Rams’ Gurley takes lead at final gun

Running back zooms past Brady in December with big closing rush

From Week 1 through Week 17, USA TODAY’s NFL staff handicapped the race for league MVP. A first-place vote is worth five points, a second-place worth three and a third-place worth one. Here are the final results.

1. RB Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams (34 points): He hits the tape for the first time all season in USA TODAY’s final poll, earning five of the eight firstplace votes. Los Angeles quarterback Jared Goff ’s development has been hugely important to the Rams’ revitalization, but Gurley has been the key. Coach Sean McVay finally leveraged Gurley’s ability as a receiver, adding a needed dimension to the attack and further aiding in Goff’s improvement. The result: Gurley not only led the team in rushing (career-best 1,305 yards in 15 games) but also receptions (64). He paced the NFL in yards from scrimmage (2,093) and total touchdowns (19) and almost surely would have nabbed the rushing title had he played in Week 17. But Gurley earned a week off after his performances in Weeks 15 and 16 (456 total yards from scrimmage, six touchdowns) catapulted the Rams to their first NFC West crown since 2003 and their first playoff home game in the City of Angels since the 1985 season. Last week: 2

2. QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots

(30 points): Perhaps he’s being unfairly judged by his own sublime measuring tape. Posting 4,577 passing yards — at 40, Brady became the oldest player to lead the league in that category — an AFC-high 32 touchdown passes and an impressive 102.8 passer rating would represent a career year for almost anyone. Throw in a 13-3 record and yet another No. 1 playoff seed for New England, and Brady’s résumé should speak for itself. But in the TB12 context, it’s rather humdrum. And though the Patriots weren’t playing any make-or-break games in December (though it certainly helped to beat Pittsburgh in Week 15), Brady was subpar in the season’s final month (six touchdowns, five interceptions, 81.6 passer rating) while Gurley was at his best. Last week: 1

3. QB Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles (5 points): If his value wasn’t apparent enough when he was on the field, it’s been underscored by his absence. Philly’s offense managed 13 points in its final two games without Wentz after a mirage performance against the lowly Giants in Week 15. Despite him missing the final three weeks due to his torn ACL, Wentz’s 33 touchdown passes placed him second only to the Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson (34). And no one topped Wentz’s touchdown pass percentage as he hit pay dirt on 7.5% of his throws. A real shame his unfortunate injury has likely cost him the MVP and perhaps robbed NFC East champion Philadelphia of a long-sought Lombardi Trophy. Last week: 3

Also receiving votes: Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell (1), Saints RB Alvin Kamara (1), Seahawks QB Russell Wilson (1)

KIRBY LEE/USA TODAY SPORTS Rams running back Todd Gurley’s 19 total touchdowns in 2017 were five more than that of any other NFL player.