Now THAT’S the Rams team we were expecting. After a rough week in Melbourne, Los Angeles came home to SoFi Stadium and absolutely took care of business, dropping the New York Giants 28-6 on Monday Night Football. If you needed a reminder that one bad game doesn’t define a season, this was it.
Stafford and Adams Put on a Show
Matthew Stafford looked every bit like the MVP he was last year, throwing for 327 yards and four touchdowns on 22-of-31 passing. But the real headline of the night was Davante Adams. The veteran receiver went off for eight catches, 195 yards, and two touchdowns — the fourth-highest yardage total of his 13-year career.
His first score was a highlight-reel two-handed grab for a 31-yard touchdown, and he followed it up with a jaw-dropping 64-yard catch that set up a Kyren Williams touchdown reception. Stafford found Adams again in the second half, connecting with him for an 11-yard touchdown before finding tight end Terrance Ferguson for a 5-yard score to put the game away at 28-6.
“This team, we got to the confidence level that we’re at because of the work we put in, and we’re not going to put any governors on what we can do here,” Adams said after the game.
And they did it without Puka Nacua, who was inactive with a hip injury.
The Defense Did Its Job Too
While the offense got most of the shine, the Rams defense had a strong night of its own. New York’s offense was dealt an early blow when starting quarterback Jaxson Dart left with a knee injury after being hit by Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart. Backup Jameis Winston finished 11-of-27 for 111 yards and an interception, while the Giants managed just 182 total yards.
The Rams defense also came up with key stops when New York threatened, including holding the Giants to a field goal after a second-quarter fumble gave them the ball at the Los Angeles 11-yard line.
Welcome Back, Aaron Donald
And then there’s the moment everyone’s still talking about: Aaron Donald was back.
After retiring following the 2023 season, Donald returned to the field for the first time in 2026 and immediately made his presence felt. He finished with three tackles, including a tackle for loss on a key third-down stop against Najee Harris.
Whatever questions surrounded his return, seeing No. 99 back in the blue and gold at SoFi was a full-circle moment for Rams fans — and a reminder of the standard this defense was built around.
By the Numbers
Los Angeles outgained New York 481 yards to 182. The Rams did commit two turnovers — a Stafford interception and a Kyren Williams fumble — but their defense repeatedly answered when the Giants threatened.
The Rams improve to 1-1 on the season, while the Giants also fall to 1-1.
Fan Takeaway
This is exactly the response Rams House needed after that tough loss in Melbourne. Stafford and Adams looked like a duo that could give opposing defenses plenty of problems, the defense flexed some serious muscle, and Aaron Donald is officially back on an NFL field.
If this is the version of the Rams we’re getting at home, Rams House has plenty to be excited about.
Next up: a Sunday night trip to Denver. The Rams visit the Broncos on September 27 at 5:20 p.m. PT on NBC.