Cam Skattebo and the Giants are walking into Monday night with a clear target in front of them: a Rams run defense that already showed cracks in Week 1.
Los Angeles gave up 174 rushing yards in its season-opening loss to the 49ers, and that number came with plenty of room to spare. San Francisco averaged 5.8 yards per carry in a 27-7 win, the second-highest mark any defense allowed in Week 1.
Christian McCaffrey got 68 yards on just 10 carries, while rookie Kaelon Black added 65 yards on 14 attempts in his NFL debut. That’s the kind of production that tells the Giants exactly where the soft spot is.
Skattebo, back from a significant ankle injury, handled 18 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown in New York’s Week 1 win over Dallas. It was a sturdy, downhill performance, the kind that fits neatly against a front that had trouble holding its ground against San Francisco.
The Giants don’t need to get fancy here. They can line up and run right at it.
Back Carries Rush Yds YPC TD
Cam Skattebo 18 81 4.5 1
Singletary / Tracy (combined) 8 30 3.8 0
Devin Singletary and Tyrone Tracy Jr. combined for 30 yards on eight carries, and Singletary handled all four running-back targets while also scoring a fourth-quarter receiving touchdown. That rotation gives the Giants a way to keep Skattebo fresh without changing the identity of the offense.
The line in front of him also looks more stable than it did a season ago. Andrew Thomas was a full participant in Week 1 after the 2024 foot surgery that cost him time, and rookie right guard Francis Mauigoa turned in the cleanest surprise up front. With those pieces in place, the Giants can lean into a run game built on physicality and tempo.
Jaxson Dart adds another layer the Rams had no reason to prepare for in Week 1. He ran for 54 yards on 11 carries against Dallas, and those scrambles force defenses to respect the edges. That matters, because it can pull bodies out of the box and create more room for Skattebo between the tackles.
New York controlled the ball for 36:40 in the opener and finished all four of its red-zone trips. That kind of possession football is exactly how you keep Matthew Stafford on the sideline and make life easier for a secondary dealing with injuries.
The Giants have the backfield, the line and the matchup. Now they have to cash it in.
In Other News...
Rams Hit With Another Frustrating Issue Ahead Of Giants Game
The Rams opened the season with a loss to the 49ers, and the aftermath brought another layer of frustration for a team trying to steady itself before facing the Giants. The NFL levied fines against two Los Angeles players, with Tyler Davis docked $6,225 for a hit on Brock Purdy that involved contact to the head and neck area, while Nate Landman was fined $11,111 for unnecessary roughness tied to helmet use.
For a Rams team already dealing with the sting of a division defeat, the discipline is another unwelcome footnote as the week turns toward New York. The fines will go to the Professional Athletes Foundation and the NFL Foundation, but the larger issue for Los Angeles is keeping its edge without crossing the line, especially with another important game on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Burns Just Became A Much Bigger Giants Money Question
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Burns is signed through 2028, but the structure now gives the Giants another decision point: keep absorbing those future charges, or try to extend him again and smooth everything out before it gets tighter. It is part of a larger financial picture that already includes major upcoming considerations for Andrew Thomas and Kayvon Thibodeaux, which is why Burns has gone from high-end pass rusher to a much bigger roster-planning question. [Read more 🡒]
Giants-Rams Betting Twist Could Change Monday Night Touchdown Picks
Puka Nacuas groin injury is giving Monday nights matchup a different look before the Giants ever take the field. The Rams receiver is reportedly trending in the wrong direction, and that matters for a game that already had plenty of attention because of the betting market around anytime touchdown scorers.
If Nacua is out, the ripple effect reaches beyond Los Angeles and into how this game is being viewed from a Giants perspective. The player pool opens up in different directions, with Isaiah Likely, Davante Adams and Jaxson Dart all drawing consideration, while some options still come with the usual cautions around workload splits and defensive matchups. [Read more 🡒]