nothing short of incredible both rushing the ball and catching out of the backfield, scoring 19 touchdowns and leading the league in rushing.

 Todd Gurley has leapfrogged into MVP consideration with a string of incredible displays
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Todd Gurley has leapfrogged into MVP consideration with a string of incredible displaysCredit: Getty Images

After a disappointing 2016 season, Gurley has shown this year why he is one of the best backs in the game with his explosive speed and immense power.

X FACTOR

It took a while for the Rams defence to get going this season, but Aaron Donald has had quarterbacks running for their lives of late.

The 26-year-old is about as disruptive a presence there is at defensive tackle and made the Pro Bowl for the fourth year in a row.


QUICK FACTS

Regular-season record: 11-5 (1st in NFC West)

Location: Los Angeles (CA)

Stadium: LA Memorial Coliseum (93,607)

Head coach: Sean McVay

Best performance: 1999 Super Bowl winners

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