Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
The Los Angeles Rams’ dismal NFL season opener in Australia and their proliferating injury woes were nothing Davante Adams and Matthew Stafford couldn’t overcome back home with a vintage performance against the Giants.
And after New York lost Jaxson Dart on the opening drive, they didn’t stand a chance.
Adams made eight catches for 195 yards and hauled in two of Stafford’s four touchdown passes, and the Rams welcomed Aaron Donald back to the NFL with a 28-6 victory on Monday night (Tuesday AEST).
Stafford passed for 327 yards for the Rams (1-1), who capitalised after the Giants (1-1) lost Dart to a left knee injury on their seventh snap. Los Angeles outgained New York with 481 yards to 182, even overcoming two turnovers in a swagger-restoring blowout.
“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,” said Adams, who had the fourth-highest yardage total of his 13-year career.
“If you’re trying to be great, be a Super Bowl-calibre team, you’ve got to hold yourself to a high standard. We can do even a little bit better than what we did, but this is on track with what we’re capable of.”
The Rams played without injured All-Pros Puka Nacua and Myles Garrett, but Stafford and Adams were in top form while the preseason Super Bowl favourites rebounded competently from last week’s 27-7 debacle of a Week 1 loss to the 49ers at the MCG.
Adams’ catches and yards receiving were both his best performances in a Rams uniform, while league MVP Stafford moved into sixth in NFL history with his 426th career TD pass, topping Philip Rivers when Adams adroitly tracked down an 11-yard fade in the third quarter.
Jameis Winston went 11 of 27 for 111 yards with an interception in place of Dart, who left the field shakily after taking a huge hit from Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart. The second-year quarterback, who looked great in last week’s win over Dallas, watched the second half in a track suit.
After his first loss with the Giants, coach John Harbaugh wouldn’t confirm Dart’s injury is a sprained knee ligament, but said it’s “in the neighbourhood of it.”
The night was also a milestone for Donald, who had three tackles for the Rams while completing his comeback with his first NFL game action in 32 months.
The three-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, who skipped the Week 1 trip to Melbourne, got wild cheers from Rams fans at every opportunity at SoFi Stadium.
“It felt really good to be back, coming out, being embraced how I was,” Donald said. “I think the defence played great. Felt like we played how we’re supposed to play.”
