Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – The Los Angeles Rams bounced back from their season-opening flop in Australia to score a stylish 28-6 victory over the New York Giants on Monday. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford returned to form with 327 passing yards and four touchdowns for Los Angeles as the Giants never recovered after suffering an early injury to signal-caller Jaxson Dart.
The Rams had been trounced 27-7 by San Francisco in Melbourne last week, when the team’s decision to travel to Australia on the eve of the game backfired. But the team hyped before the season as potential Super Bowl contenders looked vastly more convincing with a dominant victory back on home turf at the SoFi Stadium.
Related news
Reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Stafford made 22-of-31 passes and linked brilliantly with wide receiver Davante Adams, who scored two touchdowns with 195 receiving yards from eight receptions. “He’s a fantastic football player and we’re lucky to have him,” Stafford said of Adams afterwards. “He delivered for us big time, which is awesome.”
Stafford though felt the Rams could have been more clinical. “Obviously we executed at a higher clip and made some explosive plays, but to be honest with you I felt we could have been more efficient,” he said. “We had some plays left out there that we know we can make.”
Giants quarterback Dart meanwhile left the game after a brutal double tackle from Rams defenders Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart on the visitors’ opening drive. Replays of the incident showed Dart’s left leg buckle awkwardly at the knee, and the quarterback hobbled off before being taken to the locker room with what was later reported to be sprained knee ligaments.
With Dart out of the picture, the Giants’ offense struggled to generate any kind of momentum with backup quarterback Jameis Winston coming on for Dart. The Rams, who welcomed back star defender Aaron Donald in the veteran’s first game since coming out of retirement, were quickly into their stride.
Stafford found veteran receiver Adams with a bullet 31-yard pass over the top for the opening touchdown in the first quarter. Another smooth Rams drive took the home side into a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter, with Stafford picking out running back Kyren Williams in the end zone for a touchdown.
The Giants got their first points on the board with a 52-yard field goal from Dominic Zvada just before half-time. But the Rams hit back with a second Adams touchdown early in the third quarter while the Giants could only add a second Zvada field goal. The Rams’ fourth touchdown made it 28-6 when Stafford picked out tight end Terrance Ferguson at the back of the end zone.
© 2024 AFP
