Goff ’s 4 TD passes lift L.A. to West title

NASHVILLE — The Los Angeles Rams and first-year head coach Sean McVay saved the real celebration for the locker room.

That’s where McVay, the youngest head coach in modern NFL history, channeled wrestler Ric Flair after the Rams clinched the franchise’s first NFC West title since 2003 by beating the Tennessee Titans 27-23 on Sunday.

“When you find a way to come on the road and finish up your road record 7-1 and win a division title, there’s only one thing you can say: Woooo! One more: Woooo!” McVay said before giving the Rams off until Wednesday.

Los Angeles trailed 23-20 before Jared Goff threw a 14yard touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp with 11:41 left. The Rams (11-4), who came into Sunday needing a win or a loss by Seattle to secure the division, took care of business themselves, with Todd Gurley II and Goff leading the way again.

Gurley bolstered his argument for NFL MVP with 118 yards rushing and 158 yards receiving with two TDs, including a screen he took 80 yards for the longest reception of his career. He became only the third in NFL history to put together such a performance in the same game, joining Ollie Matson (1954) and Herschel Walker (1986). Goff finished with four touchdowns and 301 yards passing.

“He is in my book,” Goff said, vouching for Gurley for MVP. “If there’s anyone out there that’s a running back that deserves it, he’s the guy.”

The Titans (8-7) lost their third straight game, damaging their chances of ending their playoff drought stretching to 2008. The loss handed the AFC South title to the Jaguars, and Tennessee hosts Jacksonville in the regular-season finale needing a win to reach the postseason.

“We still have an opportunity to get into the playoffs, and that is the next objective,” head coach Mike Mularkey said.

The Titans had the ball and a chance to win late in the game. On 4th-and-4 at the Rams’ 44, Marcus Mariota rolled right and chucked the ball incomplete under pressure from Connor Barwin.

The Rams ran out the final 1:35 for their second straight victory and fourth in five games. Teresa M. Walker is an Associated Press writer.

Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Los Angeles running back Todd Gurley II scores one of his two receiving touchdowns against the Titans on his way to 276 total yards (118 rushing, 158 receiving).