The bye week did not do one ounce of good for the New York Giants, who were trounced by the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium 51-17.
It was the first time the Rams (6-2) defeated the Giants since 2001 and the most points allowed by the Giants since giving up 52 to the Cleveland Browns in 1964.
It was an uninspired, lackadaisical showing from the home team, as the Rams thrashed the Giants (1-7) defense open for 465 yards.
Their efforts were embodied most by a Rams second-quarter 52-yard touchdown that came on a screen pass to Robert Woods on a 3rd-&-33 as members of the secondary looked as though they gave up on the play.
That was one of four touchdown passes on the day for second-year quarterback Jared Goff, three of which came in the first half.
Most of them came in the form of big plays, including a 67-yard connection between Goff and a wide-open Sammy Watkins just two minutes after Woods’ score. Goff passed for 311 yards on just 14 completions.
It helped Los Angeles build a 27-10 halftime lead despite the Giants’ offense running 44 plays compared to the Rams’ 28.
There was no taking the proverbial foot off the gas pedal in the second half as they tacked on a trio of touchdowns in the third to officially make it a rout. Woods picked up his second touchdown reception of the game in the process while running back Todd Gurley picked up a pair.
While the Giants somehow saw more of the ball, the offense couldn’t do anything with the extra time.
Their only touchdown in the first three quarters came in the first when Eli Manning hit Tavarres King for a five-yard score that capped off an impressive 14-play, 67-yard drive.
It was the team’s second first-quarter touchdown of the season. It also broke a 43-point unanswered streak owned by the Rams dating back to Week 7.
They record a second in the fourth quarter when Manning hit tight end Evan Engram with a 10-yard jump ball that saw the rookie impressively secure possession and get both feet in bounds.
Manning was held to 220 yards through the air on the day as he continues to struggle with a shorthanded receiving corps. Still, he passed the 50,000-yard mark for his career, becoming just the seventh quarterback in NFL history to eclipse that number.
Sterling Shepard’s return did give the veteran passer a legitimate option, recording 70 yards in his return
Orleans Darkwa was also a positive as he rushed for 71 yards on 16 carries, which was good for over four yards per rush.
But with the Giants in absolute shambles, an embarrassing loss like this is only going to make the hot seat beneath head coach Ben McAdoo heat up even more.
