Two of the top candidates for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year will be on display when running back Todd Gurley and the St. Louis Rams host No. 1 overall draft pick Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night.
An otherwise intriguing matchup between two of the league's marquee rookies could be reduced to undercard status given the circumstances surrounding each team. The Rams are playing their final home game of the season -- and perhaps their last ever in the city of St. Louis -- because of the wishes of owner Stan Kroenke to relocate the franchise to Los Angeles.
The Buccaneers' postseason hopes were dealt a crushing blow in Sunday's setback versus New Orleans, and a loss Thursday could have Tampa Bay eliminated from the playoff picture by the end of the weekend. The Rams have beaten the Bucs in each of the past three seasons, allowing a total of 43 points.
Here are three keys to the game for both the Buccaneers and the Rams.
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BUCCANEERS
1. Stack the box to stop Gurley
The Rams are obviously a much better team when Gurley can find running room. During the five-game losing streak for St. Louis, Gurley failed to rush for over 100 yards and only topped 3.8 yards per carry once (a 27-3 loss to the Arizona Cardinals). During their win in Week 14, Gurley rushed for 140 yards and two scores while averaging 8.8 yards per carry. It's obvious that if the Buccaneers can stop Gurley, it will be the key to winning the game.
2. Find a way to continue to get Martin the ball
We've seen the Buccaneers fall behind early a few times this season, and the result has been Doug Martin not seeing the ball nearly as much as the game goes on. The Week 14 loss to the New Orleans Saints is a prime example, as Martin rushed just 11 times but still managed 81 yards and a touchdown. Tampa Bay needs to get -- and keep -- the ball in Martin's hands.
3. Force QB Keenum to turn the ball over
While the Buccaneers have won three of their last five games, one key difference between the wins and losses is their ability to force opposing quarterbacks into bad throws. In the three victories, the Buccaneers have totaled five interceptions. The two losses? Zero. Case Keenum has only played in three games this season, but his completion percentage is just 54.2, so the Buccaneers should look to create pressure and try to force Keenum into making a few errant throws.
RAMS
1. A healthy dose of Gurley
After watching New Orleans control the clock for 37-plus minutes with fourth-stringer Tim Hightower at Tampa Bay, the Rams would be foolish not to unleash Gurley early and often. They have strayed from that formula in recent weeks, giving Gurley only nine carries in back-to-back losses to Cincinnati and Arizona despite trailing by only 10 points at the half. Gurley had nine of his 16 carries in the second half Sunday and turned them into 127 yards and two TDs.
2. Bait Winston into taking chances
The Rams will have both starting cornerbacks, Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, back in the lineup for the first time in four weeks. That, combined with the fact that Bucs wideout Vincent Jackson already has been ruled out for the game, will allow St. Louis the luxury of having its front seven focused on stopping the ground game. That could leave top wide receiver Mike Evans, and Winston, staring at double coverage quite a bit.
3. Try (again) to establish the pass
St. Louis is averaging a league-worst 173.1 passing yards and Keenum has thrown for only 260 yards in his two starts. Given that Tampa Bay features a top-10 run defense (94.1 YPG) and leading wide receiver Tavon Austin is often utilized on end-arounds, Kenny Britt remains the best downfield option. Britt is averaging 13.9 yards per catch over the past three games, but he has latched onto only 10-of-22 targets during that span.
