The New York Giants left Inglewood with far more than a 28-6 Monday night loss to the Los Angeles Rams, with quarterback Jaxson Dart, edge rusher Brian Burns and left tackle Andrew Thomas all dealing with injuries before a short turnaround for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans.
Dart exited on the Giants’ opening possession after taking a hard hit while throwing on third down. Rams edge rushers Josaiah Stewart and Byron Young converged on the rookie quarterback, with Stewart’s thigh striking the outside of Dart’s left knee as Young hit him high. Players from both teams dropped to a knee while medical personnel attended to Dart, who eventually walked off with a limp but did not return.
Dart is believed to have suffered an MCL sprain and is expected to be sidelined for a period of time. Coach John Harbaugh said that diagnosis was “in the neighborhood” of the team’s understanding after the game. Dart wanted to go back in, but his limp made that impossible.
The injury ended an abrupt reversal from New York’s Week 1 victory over Dallas, a 28-20 result that had created optimism around the club. The Giants’ momentum lasted only seven plays against the Rams before Dart went down, and the offense never recovered behind backup Jameis Winston.
Winston and offense fail to capitalize
Winston completed 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards, with no touchdown passes and one interception. The veteran recently signed a two-year extension worth $13 million, but the Giants could not establish any consistency after he entered the lineup.
Winston called the loss of a starting quarterback a major blow for the entire team. New York managed only six points and averaged 2.5 yards on 21 rushing attempts, while the Rams generated two sacks and repeatedly disrupted both Giants passers.
The Giants’ best opening came late in the first half, when safety Jevon Holland forced and recovered a Kyren Williams fumble at the Rams’ 11-yard line with New York trailing 14-0.
Instead of cutting deeply into the deficit, the Giants settled for a 24-yard field goal. Tyrone Tracy lost 3 yards on a first-down sweep, though an offsides penalty moved the ball to the 6-yard line. Cam Skattebo was stopped for no gain, Najee Harris gained 3 yards in his Giants debut, and Harris was then tackled for a 3-yard loss on third-and-2 when Aaron Donald broke through the line.
Harbaugh said the staff would revisit both its decisions and the individual calls near the goal line. He said New York had answers in the opener but lacked them against the Rams, citing the combined issues of preparation, play selection and execution.
Injuries compound a difficult night
Burns sustained a low ankle sprain during the final minutes. His left ankle was rolled up by a Rams offensive lineman, and he needed two trainers to help him reach the sideline. Although a cart was brought to the Giants’ bench, Burns declined the ride and limped toward the tunnel. He later used a cart from the locker room to the team bus, with his left foot in a boot.
Burns said the defeat was a humbling test after the Dallas win, but insisted the performance would not define the Giants. He said the team must return to work and get back in the win column.
Thomas played through discomfort before leaving after New York’s final offensive snap with a groin injury. No postgame update was provided on his condition.
Wide receiver Malik Nabers also was hurt late in the first quarter when his right shoulder popped out. Nabers said he put the shoulder back in place and returned for the following series. He finished with one reception for 1 yard on four targets in his second game back from a serious knee injury.
Nabers said he could not get into a rhythm and is still working his way back into football shape after playing only two games in 11 months.
Rams expose New York’s defensive issues
Holland supplied nearly all of the Giants’ biggest defensive moments, forcing two fumbles and intercepting a pass. He also had an interception in the season opener, giving him more impact plays through two games than he recorded during his entire first season in New York.
But the Rams controlled the line of scrimmage. Williams and Blake Corum combined for 164 rushing yards on 24 carries, preventing the Giants’ front from consistently attacking Matthew Stafford. Stafford was sacked once, by outside linebacker Abdul Carter, and otherwise faced little sustained pressure.
Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson largely depended on the front four rather than extra rushers. Giants edge players again pointed to chip blocks and fast quarterback releases as factors limiting their pressure, a familiar issue from last season.
New York’s depleted secondary also struggled badly without cornerbacks Deonte Banks, out with a calf injury, and Paulson Adebo, sidelined by a knee injury. The Rams did not have Puka Nacua because of a hip injury, but Davante Adams repeatedly found open areas against zone coverage.
Adams caught eight passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns. His most decisive score came in the third quarter, when rookie corner Colton Hood was isolated against him in the red zone. Adams beat Hood on a fade for an 11-yard touchdown. The Giants later had veteran cornerback Greg Newsome follow Adams, but the Rams had already created a commanding lead.
Harbaugh said the Rams did not rely on anything unusual and credited Adams for making plays despite the various coverages New York tried.
Giants turn toward Tennessee
Harbaugh began checking in with players in small postgame groups before the team’s trip home, with film study and injury evaluations set to shape the week ahead.
Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said the Giants must respond rather than allow one lopsided defeat to linger, noting that 15 games remain on the schedule.
New York will now determine whether Dart, Burns or Thomas can practice before Sunday’s meeting with the Titans, while seeking a much sharper offensive response after failing to turn its lone prime scoring opportunity into a touchdown against the Rams.
