Stafford Makes History as Donald’s Return Powers Rams Past Giants

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams moved to 1-1 with a 28-6 victory over the New York Giants on Monday night at SoFi Stadium, where Matthew Stafford reached a historic career milestone and Aaron Donald helped anchor a dominant defensive performance.

The game between 1-1 teams changed five minutes into play when Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart suffered a knee injury on New York’s opening drive. The second-year quarterback was dropping back when Rams defenders Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart sandwiched him, forcing his left leg to bend awkwardly. Dart limped severely, was evaluated briefly in the medical tent, then carted to the locker room and ruled out. He appeared on the sideline in street clothes by the second half.

Dart had entered the matchup after a 28-20 Week 1 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, in which he threw three touchdown passes and posted a 134.2 passer rating. His absence left New York unable to move the ball consistently, and the Giants finished with only two field goals. Running back Najee Harris found few running lanes against the Rams’ stout front.

The injury added to a bruising weekend for young NFL quarterbacks. Washington Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels suffered an elbow injury, while Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was carted off with a hamstring injury later reported to be less severe than initially feared. The Giants also briefly lost standout rookie receiver Malik Nabers to a shoulder injury in the second quarter. Nabers, the sixth overall pick in the 2024 draft out of LSU, returned to the game.

The Rams had entered as 7.5-point favorites, and Stafford directed the offense with four touchdown passes. The 15-year veteran led the franchise to a Super Bowl LVI championship at SoFi Stadium in February 2022.

Stafford’s second touchdown came on a 10-yard pass to running back Kyren Williams in the second quarter. It was the quarterback’s 425th career passing touchdown, moving him into sixth place on the NFL’s all-time passing touchdowns list ahead of Philip Rivers, who had 421, and Dan Marino, who had 420. Stafford now trails only Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady.

Davante Adams was Stafford’s primary target while wearing the Rams’ retro “Classic Sol” yellow uniforms. Adams opened the scoring with a 31-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter, added an 11-yard touchdown reception in the third, and set up Williams’ second-quarter touchdown with a spectacular 64-yard reception.

Donald’s return supplied the Rams with another decisive defensive presence. The future Hall of Fame defensive tackle had retired after the 2023 season, ending a legendary 10-year run, but returned to the active roster after offseason roster shifts. One of those changes followed a knee injury to star defensive end Myles Garrett, who was placed on injured reserve after surgery following the Rams’ season opener.

Donald made his biggest play late in the second quarter. After Williams fumbled and gave New York excellent field position, the Giants reached the Rams’ 3-yard line. On third-and-goal, Donald burst through the offensive line and tackled Harris for a three-yard loss, forcing New York to settle for a short field goal rather than a touchdown.

Trent McDuffie also made an impact in his home debut for Los Angeles. Acquired during the offseason from the Kansas City Chiefs, where he won two Super Bowl rings, the cornerback intercepted a pass in the second quarter to stop a promising Giants drive and finished with four pass breakups.

Los Angeles played without star wide receiver Puka Nacua, who remained in street clothes because of lingering hip pain. The victory came after a difficult start that began with an international loss in Australia.

The Rams are in the middle of a demanding nationally televised stretch with four prime-time matchups over the first five weeks. After the trip to Australia and Monday’s home game, Los Angeles will visit the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football, travel to face the Philadelphia Eagles, and then return to SoFi Stadium for another Monday night matchup against the Buffalo Bills.