We end Week Two of the 2026-27 NFL season in Los Angeles, where the Rams will be taking on the Giants. LA is hoping to bounce back after an embarrassing 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. However, New York is looking to build momentum and win its second straight game after taking care of the Dallas Cowboys.

Last Sunday, the Giants won their first season-opening matchup in four years. The G-Men were very impressive in their first regular-season game under new head coach John Harbaugh with a 28-20 victory over the Cowboys.

"Heck of a win. I'm really proud of our players and everybody in the organization," Harbaugh said postgame. "It was a team effort. It was a hard-fought game against an opponent in an unbelievable environment... It was really great to be a part of it and see our guys step up in that environment to handle all that and to focus on the football."

New York beat Dallas thanks in part to an effective rushing attack. The Giants gashed the Cowboys for 165 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. Second-year running back Cam Skattebo led all players with 81 rushing yards.

"From day one, (Harbaugh) told us he wants to punish the other team and run the ball and throw play action passes, and that's what we did tonight," Skattebo explained. "We stuck to who we were, and they trusted the plan, and we came out here and executed."

Big Blue also played well defensively. Against a team that just put up 37 points on the Washington Commanders, the Giants held the Cowboys to 20 points and 175 passing yards.

"We did come in expecting to win," said linebacker Brian Burns. "We know that (the Cowboys) have a talented squad. They've got two All-Pro receivers, an All-Pro quarterback, blah, blah, blah, whatever. But it's about us, and it's about what we did, what we did in camp, which showed tonight."

The task at hand for the Giants' defense won't be any easier in Week Two since they have to go against Sean McVay, reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, All-Pro wideout Puka Nacua, and six-time Pro Bowler Davante Adams. However, it's the running game that makes the Rams so deadly, explained New York defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson.

"Sean wants to run the ball to set up his play actions," he said on Thursday. "They have a Hall of Fame quarterback that has seen it all, that can make all the throws. He's decisive where he's going. He's fast to get the ball out. Sean does a good, good job of attacking players as well with scheme. I think he's one of the best football coaches in the National Football League, and we have a hell of a challenge going against this offense... Stopping the run is the number one priority every week."

Just three days earlier on the other side of the planet, the Rams were getting their ass handed to them by the San Francisco 49ers. LA's passing attack was underwhelming. It also didn't help that the team went one for three in the red zone and lost the turnover battle.

"I didn't do nearly a good enough job," Sean McVay told reporters after the loss. "This is a humbling day for us. This will define us only if we allow it to... I always look inside out. I didn't do a good enough job getting us ready to go. There were some opportunities where maybe the game could have flipped, but they deserved the win. They were ready to go."

Many things went wrong in that game for LA. Matthew Stafford threw an interception, the defense allowed the Niners to run for 174 yards, and the pass rush failed to register a single sack. When so many things don't go your way, all you can do is turn the page and look ahead.

"There's so many things that I'm excited about just moving forward," McVay said last Monday. "That game, you give the Niners credit. Like I talked about, that is over with. That's in our rearview mirror. We're all eyes moving forward. We make our corrections, and then we figure out how do we establish the identity, the playstyle, the different things that we want to be able to have come to life, and how do we really continue to emphasize that because what we emphasize with this group, we get. We're just excited about moving forward."

If the Rams want to have a better result than last week, then they must prioritize stopping the run. Thankfully, future Hall of Fame defensive lineman Aaron Donald is expected to make his 2026-27 regular-season debut tonight after initially retiring in 2024. His presence is necessary now that defensive end Myles Garrett will miss at least four games with a knee injury.

"I'm feeling really good. Feel a lot better now that I got more practice under my belt instead of one," Donald told reporters on Friday. "Kind of getting in the groove of things, understanding everything a lot better out there, playing a lot more free, a lot more loose, and looking more like myself to me."

"It's a bummer, you know. And really for Myles. We'll look forward to him getting back," McVay said over the weekend. "Aaron is a stud, and he's been at the forefront of setting the foundation of everything that we're about here... We'll look forward to getting Myles back, and we'll be better when we do get him back. But I think - in the meantime - to be able to add a veteran presence... he's (Aaron Donald) definitely provided a spark for us."

Regardless of who is healthy and who is making their 2026-27 regular-season debut, tonight is the home opener for the Los Angeles Rams. Couple that with the game being played on a Monday night, and we'll be in for a great matchup.

"I'm excited. I think that's an appropriate word," McVay said. "It was a unique start to the season, but SoFi is a great atmosphere and environment... We've got a young team that's really confident, really well led by a head coach that I have tremendous respect for in John Harbaugh... Our guys are excited, but I'm certainly excited."

Prediction for New York Giants @ Los Angeles Rams (-6.5)

As I explained previously, the performance we saw from the Rams in Week One is not indicative of how good this team is. LA was clearly hurt by the time change and extensive travel schedule. Now that they're on U.S. soil and their body clocks are seemingly back to normal, I think we'll get a much better showing from LA. Matthew Stafford not playing in the preseason led to some miscommunication against the 49ers. Those issues will not be as prevalent against a weaker Giants defense. With that in mind, I find it disrespectful that the Rams are favored by a touchdown. After all, they struggled mightily to defend the run, and that was Big Blue's strength in Week One! New York's effective rushing attack will help the team keep this game close all the way through. However, I can't in good conscience pick against Matthew Stafford when playing a Giants secondary that still leaves a lot to be desired. If I am wrong this week, then I will start believing in Big Blue's secondary. Until then, though, I am betting against that group. Stafford and co. will orchestrate a game-winning drive to avoid a 0-2 start to the season.

Prediction: Rams 23 - 20 Giants

How to watch New York Giants @ Los Angeles Rams (-6.5)

Giants vs. Rams starts at 8:15 p.m. EDT at SoFi Stadium. You can watch it on ESPN or ABC, or stream it on the ESPN app.

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