Chicago Bears' next challenge: Rams rookie Gurley
Monday night the Chicago Bears' defense kept the NFL's most prolific passer, Philip Rivers, under wraps in a 22-19 victory.
This week the test is on the ground - St. Louis Rams rookie of the year candidate Todd Gurley.
Even though he didn't play in the first two games while continuing his recovery from the torn ACL that ended his final season at Georgia last November, Gurley still is fourth in the NFL with 664 rushing yards.
His 5.63-yard average is the best in the NFL among players with 70 or more carries.
"I've heard some people compare him to Adrian Peterson when he first came into the league, so that tells you where this guy is at from a talent standpoint," said Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. "He's got good size, good speed, he's tough to tackle.
"They do a good job in their running game. They have a good scheme; it's well-coached. He's picked it up well. He's lit it up."
The Rams are No. 4 in rushing yards and No. 3 in average gain per rush with Gurley as the featured runner. The Bears' defense is 24th in rushing yards allowed and 27th in average gain allowed per run.
For comparison sake, Peterson gashed the Bears for 103 yards on 20 carries in Week 8.
"He's a phenomenal player," Bears coach John Fox said of Gurley. "Kind of knew that coming out (of college). He had done it at a high level in college. To me, he's transformed that to the pro game.
"He's explosive. He's big. He's got good vision. He's got a lot of good film on tape right now, even halfway through the season."
Although he has played in at least two fewer games than most of the competition, the 6-foot-1, 227-pound Gurley leads the NFL with 277 fourth-quarter rushing yards.
"The most impressive thing is, he's busted out for some long runs and he just goes back in the huddle," Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. "He doesn't want to come out, and we like that."
There's a lot to like about Gurley, whom the Rams selected with the 10th overall pick in the draft, despite his ongoing rehab.
He's the first rookie in NFL history to rush for 125 yards or more in four consecutive games, a streak that ended Sunday when the Minnesota Vikings held him to 89 yards on 24 carries.
"He really has been a difference maker for us," Fisher said. "Guys love blocking for him. He's a better person than he is player, if that tells you anything about him.
"He's an outstanding young man and a team guy and just wants to help us win."
Bears outside linebacker Lamarr Houston helped close out Monday's victory with back-to-back sacks that put the Chargers in a third-and-23 hole they couldn't escape.
His priority Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis will be containing Gurley.
"It's going to be important to set the edge and get off blocks because the guy is a talented runner," Houston said. "He's probably a top-three running back in the league right now.
"We've got to keep him in the box, set the edge and make sure he's not back there hitting the holes without being stopped."
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