The Los Angeles Rams are set for a much tougher home opener in Week 2 than anticipated, as the New York Giants arrive at SoFi Stadium following a surprising Week 1 performance. Most expected the Rams to face a relatively easy opponent after their return from Australia, but John Harbaugh’s new-look Giants defied preseason expectations with a 28-20 Sunday Night Football victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
The Giants’ offense showed immediate improvement under new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. Quarterback Jaxson Dart threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns in his first game with Nagy. Wide receiver Malik Nabers, returning from a torn ACL, contributed six catches for 69 yards. The rushing attack was also effective, with Cam Skattebo carrying the ball 18 times for 81 yards and a touchdown, marking the second-highest rushing total of his young career. This rushing success, driven by Harbaugh’s “rushing mentality” from his time with the Baltimore Ravens, included contributions from Devin Singletary and Tyrone Tracy. The Giants also saw significant success in the passing game through tight end Isaiah Likely, a free agent who followed Harbaugh from Baltimore on a three-year, $40 million contract. Likely was key to Dart's efficiency, though other offensive weapons like Odell Beckham Jr., Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields, and Theo Johnson saw limited involvement, with Beckham Jr. having zero targets on 11 snaps. New York converted nine of their 11 third downs against Dallas.
Defensively, the Giants were equally impressive. They held Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to just 175 yards on 34 pass attempts. Star receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens were largely contained, combining for only 76 yards on the night. Lamb managed five catches for 44 yards and a touchdown on eight targets, while Pickens had three catches for 28 yards on six targets. Despite not featuring big names in the secondary, with players like Deonte Banks and Greg Newsome II, the Giants’ defense was not intimidated. Safety Jevon Holland also recorded an interception. The defensive front, including rookie Arvell Reese, Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, Tremaine Edmunds, D.J. Reader, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Shelby Harris, showed promise. While no sacks were recorded, Reese had a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit. The Giants, who ranked last in yards per carry allowed last season, held the Cowboys to a total of 69 rushing yards on 18 carries, and Javonte Williams to 41 yards on 12 carries. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, also from the Ravens, seems to be building a formidable unit.
The Giants’ surprising completeness is a factor not seen since the Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning era, with this marking their first time having a top-10 offense and top-10 defense since 2008. Harbaugh’s emphasis on special teams, a phase he led as a coordinator in Baltimore, was also evident. He brought punter Jordan Stout, an All-Pro in 2025, to New York. Rookie kicker Dominic Zvada successfully converted all four of his extra-point attempts.
For the Rams, who opened up “gaping running lanes” for Christian McCaffrey and Kaelon Black in Week 1, this presents a significant challenge. Their ability to rebound in Week 2 will be tested by the travel back from Australia and the absence of Myles Garrett. While the Rams are currently 8.5-point favorites at FanDuel, the Giants' performance against a Cowboys team that was expected to be a serious contender in the NFC East suggests that the upcoming game at SoFi will be anything but an “easy win.” A loss could deeply divide the fanbase, with some seeing an 0-2 start as an early end to the season. The Giants are clearly arriving in Southern California with the intent to send a message about their unexpected strength.
