The New York Giants are heading west with confidence, but there is no shortage of challenges awaiting them at SoFi Stadium.
Fresh off a 28-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1, the Giants will travel to Los Angeles for a Monday night matchup with the Rams on September 21. The Giants enter the game with a 1-0 record, while Los Angeles is looking to respond after its Week 1 result.
For John Harbaugh’s team, however, the message throughout the week has been consistent: Week 1 is over. The focus is on Week 2.
And judging by the comments from Harbaugh, quarterback Jaxson Dart, running back Cam Skattebo, wide receiver Malik Nabers and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, the Giants understand exactly what is at stake.
No Time to Celebrate
The Giants’ opening-night victory generated plenty of excitement around the organization, particularly after Dart’s impressive first regular-season start and the return of Nabers.
But Harbaugh doesn’t want his team looking backward.
“We have to get better,” Harbaugh said. “You have to improve to have a chance to be successful next week.”
Nagy echoed that message, pointing to the challenge of maintaining the same level of execution after a successful opener.
“The next thing will be, for Jaxson, for us as coaches, and the rest of the players, is zero complacency, unacceptable,” Nagy said.
The offensive coordinator believes the Giants showed what they are capable of accomplishing in Week 1. Now they have to prove they can reproduce it.
“Our expectations and our standards are to go out there and hit repeat,” Nagy said.
Jaxson Dart: Calm Under the Lights
Dart’s first regular-season start provided perhaps the biggest source of optimism coming out of Week 1.
Nagy was particularly impressed with the rookie’s ability to remain composed.
“He was calm, he was composed, he made plays when plays were needed,” Nagy said. “The moment was never too big for him.”
That composure was particularly evident on third down.
Nagy pointed to a third-and-9 situation in which Dallas presented a coverage Dart recognized. Rather than forcing the football, Dart remained patient and delivered the ball to Nabers.
According to Nagy, Dart repeatedly demonstrated that his eyes were going where they were supposed to go.
“Almost every play he went to where he was supposed to go,” Nagy said. “Which means he’s calm, he’s seeing things, the moment wasn’t too big.”
Dart himself credited the preparation of the coaching staff, particularly Nagy.
“I thought Nags did an unbelievable job,” Dart said. “Just his preparation, the rhythm that he got in. We could all feel it when we were out there on the field.”
The quarterback also explained one of the more interesting sequences from Week 1 — three consecutive completions to Devin Singletary in the left flat.
They weren’t the same play.
Dart recognized a tendency and continued exploiting it.
“I tried to just use my eyes as much as possible,” Dart said.
That ability to identify what a defense is giving him will be particularly important against a Rams defense that the Giants expect to present a significant challenge.
The Nabers Return Is Only the Beginning
For Nabers, Week 1 represented the culmination of months of rehabilitation and preparation.
After returning from an ACL injury, Nabers played a significant number of snaps and immediately became an important part of the Giants offense.
But he wasn’t completely satisfied with his performance.
“I’m rusty,” Nabers admitted.
The receiver specifically pointed to a few plays where he believes he left yards on the field.
“I left some yards out there, I left some plays out there,” Nabers said. “I feel like I could’ve scored on probably two of them if I just run straight.”
That’s an encouraging thought for the Giants: Nabers believes there is another level to his game as he continues getting comfortable.
And the chemistry between Nabers and Dart is already developing.
Nabers described the offense as one that successfully marries the running game, play-action and drop-back passing.
Dart also discussed his growing relationship with tight end Isaiah Likely, explaining that communication and preparation allowed the two to recognize the same opportunity near the goal line.
“Those are really encouraging things to see from one another,” Dart said.
Cam Skattebo Ready for a Homecoming
Monday night’s game carries additional meaning for rookie running back Cam Skattebo.
A Sacramento native, Skattebo expects a large contingent of family and friends to make the trip to Los Angeles.
“It’ll be a nice little homecoming,” Skattebo said.
But once the game begins, Skattebo’s attention will be on football.
He was encouraged by the physicality of the Giants’ rushing attack against Dallas and praised the offensive line for creating opportunities.
“It was physical. It was downhill. I enjoyed it,” Skattebo said.
He also knows there is room for improvement.
“There were some plays where like, ‘Holy cow, what are we doing?’” he said.
That honesty fits the message coming from the Giants throughout the week: enjoy the win, learn from it, then move forward.
Patrick Ricard Adds Another Dimension
One of the more intriguing pieces of the Giants offense is fullback Patrick Ricard.
Harbaugh has repeatedly emphasized what Ricard brings to the offense, and Nagy sees him as a unique chess piece.
Ricard can line up as a fullback, tight end or offensive lineman, creating matchup and personnel questions for opposing defenses.
“It’s a great chess piece for us,” Nagy said.
Skattebo certainly appreciates having him in front of him.
