It took a week longer than many expected, but the Los Angeles Rams have their first win of the season. Despite two turnovers and a missed field goal, the preseason Super Bowl favorites rolled to a 28-6 win over the New York Giants and completed a bounce-back performance from their Week 1 clunker in Australia.
It was unclear what to expect from the Rams, considering they were coming off a loss and ruled star wide receiver Puka Nacua out with a hip injury. They needed another pass-catcher to step up in order to mitigate the massive personnel loss and to right the ship after last week's seven-point effort, and Davante Adams did just that. The veteran receiver hauled in eight catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns in his biggest game as a Ram.
Los Angeles' defense also turned in a dominant performance. Aaron Donald made his first NFL appearance since 2023 in his highly anticipated comeback, but more impactful in the Giants' inability to put points on the board was a key injury that occurred on the final play of the opening possession.
Jaxson Dart left the game after just one drive. The Giants quarterback took a hit from Rams defenders Josaiah Stewart and Byron Young mid-throw on a third-down deep ball, and in the collision, his left knee bent awkwardly in the air. He was able to walk into the locker room under his own power but was ruled out at halftime. Jameis Winston came on in relief and managed a mere 111 yards on 11 of 27 passing.
The Giants also had brief injury scares with star wide receiver Malik Nabers (shoulder) and rookie edge rusher Arvell Reese leaving momentarily in the first half for evaluation on the sideline. Both returned to action in the loss.
CBS Sports was with you throughout the Rams' victory. Below are our takeaways from the Monday night contest, along with in-game highlights and analysis.
Rams bounce back from Australia debacle
A completely different version of the Rams showed up to SoFi Stadium than the one that took the field in Melbourne, Australia in the season opener. In hindsight, it seems the team's unorthodox travel plans backfired, preventing the star-studded roster from playing even close to its potential. The Week 2 effort was much closer to the high-octane version of the Rams that essentially everyone expected to see out of the gate.
The differences between playing abroad and at home were clear on both sides of the ball. The Rams' defensive front got the push it lacked in the opener with Aaron Donald, Byron Young and Nate Landman recording a tackle for loss apiece and the unit holding the Giants to a meager 52 rushing yards. Offensively, Matthew Stafford's four touchdowns (two of which went to Davante Adams) were more in line with his production from last year's MVP campaign.
Their opponent spent nearly the entire game without its dynamic starting quarterback, but that should not detract from the Rams doing exactly what was expected of them. Let it not be forgotten that they were far from fully healthy themselves.
Giants in trouble without Jaxson Dart
Jaxson Dart's lone drive did not result in points, but he at least moved the ball against the Rams. Once he departed with a knee injury (which the team reportedly fears to be a sprained MCL), the offense became devoid of life.
Jameis Winston completed only 40.1% of his throws. Cam Skattebo and the rushing attack combined for a paltry 52 yards on the ground. Malik Nabers, hampered by a shoulder injury he sustained at the end of the first quarter, caught only one pass for a single yard.
Fortunately for New York, the schedule ahead is highly manageable. But if Dart misses extended time, the Giants will be in danger of dropping what would otherwise be extremely winnable games against the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Commanders and New Orleans Saints. Those are games this team needs to win in order to take the kind of step forward it aspires for in Year 1 of the John Harbaugh era. And if Winston is under center, it is difficult to have any confidence in their ability to take care of business.
Aaron Donald and Davante Adams step up for injured stars
The main benefit of rostering as many superstars as the Rams is that when they are all active, the starting lineup is the best in football. Monday's win also exemplified how it creates game-changing depth. Myles Garrett and Puka Nacua missed the game with injuries, yet the Rams remained in elite hands on the defensive line and at wide receiver.
Aaron Donald made his presence felt in his return to professional football with three tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage. The tackle for loss came in a pivotal spot, as it kept the Giants out of the end zone in what was at the time a two-score game.
Davante Adams shouldered the load in the receiving unit and turned in the best performance of his Rams career. Any fears about Los Angeles' ability to move the ball through the air with three receivers on the inactive list evaporated on its second possession when Adams scored the first of his two touchdowns. The 195 yards he amassed on the night were the fourth most in a single game in his legendary career.
Health willing, there will come a time in the not-so-distant future when the Rams pair Adams with Nacua and when they pair Donald with Garrett. Boasting a tandem of Hall of Famers at two different positions is a ludicrous luxury.
