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Rams Rules: LA Rout Seattle 42-7 For Control Of Division

SEATTLE (AP) — Todd Gurley rushed for 152 yards and scored four total touchdowns in just 2½ quarters, and the Los Angeles Rams moved to the cusp of their first division title since 2003 with a 42-7 thumping of the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

The matchup to determine first place in the NFC West was completely one-sided.

Los Angeles (10-4) was dominant, embarrassing Seattle into the worst loss during Pete Carroll's eight seasons in charge.

Taking advantage of field position, the Rams scored on six of seven first-half drives, including a 21-point scoring blitz in the second quarter capped by a 57-yard TD run by Gurley on third-and-20 with less than a minute remaining in the first half to take a 34-0 lead at the break.

Gurley had 144 yards rushing in the first half, twice scoring from the 1. He added a 14-yard TD reception midway through the third quarter for a 40-0 Rams lead and spent the rest of his day watching. The 152 yards rushing were the second-best of his career.

Los Angeles Rams v Seattle Seahawks
Wide receiver Robert Woods of the Los Angeles Rams makes a reception as he's tackled by free safety Earl Thomas of the Seattle Seahawks and Byron Maxwell during the second quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Rams v Seattle Seahawks
Wide receiver Robert Woods of the Los Angeles Rams escapes cornerback Byron Maxwell of the Seattle Seahawks during the 2nd quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images)
Los Angeles Rams v Seattle Seahawks
Running back Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams is greeted by Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay after scoring another touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the 2nd quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Rams v Seattle Seahawks
Running back Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams scores another 1 yard touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the game at CenturyLink Field on December 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Rams v Seattle Seahawks
Quarterback Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams passes against the Seattle Seahawks during the 2nd quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images)
Los Angeles Rams v Seattle Seahawks
Tight end Tyler Higbee of the Los Angeles Rams is tackled by middle linebacker Bobby Wagner of the Seattle Seahawks during the 2nd quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Rams v Seattle Seahawks
SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 17: Wide receiver Robert Woods of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates his 1 yard touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the 2nd quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Rams v Seattle Seahawks
Pharoh Cooper of the Los Angeles Rams tries to break a tackle by cornerback Neiko Thorpe of the Seattle Seahawks as he takes a return to the one-yard line during the first quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images)
Los Angeles Rams v Seattle Seahawks
Running back Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams stiff-arms free safety Bradley McDougald of the Seattle Seahawks as he rushes in the first quarter at CenturyLink Field on December 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Rams v Seattle Seahawks
Quarterback Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams escapes defensive end Michael Bennett of the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images)
Los Angeles Rams v Seattle Seahawks
Running back Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams escapes a tackle from linebacker Terence Garvin of the Seattle Seahawks in the first quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images)

The Rams don't have the division wrapped up, but have a two-game lead with two weeks to play. A win against either Tennessee or San Francisco is enough for their first division title in 14 years.

Perhaps bigger than the division title was the statement made by the Rams. They didn't just win in Seattle — a place losing its aura as the toughest to play in the league. They completely dominated the Seahawks, making a Carroll-coached team look rarely overmatched in a big game.

Seattle (8-6) is barely alive for the postseason, but it will likely need some help.

While the Seahawks don't look playoff ready, the Rams look playoff scary, dominating the line of scrimmage and taking advantage of their first-half opportunities.

Six of the Rams seven possessions in the first half started at midfield or inside Seattle territory and they scored on all six.

The only miscue of the half was a questionable fourth-and-1 decision at the Seattle 24 where the Rams called a play-action pass that was tipped and intercepted. It was the one highlight of the first half for Seattle.

Rams QB Jared Goff didn't need to do much, completing 14 of 21 for 120 yards and two TDs. He threw a 1-yard TD to Robert Woods in the second quarter along with his TD to Gurley.

Seattle avoided the shutout on Russell Wilson's 26-yard TD pass to Luke Willson late in the third quarter. But it was one of Wilson's uglier performances. He missed key throws early when Seattle's offense couldn't get started. He threw a backward pass for a 23-yard loss in the second quarter when Seattle finally got to midfield. He fumbled trying to spin out of a sack. And he cost Seattle a safety being flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone in the fourth quarter.

Wilson was 14 of 30 for 142 yards and rushed for 39 yards. He was sacked seven times.

SPECIAL IMPACT

Rams punt returner Pharoh Cooper had a big first half that helped Los Angeles build its huge lead. Cooper set up the Rams first touchdown with a 53-yard punt return to the Seattle 1 in the first quarter. He later had a 26-yard return to set up another short field for the Rams that was capped by the second of Gurley's 1-yard TDs.

HALFTIME THUMPING

The 34-0 halftime deficit was the largest for Seattle since the 2010 season — the first under Carroll — when it trailed the New York Giants 35-0 at halftime on the way to a 41-7 loss.

It was the largest halftime lead in a road game for the Rams in franchise history.

UP NEXT

Rams: Los Angeles is at Tennessee next Sunday.

Seahawks: Seattle is at Dallas next Sunday.

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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