The Los Angeles Rams have the potential to be the sequel of the Greatest Show on Turf after what was possibly the best Color Rush game in NFL history.
The Rams traveled up the coast to play a game Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers. It made me very happy that the matchup was available on the NFL Network because that game was phenomenal.
I turned on the game after The Prime Time Sports Guys (PTSG) show, which airs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays on 90.5 WERG, and saw a fantastic game.
There are many different factors that made the game so exciting, one of them being Rams running back Todd Gurley. He played a fantastic game with three touchdowns and 149 scrimmage yards, and ran with a full purpose in this one.
I am a firm believer in the sophomore slump; players in their second season seem to have a pattern of slowing down. This was true for Gurley and Sammy Watkins, and may be happening now with Ezekiel Elliott. Being in his third year, Gurley looks more explosive than ever. This added to the excitement of the game in a major way.
Gurley was booed by fans when conducting an interview after the game. The rivalry between these two teams showed that it was still real and could remain so in the future.
San Francisco showed a very dynamic offense Thursday night, and that definitely poked a hole in the theory that this Rams team could be the next “Greatest Show on Turf 2.” But with a solid defense, this Rams team would be that much closer to being like the original Turf bunch.
It just so happens that after the game there was a documentary on the previous Greatest Show on Turf, which featured Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, and the now Hall of Famer Kurt Warner.
Jared Goff might not quite be the next Hall of Famer, but the young Rams quarterback played with the same intensity as Warner. Playing his first real season, Goff completed 22-of-28 passes for 292 yards with three touchdowns. Warner is definitely someone who will remain one of the best Rams in history, but you see the possibilities that Goff has established.
Both teams played absolutely stellar. All the credit in the world to Brian Hoyer and his comeback efforts, which ultimately fell short.
But the Rams definitely show that they have the potential –- potential – to become the next Greatest Show on Turf. How they played Thursday night against the rival 49ers showed much resemblance in intensity to the 1999 team.
But the most important thing to remember here is that the team must get stronger on the defensive side of the ball. Allowing Brian Hoyer to nearly pull off a major comeback means the Rams have a way to go before being considered a playoff team.
The chances are there for Los Angeles to create something fantastic as a team in its new stadium next year by making this season count and becoming a possible successor to the Greatest Show on Turf.
MATTHEW NEWARA
