NY Giants-Rams matchup: Los Angeles offense will provide stern test

The New York Giants travel to Los Angeles for their second consecutive prime-time game, where they will face the 0-1 Rams . Los Angeles is coming off a disappointing 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Australia on Thursday night. The Rams' decision to travel to Australia just 28 hours before kickoff drew heavy scrutiny after San Francisco dominated the game, holding a seven-minute advantage in time of possession and out-gaining Los Angeles by 89 yards.

Nevertheless, Los Angeles remains a top team in the NFL, and they've had over a week to stew on the loss, but they did lose star defensive end Myles Garrett to a knee injury. Injuries are a factor, of course, but one of the crucial factors in the game will be the trenches, and the Rams offensive line struggled against the 49ers.

The Rams blew assignments on the offensive line, and Raheem Morris' defense was harrassing, although they failed to sack future Hall of Famer Matt Stafford .

The Giants have the personnel to be a top-five pass rush in the league, especially if Abdul Carter lives up to his insanely high potential. Dallas focused on Brian Burns in Week 1 — will Sean McVay's offense do the same?

The Rams have a physical and big offensive line that can command the point of attack. Alaric Jackson (LT) and Steve Avila (LG) are a quality tandem on the left side, with Warren McClendon Jr. (RT) and Kevin Dotson (RG) on the right. Coleman Shelton centers the line. One of the biggest matchups in the game, quite possibly, is D.J. Reader against the interior offensive line.

Reader was outstanding in Week 1 for the Giants, and he'll have to be again against a team that will try to run DUO and displace, while marrying its run game to its dynamic passing attack. Overall, the Giants must be on their P's and Q's up front. The Rams' receivers block their back side off, and I expect to see a heavy dose of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum .

The Giants' pass rush can certainly take advantage of the pair of tackles, and the speed of Carter and Burns could look to win against the more power-based line that the Rams possess, but the strength of players like Dotson and Avila could easily give the edge to Los Angeles.

Los Angeles will frequently use 12/13 personnel with a combination of the four tight ends: Colby Parkenson, Tyler Higbee , Terrance Ferguson , and Davis Allen ( if healthy, was concussed in Week 1 ). The Rams were in 13 personnel on 44% of their snaps in Week 1. They took a big deficit and played 11 personnel at a 46% rate, but expect heavier usage in neutral game scripts, which will prompt the Giants to use their five-man front with Tremaine Edmunds and Arvell Reese on the backside.

A combination of these players would join Reader up front with the first-team base package: Chauncey Golston , Shelby Harris , Kayvon Thibodeaux , Abdul Carter, and Brian Burns. The Giants did spell Harris and Reader with Darius Alexander and C.J. Okoye — I will be very nervous when that happens against the Rams. Alexander and Okoye were liabilities up front, and McVay will attack them with DUO.

Kyren Williams saw 13 carries to Blake Corum's 10; the former averaged 3.7 yards on the ground with 2.09 yards after contact and a touchdown, while the latter averaged 5.4 yards on the ground with 1.50 yards after contact. This dynamic duo will be a threat in DUO.

The rushing attack will set up play-action shots to the Rams' receivers. McVay will use 11 personnel to get Dru Phillips on the field, where he'll likely see Davante Adams in the slot — this is a mismatch to exploit. Stretch-zone play-action passes outside the numbers to displace and get the Giants moving away from the throw will be a successful option for McVay if the Giants start to buckle against the run.

Then there's Puka Nacau. He aligned at just a 12.5% rate in the slot, but I can see him moving there for his blocking and the mismatch against Phillips. He only caught five of his nine targets for 74 yards in Week 1. The Giants' cornerbacks will be tested against Nacua, Adams, and Stafford.

Similar to Dak Prescott , I don't think we'll see many blitzes, but there will be simulated pressures and twists in defensive passing-favorable situations. Stafford is quick to see the field and still has a cannon attached to him, so the field is his oyster. The third receiver in 11 personnel will likely be a combination of Jordan Whittington , Konata Mumpfield , or Xavier Smith .

Tight end Terrance Ferguson, though, is a player to circle and watch when, and if, the Rams start to run the football in their heavy personnel. Ferguson is an athletic tight end who is a threat off play action.

Dennard Wilson will likely mix Cover-4 and Cover-3, but may need to rely more on Cover-3 to get the safety closer in the box, depending on how successful the Rams are running the football. Wilson will likely through some curveballs at Stafford, and either Burns or Carter will align across the formation to try and gain a speed advantage, but it all comes down to stopping the run against these Rams — which, of course — is an issue when they have the receiving weapons and quarterback that they possess.

The Giants are 7.5-point road underdogs with an Over/Under of 48ish ( depending on the book ). I feel a lot better about this matchup for the Giants after Week 1, but the Rams are a true test. If the Giants pull off this upset, they will vault themselves into the true contender conversation in the NFC. These are bright lights, but this is a different Giants' team coached by John Harbaugh and led by second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart .