Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers just handed the Giants a pretty clear script for Week 2 against the Rams.
Los Angeles came into the season looking like a juggernaut, the kind of team that could bully almost anybody on paper. But San Francisco ripped that image apart in Week 1, and the way it happened should matter to New York.
The 49ers didn’t just beat the Rams. They showed how to make them uncomfortable.
The first lesson: don’t chase the home run ball.
The Rams played deep and cautious in Week 1, trying to take away explosive passes. Brock Purdy didn’t bite.
Instead, he kept working underneath, with 28 of his 34 attempts traveling fewer than ten yards downfield. San Francisco’s deep pass rate was just 5.9%, which ranked 28th in the league, but the Niners still moved the ball methodically and kept stacking small gains.
That approach should sound familiar to the Giants. In their win over the Dallas Cowboys, Dart’s deep pass rate was 6.9%, good for 26th in the league.
He was content to check it down when the play was there, and that approach helped lead to Devin Singletary’s touchdown. Against the Rams, that kind of patience may be the better bet.
If Los Angeles sits back again, the Giants need to stay disciplined and work the field one chunk at a time.
Third down is where this game can tilt.
San Francisco kept leaning on Mike Evans in key spots, and the veteran kept delivering. On the opening drive alone, which ended in a field goal, Evans converted three separate third downs. He finished with five catches on six third-down targets, and he kept winning against man coverage when it mattered most.
New York had its own late-down safety valve in Week 1, with Isaiah Likely emerging as the go-to option when Dart needed a completion. If Likely keeps that role, he can give the Giants a real edge in the toughest moments.
The Rams, meanwhile, were shaky on third down against San Francisco. Only the Denver Broncos and the Cleveland Browns were worse in Week 1.
That means the Giants’ defense has to be sharp getting off the field, because the Rams are going to have answers ready for Puka Nacua, who led their third-down receiving work against the 49ers with four targets. Nacua works mostly from the slot, so Dru Phillips should expect plenty of attention.
Then there’s the personnel game, which may end up being just as important as the play calls themselves.
The Rams leaned on nickel personnel against the 49ers, pulling a linebacker for an extra defensive back. San Francisco answered by hammering the run.
Los Angeles allowed a 68.8% rushing success rate out of nickel, which ranked 31st in the league. When the Rams went lighter, they got burned there too: against San Francisco’s looks with six or fewer defenders in the box, L.A. ranked last in the NFL in EPA per play.
The Giants have already shown they’re comfortable living in nickel. In Week 1, Tremaine Edmunds and Arvell Reese were the only off-ball linebackers who saw the field. If the 49ers’ blueprint means anything, New York should keep it that way in Week 2.
In Other News...
Eli Manning Sees Something Giants Fans Have Missed In Cam Skattebo
Cam Skattebo has already given the Giants a jolt early in the season, and it has not just been the production that stood out. Eli Manning, watching from afar like plenty of fans around the team, pointed to the rookie backs aggressive approach and the edge he brings every time he touches the ball, even drawing a parallel to former Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey. After opening with 81 rushing yards and a touchdown, Skattebo has quickly pushed himself into the conversation as the clubs top back.
What has also caught Mannings attention is the way Skattebo has handled the aftermath of a severe leg injury. There had been some questions about whether the injury might change his style, but Manning said the same intensity shows up in practice and in games. For a Giants offense looking for players who bring a little attitude with their production, Skattebo is already giving them both, and now the bigger question is how far that edge can carry him over the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Catch A Break As Rams Face A Huge Offensive Concern
The Rams are heading into Monday night already dealing with a situation that could shape the entire matchup, as Sean McVay said wide receiver Puka Nacua did not practice Friday or Saturday because of a hip injury and is now listed as questionable against the Giants. Los Angeles is coming off a Week 1 loss, so every piece of uncertainty on offense matters a little more, especially with the early-season margin for error already thin.
For New York, the timing offers a bit of breathing room as it prepares for a defense still sorting through its own personnel picture. Myles Garrett is on injured reserve and expected to miss an extended stretch, while Aaron Donald is expected back, leaving the Rams with some notable moving parts even before kickoff. The Giants will be watching Nacuas status closely, because if he is limited or unavailable, it could change how Los Angeles tries to attack on Monday night. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Early Draft Outlook Exposes A Bigger Roster Problem Than Expected
The Giants early draft picture is already pointing in a familiar direction, and not just because the offensive line needs more help. Todd McShays September mock draft has the team looking at tackle, but the broader read from the roster is more complicated than one position fix, with defensive tackle, cornerback and wide receiver all landing among the biggest needs heading into the spring.
For a team trying to climb back into contention, that kind of spread matters. It means the Giants may not be drafting for one clean solution so much as sorting through several areas that still need better talent, which is why a few first-round prospects at those spots are already coming up as realistic fits. The question now is less about whether New York can find a blue-chip target than which hole it decides is most urgent when the board starts to unfold. [Read more 🡒]