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Super Bowl LIII: 5 candidates who may take home MVP hardware

By Peter Panacy

HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, and New England Patriots' Tom Brady with the Pete Rozelle MVP Trophy during the Super Bowl Winner and MVP press conference on February 6, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, and New England Patriots' Tom Brady with the Pete Rozelle MVP Trophy during the Super Bowl Winner and MVP press conference on February 6, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 16: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams runsthe ball during the first half of a game agianst the Philadelphia Eagels at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 16: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams runsthe ball during the first half of a game agianst the Philadelphia Eagels at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Running Back Todd Gurley, Rams

If the Patriots want to get their running game going, it would be foolish to expect the Rams to do anything opposite.

Sean McVay’s offense is built around the run, especially running back Todd Gurley. Sure, No. 2 running back C.J. Anderson has been a nice storyline for L.A. down the stretch. But this is Gurley’s show. And everyone knows it.

Gurley is crucial, because his running effectiveness allows the Rams to successfully use play action. This has been a massive advantage for quarterback Jared Goff, whose abilities off play action are well documented.

Against the Saints, Gurley managed just 10 yards on four rushes and wasn’t a factor in the receiving game. But nearly every game where Gurley has struggled this season, he bounces back the following week. Case in point, after a season-low 28 rush yards against the Chicago Bears in Week 14, Gurley bounced back with a two-touchdown, 124 all-purpose yard effort against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15.

This suggests Gurley is due for a big Super Bowl LIII performance.