RAMS 17 - GIANTS 9
Leave it to the Giants to find a way to lose a game where the held the powerful LA Rams to just 17 points, and their quarterback Jared Goff to only 200-yards passing.
Defensively the Giants did everything right on Sunday. After the Rams scored a touchdown on their opening drive of the game, a 12-play, 65-yard drive that culminated in a Gerald Everett two-yard plunge, the Rams were mostly silent for the rest of the day.
That credit goes to a Giants defense that held the Rams to only a field goal for a better of two-and-a-half quarters, while forcing the Rams to punt the football five times. Jared Goff was held in check. The combination of Cooper Cupp and Robert Woods were held in check. And the Rams couldn't run the football.
It was right there for the taking for the Giants, and they fell flat on their face.
Once again the Giants offense would show signs of life, but would sputter out of control once they got deep into Rams territory. Three field goals to widdle a Rams lead to 10-9 is not good enough. Not when the Rams -- even on their worst day --- are far too explosive.
This should have been a major upset. Instead it was more of the same.
Trailing 10-6 late in the third quarter, the Giants drove all the way to the Rams' 11-yard line, before a false start penalty started sending Big Blue backwards. Two plays later on third and four, Daniel Jones couldn't find Darious Slayton for the first down, forcing Big Blue to settle for yet another field goal.
The lack of offensive fire power inside Rams territory only got worse with each Giants possession. After a 26-yard run by Wayne Gallman set up shop for the Giants at their own 46, the Giants stalled offensively. Gallman couldn't move chains any further, and Jone's screen pass on third down resulted in a one-yard loss and a punt.
The continued missed opportunities finally bit the Giants on the Rams next possession when Goff hit Cooper Cup in stride for a 55-yard touchdown to give LA a 17-9 lead.
Even with what appeared to be an insurmountable Rams lead, the Giants still had a chance, and still they flushed that chance down the drain.
With 2:05 to go in the game, Jones connected with Slayton for 33-yards to the Rams 47. Jones would later scramble twice for gains of 13 and 11-yards to spot the ball at the Rams 23, before he connected with Evan Engram for five yards to 18-yard line.
Then for whatever reason, Jones stepped up in the pocket, avoided pressure and tried to air mail his second and five pass down the sideline only to have it picked off Darious Williams to seal the deal for Los Angeles.
The Giants now stand at 0-4. They haven't seen the end zone since the fourth quarter of a 17-13 Week 2 loss to the Chicago Bears, and the turnovers by Jones in critical spots are only getting worse and worse. He is making the case that he is not the guy to lead this franchise forward. It's a shame because the Giants are playing hard, and could have won this game had they only had a competent offense.
Believe it or not, the Giants could be playing for first place next week when they visit the struggling Dallas Cowboys (1-3). The entire NFC East is a mess with the Washington Football Team in first place at 1-3, the Cowboys at 1-3 and the Eagles at 0-2-1.
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