Rams report: Todd Gurley is back in the running after 132-yard, two-touchdown effort in 30-16 win over the Lions

After struggling through a minor ankle injury the last time he was on the field, Rams running back Todd Gurley rebounded with a more typical performance Sunday in the Rams’ 30-16 victory over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.

Gurley rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns in 23 carries. He also caught three passes for 33 yards as the Rams improved their record to 11-1 and clinched the NFC West for the second season in a row.

The next goal?

“First-round bye, take that over,” Gurley said. “Take that No. 1 seed over, taking everything.”

Gurley, the reigning NFL offensive player of the year, rushed for only 55 yards in 12 carries, and caught three passes for 39 yards in the Rams’ 54-51 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 19. His 15 touches were nine fewer than his season average. And for the first time in 14 games dating to last season, he did not score a touchdown.

But he vaulted back into the most-valuable-player discussion with his effort against the Lions, which included touchdown runs of 13 and two yards.

Gurley has rushed for 1,175 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in six games. He also has 46 receptions, four for touchdowns.

One of his most dynamic plays Sunday came late in the fourth quarter. Gurley took a handoff and broke off the left side for what easily could have been a 38-yard touchdown. But he slowed at the 10-yard line and kept the clock moving until he was tackled at the two.

“Just trying to get the hell out of here, honestly,” Gurley said. “It was a long day, game was going slow, finally broke one, just wanted to waste some time, and let them get a timeout and get up out of here.”

Back where it started

Rams defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh returned to the stadium where he starred for his first five NFL seasons before signing a record contract with the Miami Dolphins after the 2014 season.

Suh, the second pick in the 2010 draft, made six tackles and drew two personal-foul penalties in the victory.

Fans sounded as if they were booing when Suh’s name was announced during the game, but the ninth-year pro joked that the fans were saying his name.

“It’s great to come back,” he said, adding, “This is a great city to me and I love every bit of it.”

Every bit except the Lions organization. As he did during the week, Suh said he would continue to “refrain” from commenting about the Lions.

One of Suh’s penalties was for a hit on Lions quarterback Matt Stafford, with whom he has traded veiled barbs since leaving the Lions.

“It’s always good,” he said of the hit, “and it’s been a long time coming.”

Suh, who is playing on a one-year $14-million contract, said that he and Stafford “have mutual respect” for each other.

Asked if he thought any of Suh’s hits on him were questionable, Stafford said no.

“I really didn’t,” he said. “Plays hard, plays physical. It’s not [for] me to figure out what’s legal what’s not.”

Return to the lineup

After an eight-game absence because of a left ankle injury, cornerback Aqib Talib returned to the starting lineup.

Talib, an 11th-year pro, said he was in for 31 plays before trainers pulled him.

“I felt good though,” he said. “Felt great.”

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Rams receiver Brandin Cooks is given a football after Todd Gurley’s touchdown against the Lions in the fourth quarter at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams gurd Rodger Saffold, left, and qaurterback Jared Goff celebrate after defeating the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams receiver Robert Woods makes a catch in front of Detroit Lions conrerback Darius Slay in the first quarter at Ford Filed in Detroit on Sunday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams Dante Fowler stops Detroit Lions running back Theo Riddick for a short gain at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams running back Todd Gurley breaks free from the Detroit Lions defense but stops short of the goal line to kill time on the clock late in the fourth quarter at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford fumbles the ball while being sacked by Rams linebacker Cory Littleton in the second quarter at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday. The officails ruled he was down when tackeld.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald sacks Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford gets a pass off despite defensive pressure from Rams’ Marcus Peters invthe first quarter at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Detroit Lions receiver Bruce Ellington tries to throw a pass but is swarmed by Rams’ Marcus Peters, left, and Michael Brockers and forced into an incomplete pass in the third quarter at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Detroit Lions receiver Kenny Golladay cacthes a pass in the end zone against the Rams but is ruled out of bounds in the fourth quarter at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams receiver Josh Reynolds can’t make the catch in the end zone against the Detroit Lions defense in the first quarter at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams running back Todd Gurley leaps over Detroit Lions safety Glover Quinn in the second quarter at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams Aaron Doanld drops Detroit Lions running back Theo Riddick for a short gain in the first quarter at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Detroit Lions defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson waits to take the field before a game with the Rams at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Talib, 32, had watched in frustration as quarterbacks Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Patrick Mahomes torched the Rams’ secondary in games while he was sidelined.

Stafford passed for 245 yards and a touchdown, with an interception.

“Communication was better than it was in the past,” Talib said. “We made plays on the ball. So I think we did [improve] as a defense.

“I think we got to the next level, got better.”

Coach Sean McVay and Talib said the play count would increase in the Rams’ Week 14 game at Chicago.

“Still up to the trainers,” Talib said. “They going to be smart but I’m pretty sure it will increase a lot.”

gary.klein@latimes.com

Follow Gary Klein on Twitter @latimesklein