“Safe, I feel safe,” Skattebo said when asked what it’s like running behind Ricard.
The Giants’ ability to use Ricard in different formations also creates opportunities for misdirection — something Nagy believes was a major part of the offense’s red-zone success against Dallas.
New York went 4-for-4 in the red zone in Week 1.
Nagy’s goal is simple: touchdowns rather than settling for field goals.
“No field goals, no field goals, no field goals,” Nagy said. “Touchdowns, touchdowns, touchdowns.”
Ball Security Becomes a Major Focus
One of the areas the Giants are emphasizing this week is protecting the football.
Harbaugh acknowledged that the team needs to become more intentional about ball security after a turnover in the opener.
Skattebo believes the issue isn’t simply holding the football correctly. It’s maintaining complete awareness of how important possession is.
“I think it’s less of the ball security and more of the ball focus,” Skattebo said.
Harbaugh also gave credit to the defender who forced the fumble, noting that it was an excellent defensive play.
Still, the Giants don’t want to rely on explanations.
They want to eliminate the mistakes.
Preparing for a Dangerous Rams Offense
The Giants know they face an experienced quarterback in Matthew Stafford.
Harbaugh described Stafford as essentially another offensive coordinator on the field.
“He just sees the whole field,” Harbaugh said. “He gets them in and out of plays.”
Harbaugh also emphasized the discipline and fundamentals of the Rams.
“The schemes are excellent, but more so it’s the fundamental nature of the way they play that makes them who they are as a football team.”
The Giants will also have to account for Puka Nacua, whom Harbaugh described as the definition of a complete football player because of his receiving ability, blocking and versatility.
Aaron Donald Awaits
Perhaps the most intriguing storyline on the defensive side is the possibility of facing Aaron Donald.
Harbaugh said the Giants are planning for him to play and described the defensive lineman as a “game-wrecking” interior presence.
Dart grew up watching Donald dominate opposing offenses.
“For the longest time that I can remember, he’s one of the most dominant players that I’ve watched,” Dart said.
Dart understands the challenge that comes with facing a player capable of changing a game on virtually any snap.
“There’s countless clips of putting three offensive linemen on him and still being able to make a play,” Dart said.
For a young quarterback making his second NFL start, it will be another significant test.
Injury Report: Giants Have Several Players Limited
The Giants’ Week 2 injury report includes several players who were limited in Thursday’s practice.
According to the official Week 2 injury report, Andrew Thomas was limited with an ankle injury, while Francis Mauigoa was limited with a shoulder injury. Deonte Banks was limited with a calf issue, while Chauncey Golston, Micah McFadden and Greg Newsome II were also listed as limited participants with neck and rib injuries, respectively. Paulson Adebo did not participate because of a knee injury.
Injury Report W2 at LAR 9.17.pdf
The Rams’ Thursday report listed Kam Curl, Omar Speights and Nate Landman as limited participants. Kamren Kinchens and wide receiver Davante Adams, who was listed as not injury-related/rest, did not participate.
Injury Report W2 at LAR 9.17.pdf
The report also makes clear that a limited designation means a player participated in fewer than 100% of his normal repetitions, while “Did Not Participate” means the player did not practice that day.
Injury Report W2 at LAR 9.17.pdf
Important: Thursday’s report does not provide a final game status for these players. Friday and Saturday participation will provide additional information before Monday night’s game.
The Road Challenge
The Giants are also changing their travel routine because of the Monday night kickoff.
Harbaugh explained that the team will travel west earlier in the week to help players adjust to the time difference.
“We try to get them ready to be at their peak at night,” Harbaugh said.
Dart acknowledged that the routine is new to him but said he trusts Harbaugh’s approach.
“Whatever Coach Harbs says, I think it’s exactly what we should be doing,” Dart said.
One Week at a Time
There is a different feeling around the Giants after Week 1.
Dart, Nabers, Skattebo and the rest of the offense showed flashes of what this new Giants regime hopes to build. The coaching staff demonstrated creativity and adaptability, while the offensive line established a physical tone.
But Monday night provides a completely different environment.
The Giants will be on the road, facing a talented Rams team and an experienced coaching staff. They’ll also have to manage the added challenges of travel, a Monday night schedule and a defense capable of creating problems for a young quarterback.
Nabers isn’t interested in making it bigger than it needs to be.
“We’re just locking in on just what we have to do as a receiver group and what we have to do on offense,” he said.
Skattebo sees it similarly.
“It’s another opportunity to win a game,” he said.
And Dart summed up the Giants’ mindset best:
“When you have two teams that have great talent, it’s going to come down to execution.”
For the Giants, Week 1 proved they can execute under the lights. Week 2 will show whether they can do it on the road.
Giants at Rams
Monday, September 21, 2026
8:15 PM ET
SoFi Stadium — Inglewood, California
Week 2
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