The New York Giants showed they aren't quite ready for the big time.
The New York Giants were riding a high coming off of their scintillating 28-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys in their season opener, but the feel-good story ending quickly in Week.
The Giants were hammered by the Los Angeles Rams, 28-6, on Monday night in a matchup that involved some terrifying moments.
It started early in the first quarter, when Jaxson Dart took an awkward hit on a throw, causing his knee to bend in a way that it shouldn't. He exited the game and was initially questionable to return, but not surprisingly, he did not return.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen said that Dart — who would later return to the sideline — would be fine. It was later revealed that he suffered a sprained MCL, so it could have been worse. But he will miss some time.
We also saw wide receiver Malik Nabers briefly leave the game with a shoulder injury before returning. Offensive tackle Andrew Thomas had to head to the medical tent in the fourth quarter due to a groin injury. Brian Burns then had his leg rolled up on late in the game (when the Giants were already down three touchdowns) and was tended to by trainers.
Essentially, the Giants' four best players were all injured in what ended up being a blowout loss, and you have to question why exactly Burns in particular was on the field so late in a rout to begin with.
Not surprisingly, New York's banged-up secondary was eviscerated by Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams throughout the night, and the Giants were also punctured for 163 yards on the ground.
Just about everyone expected New York to lose this game. It was a road matchup against a desperate Super Bowl contender that had lost in Week 1. You knew the Rams were going to come out firing. That was fine.
But it's everything that surrounded the defeat that made it so difficult to stomach.
The fact that the Giants were severely outplayed in every face of the game and sustained a bunch of key injuries in the process is the real story here.
Now, would things have been a bit different had Dart not gone down? Perhaps. Surely, he would have put forth a better effort than Jameis Winston. But do I think New York would have won this game regardless? No.
The loss itself as far as the standings go is understandable. But the damage that may have been done in this contest moving forward this season is the real issue.
The Giants have a much easier affair at home against the Tennessee Titans next week (welcome back, Brian Daboll), but with Dart likely sidelined, it might be more difficult to emerge with a win than you might expect.
