LOS ANGELES_As a long pass from Jared Goff arced above the field at MetLife Stadium, Los Angeles Rams receiver Sammy Watkins said he was "running for my life" to make sure he caught it for a touchdown.
Apparently, he was moving very fast.
Through its "Next Gen Stats" initiative, the NFL tracks player movement, speed and acceleration every game. Last Sunday, five players eclipsed 20 miles per hour as ball carriers.
Three play for the Rams, it was announced Tuesday.
Running back Todd Gurley and receivers Robert Woods and Watkins all blew past the 20-mph benchmark in the Rams' rout of the New York Giants.
Gurley topped out at 20.62 mph, Woods 20.43 and Watkins 20.33.
The three combined for five touchdowns in a victory that improved the Rams to 6-2 heading into Sunday's game against the Houston Texans at the Coliseum.
"They're playing as one of the best teams in the league right now," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said Tuesday during a teleconference.
Gurley totaled 104 yards from scrimmage and scored on two short touchdown runs, increasing his league-leading total to 10. On the Rams' first play, Gurley broke loose for a 36-yard run. He also turned a short reception into a 44-yard gain.
Woods, who signed with L.A. this offseason, scored his first two touchdowns. The most dynamic came in a third-and-33 situation when Woods caught a pass behind the line of scrimmage and then dashed to the end zone for a 52-yard score.
"Had some space," he said, "and got to go."
Woods, who has a team-best 31 catches for 451 yards, anchored California state champion 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams at Gardena Serra High. He also finished third in the 200.
"You look at Robert, everybody wants to talk about him as a possession receiver," coach Sean McVay said this week. "That's where you could see his 200-meter speed, as he was able to cut across the grain and finish. That was a strong finish by Robert."
Watkins scored on a 67-yard play after Goff lofted a pass that traveled more than 60 yards.
McVay watched Watkins motor down the field while tracking the ball.
"That thing got out there and it was carrying really well," McVay said, "and you could see it was going to have to be a phenomenal, fingertip-type catch. When he pulled it in, I think I was probably as excited as anybody."
