NFL: New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams
NFL: New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams
Monday night at SoFi Stadium was an absolute disaster for the New York Giants. Not only were they soundly defeated 28-6 by the Los Angeles Rams, but Jaxson Dart was knocked out of the game with a knee injury in the opening drive of the game.
The injury occurred on a 3rd and 8 from the Rams 43-yard line when he was sandwiched by Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart. The second-year quarterback laid on the ground while clutching his left knee. After a few minutes, he gingerly walked off to the sidelines and did not return to the game, but was on the sideline for the second half.
The belief is that Dart suffered a sprained MCL based on the initial X-Rays, but we should have more information on Tuesday. New York also lost Malik Nabers briefly with a shoulder injury before he returned, and Brian Burns limped off the field in the 4th quarter with an ankle injury.
It was a bad night for Big Blue, and we will dig into the biggest takeaways from a disastrous night.
New York’s Non-Existent Run Game
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Sep 21, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; NNew York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) warms up before a game agaimst the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images
With Dart out, New York needed their ground game to be as efficient as it was last week against the Dallas Cowboys. Unfortunately, the ground game was nonexistent as the offensive line was unable to open holes and lost the battle of the line of scrimmage.
The Giants ran the ball 21 times for 52 yards, and their longest run of the night was eight yards by Cam Skattebo. The Rams defense seemed to be energized by the return of Aaron Donald as they manhandled New York up front. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year had three tackles in his first game in over two and a half years.
Not being able to run the ball and being manhandled has to be frustrating for the entire team. From the moment Harbaugh became head coach, he placed an emphasis on being able to run the ball and being the more physical team. It will be interesting to see how they rebound next week.
Giants’ Front Seven Couldn’t Pressure Matthew Stafford
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Sep 11, 2026; Melbourne, AUS; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) takes a snap against the San Francisco 49ers in the first half at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
New York was supposed to have a vaunted pass rusher with Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux. But Matthew Stafford had all day to throw the ball and pick apart the Giants secondary.
Stafford completed 22 out of 31 passes for 327 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. He would’ve had a bigger night if the game was more competitive.
Carter was able to get the team’s first sack of the season in the second half, but by that time the outcome of the game was certain. With the draft capital and free agent money spent on the front seven, the unit has to play better than this. The onus will be on the players and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson to light a spark and have the pass rush come to life.
Davante Adams Torched New York’s secondary
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Jan 10, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during pregame warm ups before the NFC Wild Card Round game between the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Rams at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
When it was announced that Puka Nacua was inactive for the game due to a hip injury, the focus of the defense should have shifted to stopping Davante Adams from beating them. They failed horribly at preventing this, as the 33-year-old wideout torched them all night long.
Adams finished the game with eight receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns. A combination of poor coverage and poor angles by the secondary allowed Adams to have an explosive night.
The secondary was without Deonte Banks, but that’s no excuse for how easily Adams was able to get behind them. Whether Banks comes back for the next game or not, the defensive backs have to play much better.
Jameis Winston Struggled Mightily
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Aug 28, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston (19) throws the ball against the New York Jets during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Giants believed they had one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league in Jameis Winston. The organization had faith that he could step up in case something were to happen to Dart and lead the team to victory.
But Winston struggled throughout the game and never looked comfortable in the pocket. Part of this was due to the pressure he was under, but even when he had time, his passes were off the mark. He finished the game completing just 11 out of 27 passes for 111 yards with an interception.
In all likelihood, unless Dart makes a miraculous recovery, Winston will start on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. With a short week to prepare, it’s imperative that he gets in sync so that he performs vastly better on Sunday if the team is going to w