The New York Giants walked into SoFi Stadium Monday night looking to build on an impressive Week 1 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Instead, they walked out of Los Angeles with a 28-6 loss, a long list of questions and, most importantly, uncertainty surrounding the health of quarterback Jaxson Dart.
The Rams dominated from start to finish, but the final score only tells part of the story. Los Angeles outgained New York 481-182, averaged 8.0 yards per play compared to the Giants’ 3.3, and held New York to just 52 rushing yards. The Giants managed only 130 passing yards and converted their offensive opportunities into two field goals.
And then there were the injuries.
Dart Goes Down Early
The night changed on the Giants’ opening possession.
Dart was injured with 11:20 remaining in the first quarter when he was hit while attempting a third-down pass. He was initially listed as questionable to return, but ultimately was ruled out and replaced by veteran Jameis Winston.
Dart finished the night 3-of-5 for 20 yards before leaving the game.
The initial reports indicate Dart suffered a sprained left MCL, although the Giants were waiting for an MRI Tuesday before determining the full extent of the injury. His X-rays were negative, providing at least some encouraging news.
Head coach John Harbaugh said after the game that the injury was “in the neighborhood” of an MCL sprain and that the team would have a much better idea after the MRI.
“The fact that it’s not that outcome that you’re talking about, the devastating outcome, is really good news.”
That is the first piece of good news in what was otherwise a brutal night for New York.
Dart reportedly wanted to get back into the game, but the Giants ultimately kept their young quarterback on the sideline. His spirits were described as good afterward.
For now, the Giants are waiting.
And everyone is waiting to see what that MRI says.
Winston Couldn’t Get the Offense Going
Winston entered the game under difficult circumstances, but the Giants’ offense never found a rhythm.
He finished 11-of-27 for 111 yards, no touchdowns and one interception, while the Giants’ passing game repeatedly found itself in unfavorable down-and-distance situations.
Winston didn’t make excuses afterward.
“We lost so we’re going to focus on getting better and executing better.”
He also acknowledged that the Giants repeatedly put themselves into third-and-long situations, making life considerably easier for the Rams defense.
“We went in third-and-long a lot so I have to execute better on first and second down.”
That became one of the defining problems of the night.
The Giants couldn’t stay ahead of the chains, couldn’t consistently run the football and couldn’t protect Winston well enough to create opportunities downfield.
New York averaged just 2.5 yards per rushing attempt and finished with only 182 total yards.
The Red Zone Will Be Discussed
There will also be plenty of conversation about what happened when the Giants had opportunities to score.
New York recovered a fumble at the Rams’ 11-yard line but failed to turn the possession into a touchdown, running the ball four times without attempting a pass.
Harbaugh admitted afterward that the sequence would be second-guessed.
“That’s not good. That’s not good at all.”
Harbaugh took responsibility along with his players, saying the problems were shared among play calling, game planning and execution.
Winston was asked about the situation and acknowledged that the Giants wanted points, while also saying the team needed to trust what it does and execute better.
Those missed opportunities mattered because the Rams had no trouble turning theirs into points.
Davante Adams Was a Problem All Night
While the Giants struggled to generate offense, Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams repeatedly found ways to attack the Giants defense.
Adams was spectacular.
He finished with 8 receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns, while Stafford completed 22 of 31 passes for 327 yards and four touchdowns.
Harbaugh’s assessment of Adams was simple:
“They didn’t do anything special. He just made plays.”
The Giants tried different approaches, including different coverage concepts and personnel, but Adams continued to make plays.
Stafford repeatedly found him, particularly when the Giants needed a stop.
And with Puka Nacua unavailable, Adams became the centerpiece of the Rams passing game.
The Giants’ Defense Couldn’t Get Enough Pressure
One week after creating problems for Dak Prescott and the Cowboys, the Giants’ pass rush couldn’t consistently get to Stafford.
Harbaugh pointed to the Rams getting the ball out quickly and handling the Giants’ pressure packages.
“I think he got the ball out just a little bit and they blocked us pretty well. We would like to get some more sacks.”
The Giants finished without a sack of Stafford, while Los Angeles was able to consistently create explosive plays.
There were some positives.
Safety Jevon Holland was one of the Giants’ bright spots, recording an interception and forcing two fumbles. Rookie Abdul Carter also recorded his first sack of the season.
But those plays weren’t enough to keep the Rams from controlling the game.
And Then Came Brian Burns
As if losing Dart wasn’t enough, the Giants suffered another major injury late in the game.
Brian Burns went down with a low ankle sprain with just over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter after his ankle was rolled up on. He needed assistance getting off the field.
The good news is that Harbaugh specifically confirmed it was a low ankle sprain rather than a high ankle sprain.
“It’s low, but the fact that it’s low makes me happy.”
Burns later said the diagnosis eased his mind and that he would begin the recovery process with ice, compression and elevation.
There is currently no confirmed timetable for his return.
That distinction is important because a low ankle sprain can have a considerably shorter recovery period than a high ankle sprain. Still, with the Giants playing Tennessee on Sunday, his availability will be something to monitor throughout the week.
Andrew Thomas Also Leaves
The Giants also had to deal with an injury to left tackle Andrew Thomas, although Harbaugh did not have a definitive update immediately after the game.
Thomas is another player whose status bears watching during the shortened week.
The Giants also briefly lost Malik Nabers after he suffered a shoulder issue. Nabers returned to the game, but finished with just one reception for one yard.
Harbaugh: No Excuses
For a first-year head coach, Monday night’s loss could have easily turned into a night of excuses.
Harbaugh didn’t go there.
He credited the Rams for dominating the game and acknowledged that the Giants simply didn’t execute.
“The Rams played a great football game and pretty much dominated the game so I give them all the credit.”
He later added:
“We didn’t execute. We didn’t complete passes. We didn’t run the ball well. We didn’t make plays downfield when we had opportunities and we just didn’t do it.”
That’s probably the simplest way to describe what happened.
The Giants didn’t lose because of one play.
They lost because they were beaten in virtually every phase.
The Good News? It’s Only Week 2
There is an important distinction between this loss and what it means for the Giants moving forward.
New York is 1-1.
One week ago, the Giants were celebrating a 28-20 victory over Dallas and a promising debut for Harbaugh. One week later, they are dealing with injuries and a humbling performance against the Rams.
That’s the NFL.
Harbaugh made that point repeatedly after the game.
“It’s a week-to-week league.”
And he’s right about one thing: the Giants don’t have much time to dwell on this one.
They return home Sunday for a 1 p.m. matchup with the Tennessee Titans, meaning the team has a short turnaround to regroup and prepare for its next opponent.
But before the Giants can turn the page, they need answers.
The biggest one is Jaxson Dart.
The MRI will tell the Giants how serious the quarterback’s knee injury is and potentially determine whether Winston will have to take over the offense.
Then there is Burns.
Then Thomas.
Then Nabers.
Monday night was about as bad as it could get from a health standpoint.
But the Giants have an opportunity to respond.
The question now is whether they can put this 28-6 loss behind them quickly enough to do it.
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