There’s no rest for the Los Angeles Rams (5-2). For the third game they rack up the frequent flyer miles as they travel to MetLife Stadium to take on the slumping New York Giants (1-6).
The game will be presented to you and yours by your local FOX affiliate at 1 p.m. EST.
The Game: Los Angeles Rams (5-2) at New York Giants (1-6)
The History
The Rams and Giants have played 43 times since 1938 in six different cities. Los Angeles holds a 26-17 advantage in the all time series.
In spite of that, New York has won the last seven match ups between the two teams beginning on September 15, 2002.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (5-2)
While the Rams have spent the last month traveling America and the globe like Wyatt and Billy in Easy Rider, they at least got to rest up on the bye week before flying cross country to New Jersey. Los Angeles has won two straight and notched a shutout in their last outing in a 33-0 blanking of their NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals.
As someone with a rooting interest in the Rams, all this sudden attention makes me nervous. This isn’t like 1999 when, at this point, it was obvious they (then in St. Louis) were the league’s best team. There’s plenty of things that can go wrong and it’s difficult, after years of Jeff Fisher, Steve Spagnuolo and Scott Linehan to not expect the other shoe to drop with a thud.
But this feels real and plenty of other people are buying into it too, which makes me a lot less nervous. Sean McVay has not only resurrected Jared Goff and Todd Gurley (both written off way too early), he’s completely turned around a franchise that’s been one of the NFL’s most disappointing for the last decade and a half. He’s done it with great play design and actual NFL-level coaching. Something that hasn’t been seen on the Rams sideline since Mike Martz.
Goff was 22 of 37 for 235 yards, one touchdown and one pick against the Cardinals. Gurley carried the ball 22 times for 106 yards, a touchdown and an entrance into the conversation for NFL MVP. He won’t get it, but he’s on the list.
Los Angeles has an empty injury report. Everybody practices this week and made the trip.
NEW YORK GIANTS (1-6)
After a surprising 23-10 win over the Denver Broncos a few weeks ago, the Giants fell right back to earth with a 24-7 face punch from the Seattle Seahawks. They too have been on a bye nursing their wounds. The only problem is, their wounds are all on injured reserve and won’t play again this season.
Not only is Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall on IR, Olivier Vernon and Kerry Wynn didn’t practice this week either. Offensive linemen Justin Pugh and Weston Richburg will be out too, so Robert Quinn and Aaron Donald are already grinding their toes in the turf. Want more problems on defense? B.J. Goodson and Jonathan Casillas won’t play and cornerback Donte Deayon is questionable.
And then you’ve got the indefinite suspension of Janoris Jenkins. So, you know, they’ve got all that going for them.
Eli Manning was 19 of 39 for 134 yards and one touchdown against the Seahawks. Orleans Darkwa was welcomed back to reality with nine carries for 35 yards and only Evan Engram did anything as a receiver, catching six balls for 60 yards and one touchdown. If there is a bright side in this shitshow of a year for New York, it’s that Engram has showed up when the team needs him. He’s just not enough to overcome their losses in talent on offense.
The Pick
With Jenkins out and Ben McAdoo already updating his resume, this one looks daunting for the Giants. So daunting, in fact, that the Onion got in on the act with this little nugget, “Rams Simulate Playing Giants by Pumping Crowd Groans Into Speakers.” It’s a strange time to be alive. It’s only years of Jeff Fisher related disappointments that keep me from being insanely confident about this pick. I’m like a battered spouse at this point, but I believe they still love me and can change. Rams 27, Giants 16
This week
Straight up: 0-1
Against the spread: 0-1
Last week
Straight up: 9-4
Against the spread: 8-5
Season
Straight up: 69-50
Against the spread: 58-61
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