The Giants’ 28–6 loss to the Rams was ugly, but Jaxson Dart’s injury made it a nightmare. With Dart out for the regular season, Jameis Winston and the rest of the roster must show they can keep this season alive.
I’m publishing this recap later than usual because I needed a few days to sit with it. The Giants’ 28–6 loss to the Rams was frustrating from start to finish, but the score is not what has stayed with me. Watching Jaxson Dart go down was crushing. Learning that what initially sounded like a short absence would keep him out for the rest of the regular season made the night feel even worse. Just a week after the Giants beat the Cowboys 28–20 in Week 1, that optimism feels a long way away.
John Harbaugh has left open the possibility of a postseason return if the Giants get there. For now, that means Jameis Winston has to hold down the fort. After his performance in Los Angeles, that is a difficult thought to feel good about.
Winston and the offense looked lost
This was the worst Winston has looked in a Giants uniform. He is an NFL veteran and supposed to be one of the league’s top backups, but he looked underprepared. His timing and accuracy were off, and the offense never settled down after Dart left the game. Winston needs to lock in this week because the Giants cannot afford another performance like that against the Titans.
The running backs were ineffective, though I put much of that on the offensive line. There was little room to run, and the protection problems made life difficult for everyone. Darnell Mooney had a good game, but Malachi Fields and Malik Nabers had chances they needed to haul in. Those missed opportunities mattered when the offense was struggling to put together drives.
The Rams clearly made Isaiah Likely a priority in their game plan and did a good job limiting him. Theo Johnson’s night was harder to excuse. Another drop and a crucial false start added to the concerns about whether the Giants can rely on him. At this point, I have serious doubts about his future on this roster.
The offensive line was brutal
In my Rams preview, one of the five keys was keeping Jaxson Dart upright. Seeing him leave on the opening drive made that point painfully real, and the line continued to struggle after Winston took over.
Andrew Thomas did not look healthy. He appeared to be playing through an injury, and I wonder whether it had been bothering him through the first two weeks. Whatever the timeline, the Giants need him at his best, and he was far from it against the Rams.
Jon Runyan Jr. and John Michael Schmitz were disasters in both the run game and pass protection. Runyan’s extension looks worse with performances like this.
Sisi Mauigoa had a few mistakes, but this was only the second game of his career. I’m still encouraged by what he can bring to the Giants, and he has shown enough so far that I’m not worried about him.
Jermaine Eluemunor also frustrated me. He appeared to get hurt during the game, but this was one of his worst performances as a Giant.
The line’s problems do not excuse every mistake Winston made. They do help explain why the running game went nowhere and why the offense had such a hard time recovering once Dart was out.
The defense had few answers
The pass rush was disappointing. Abdul Carter was the only player who seemed to have anything going. Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and the defensive tackles were too quiet. The Rams have a good offensive line, but the Giants’ best pass rushers are paid to win tough matchups. They did not win enough of them.
Tremaine Edmunds and Arvell Reese had a brutal night in coverage and too often looked lost. I am willing to give Reese some patience. We knew he was a developing player when the Giants drafted him, and he has shown good moments through two games. I expected more from a veteran like Edmunds.
The secondary had an even tougher time. Davante Adams looked like prime Davante Adams, while Colton Hood and Greg Newsome II were bullied throughout the game. Hood is a rookie going up against one of the best receivers of his generation, so I can give him some grace. Newsome gets less of it from me. He talked a lot during the offseason and has not backed it up through the first two weeks.
The safeties were the surprising bright spot. Tyler Nubin played well, breaking up a pass and delivering some big hits. Jevón Holland has been the Giants’ best player through two games. He has been a ball hawk, and Dennard Wilson’s defense appears to be bringing out the player the Giants hoped they were getting.
The Giants need a response against Tennessee
Dominic Zvada deserves credit, too. He made both of his field goals, including one from 52 yards, and looks like the real deal. But when the safeties and kicker are the clearest positives, it tells you how little went right for the rest of the team.
This was an ugly loss made worse by injuries to key players. The Giants never seemed to recover emotionally or on the field after Dart went down. Honestly, I’m not sure I have recovered from it either. The optimism from the Week 1 win disappeared quickly in Los Angeles.
The Giants are 1–1, and the Titans are next. They cannot take Tennessee lightly, especially after getting beaten down like this. Winston needs to look prepared, the offensive line needs to give him a chance, and the defense needs its highest paid players to make an impact. Dart’s injury has changed the outlook of this season. How the Giants respond now will tell us whether there is still something worth fighting for.
Where the Giants Go From Here
Dart is expected to have surgery on his knee, and the Giants must now plan for the rest of the regular season without their franchise quarterback. Before the season, I thought this team could win as many as 10 games. I expected them to build much of that momentum before the bye, but Dart’s injury changes the entire outlook.
I still think Winston can keep the Giants afloat. He played well in the preseason, even if his performance against the Rams was awful. He is going to throw interceptions, but he should also push the ball downfield and give this offense chances to score. Now is his opportunity to prove he can lead this team when it matters.
If the choice is winning as many games as possible and narrowly missing the playoffs, or losing for a higher draft pick, I’ll take the wins. The rest of the 2026 Giants roster now has a chance to show what it can do. I want to see which players step up and where the team still needs to improve before Dart returns.
Hopefully, Winston can do enough to give him a chance to return in the playoffs. After the nightmare in Los Angeles, that is what I’m rooting for.
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