Will the New York Giants give the Rams a more durable battle than anticipated in Week 2? With a mixed file of 7-27 over the previous two years, one would suppose not, however when you look a little bit deeper on the Giants then the result might not be as cut-and-dry as a straightforward win for the Rams.
The Giants are my option to go final to first of their division this yr. This group ought to look nothing just like the Giants we’ve grown accustomed to over the past decade. The adjustments they’ve made are plentiful, they usually all appear to be upgrades.
Former Ravens coach John Harbaugh took the helm, bringing in a brand new teaching workers to reshape either side of the ball. Just one coach from the unique Brian Daboll period stays with the Giants (Charlie Bullen, who will function the Run Sport Coordinator and Outdoors Linebackers Coach) however the headliners of this fully revamped workers are Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator and Dennard Wilson as defensive coordinator.
Jun 3, 2026; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh appears to be like on throughout organized group actions at Quest Diagnostics Coaching Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Pictures Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Pictures
Nagy was the offensive coordinator of the KC Chiefs from 2016-17, left for the pinnacle teaching place with the Chicago Bears, then returned to KC because the OC the place he helped the Chiefs win a Tremendous Bowl in 2023 and attain one other in 2024. Whereas his status as a head coach just isn’t nice, he’s made his mark as an offensive coordinator and can try and do for Jaxson Dart what he as soon as helped do for Patrick Mahomes.
Even when Dart just isn’t Mahomes, at the very least Nagy ought to have good recommendation to go alongside to the younger sign caller.
Dennard Wilson is getting into his first season because the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants after spending the earlier two seasons in the identical position with the Tennessee Titans. He brings 14 years of NFL teaching expertise to East Rutherford. In 2024, the Titans’ protection allowed 311.2 yards per recreation and 177.3 passing yards per recreation, each of which had been the second-lowest marks within the league. Nonetheless, the Titans additionally allowed 27 factors per recreation, which was the third-worst.
Wilson has but to coordinate a fantastic protection, however possibly he hasn’t had gamers nearly as good as he has in New York.
On protection, the entrance workplace made a splash by drafting extremely rated linebacker Arvell Reese with the fifth total choose on this yr’s draft. He’ll be a part of a protection that already has some high-profile stars, reminiscent of Brian Burns.
Dec 14, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns (0) runs the ball throughout the fourth quarter towards the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Pictures Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Pictures
Burns: The Carolina Panthers traded star go rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants in March 2024. Shortly after buying him, the Giants signed Burns to an enormous five-year contract extension value as much as $150 million. Burns is coming off the very best statistical season of his profession, tallying 16.5 sacks, 31 quarterback hits, and being voted to his third Professional Bowl whereas garnering 2nd-team All-Professional honors.
Burns was drafted by the Panthers in 2019 with the sixteenth total choose.
Abdul Carter: Outdoors linebacker Abdul Carter recorded 66 pressures as a rookie, 13 greater than NFC sacks chief and Giants star edge rusher Brian Burns. And Carter, the third total choose within the 2025 draft, is simply getting began. He completed fifth in DPOY voting.
Kayvon Thibodeaux: Was extremely rated popping out of faculty, and the Giants drafted him fifth total within the 2022 draft. Thus far, he has not lived as much as expectations, however the G Males did choose up his fifth yr possibility.
Tremaine Edmunds: Launched by the Chicago Bears on March 5 to clear $15 million in wage cap area. The group couldn’t discover a appropriate commerce accomplice earlier than the league’s new yr and selected to maneuver on from his bloated $17.9 million cap hit, incurring solely $2.4 million in lifeless cash. The Giants signed him to a three-year, $36 million contract with $23.7 million totally assured. He was initially drafted within the first spherical by the Buffalo Payments.
In the event you’re paying consideration, that’s 5 linebackers the Giants have below contract, all drafted within the first spherical! Wilson should be grinning from ear to ear.
On offense, Cam Skattebo says that he’ll be capable to return by coaching camp after he suffered a ugly ankle harm early final season. Jaxson Dart returns for yr two after a good rookie yr statistically. A completion proportion of 63.7%, 15 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. That represents a really low interception proportion of 1.5%. Within the 4 video games that Dart and Skattebo had been on the sphere collectively, they completed with a 2-2 file. With out Skattebo they had been 2-6.
There may be zero motive to doubt that if Skattebo had been wholesome for the total season, the Giants’ file would have been a lot better.
His aggressive, bowling-ball dashing model is precisely what Harbaugh craves in a lead again. Had he stayed on the sphere, New York possible would have completed a lot better than 4-13 and leaned closely on a bodily floor recreation.
Oct 19, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) pitches the ball to working again Cam Skattebo (44) within the fourth quarter towards the Denver Broncos at Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive. Obligatory Credit score: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Pictures Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Pictures
The Giants have additionally added to the targets Dart could have by bringing in veterans
Odell Beckham Jr.: 45 targets within the final 3 years, clearly rolling the cube.
Darnell Mooney: Whereas Mooney hasn’t had a 1,000-yard season since 2021, when he posted 1,055 yards as a member of the Bears (whose head coach was present Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy), Mooney tasks to problem Darius Slayton, the longest tenured member of the group, for the group’s WR2 position.
JuJu Smith-Schuster: When the Giants’ dwelling web page touts his historic numbers, I can’t see him making a big distinction this yr.
Calvin Austin: Was most likely signed extra for his return capability than his receiving numbers with Pittsburgh, the place he caught fewer than 40 passes every of the final two years.
Darius Slayton and third-round rookie Malachi Fields be a part of the social gathering to see who can maintain down the fort till Malik Nabers returns to motion. Nabers is anticipated to overlook at the very least the primary two video games of the season.
The LA Rams have made important adjustments in each teaching and participant personnel, however I feel the change they’ve made in offensive philosophy could have probably the most impression in week two. The Rams are within the strategy of retooling their offense as they totally embrace the 13-personnel formations they launched over the past 11 video games of final season. The ‘13’ means one working again, three tight ends, and a single receiver formation, which creates protection mismatches towards the present model of defenses constructed to fight the smaller huge receivers utilized in 11 personnel formations with just one TE on the sphere and three receivers. 11 personnel packages have been probably the most prevalent schemes within the NFL for a number of years now.
Over their ultimate eleven common season video games final yr, throughout which the Rams’ use of 13 personnel elevated considerably, from zero snaps within the first 5.5 video games to about 50% by yr’s finish, the typical factors scored per recreation jumped from 23 per recreation to simply below 35. Common offensive yards per recreation elevated by virtually 10%.
The Giants gained’t be a cohesive unit
As a result of the Giants principally cleaned home, changing virtually each coach, there will likely be a studying curve for everybody, coaches and gamers alike. On condition that John Harbaugh’s background is in particular groups, he depends closely on the schemes designed by his coordinators, who within the protection’s case, is the afore talked about Dennard Wilson. Wilson will likely be so concerned with bringing his assistants on top of things, studying the strengths and weaknesses of his gamers and educating everybody his personal concepts that he’ll be unable, I feel, to dedicate a lot time to planning for the distinctive offense LA could have in place for his or her week 2 recreation. The overwhelming majority of their follow time will likely be spent studying the scheme for the 11 personnel offenses they’ll see most frequently. If the Rams don’t implode, this might be a blowout.
That is going to be a enjoyable group to look at develop. Nonetheless, with so many new components to carry collectively, I can’t see them being a cohesive unit by week two. Rams will take this one.
