4 standouts each on offense and defense from Rams' feel-good win vs. Giants

The Los Angeles Rams returned to SoFi Stadium in desperate need of a win, and despite being down Myles Garrett, Puka Nacua, and others, they delivered.

The stars who played shone bright, including, of course, the one and only Aaron Donald in his 2026 debut. Matthew Stafford had a strong bounceback game, as did defensive coordinator Chris Shula.

And others, all of whom featured among the half-dozen winners below. Although it wasn't a perfect performance - the Rams turned it over twice and Harrison Mevis missed a 43-yard field goal - it certainly ended with a get-right sense of optimism.

4 stars each on offense and defense lead Rams to 28-6 victory

Receiver Davante Adams

An obvious choice. Adams finished with eight catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns, more than making up for Puka Nacua's absence. Adams got the offense going with a snow-cone catch over the middle, then strutted into the endzone a few plays later on a 31-yard grab. Even at 33, in Year 13, Unc's still got it.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford

Ditto for the Rams' 38-year-old quarterback, who bounced back from a flat Week 1 showing with a four-touchdown, 300-plus-yard performance against a weak Giants secondary. His only blemish was an ill-advised heave targeting Adams in double coverage, which resulted in an interception. The ball still sailed on him at times, but for the most part, Stafford displayed the pinpoint accuracy fans know him for.

Tight end Terrance Ferguson

After being targeted once in Week 1, Ferguson emerged on Monday as Stafford's No. 2 option after Adams. Aside from a drop in tight coverage, the second-year tight end proved a reliable target in front of the sticks, rumbling for 54 yards on six catches, plus a touchdown.

The Rams offense won't reach its ceiling if Ferguson isn't a weapon in the passing attack. It was encouraging to see Sean McVay funnel him some opportunities, especially as a secondary target if Stafford's first read was open, against the Giants.

Rams' run game

Corum and Kyren Williams tore the Giants run defense to shreds, combining for 164 yards on 12 carries each. Williams also caught a receiving touchdown but dimmed his shine just a bit with a fumble at the Rams' 11-yard line. The defense bailed him out by holding the Giants to a field goal.

Corum churned out 79 yards on the ground, bursting like a comet through the gaps opened by the offensive line. His explosive potential - not potential any longer, it's here - was on full display. Word of advice to the defense: don't let this man get a head of steam.

Defensive coordinator Chris Shula

The Rams DC needed to change things up after an ineffectively passive scheme against the 49ers. In Week 2, Shula brought a lot more pressure and played a lot more man coverage. The pass rush terrorized Giants quarterback Jameis Winston all night long, after knocking out Jaxson Dart on the first series on an unfortunate sandwich hit in the pocket.

After allowing an early first down on three straight runs, the defensive front bottled up the run with a vacuum seal lid. A week after having their way with Dallas, the Giants finished with 51 rushing yards on 21 carries.

Edge rusher Byron Young

Like many of his teammates, Young needed a bounce-back outing after being dominated in Week 1. Against the Giants he was in the backfield all game, registering a sack and three quarterback hits in addition to making life a living hell for Winston.

There was nothing the offensive line could do to stop him. Winston must have seen him in his nightmares. That's the BY we expected to watch this season.

Cornerback Trent McDuffie

McDuffie looked the part of one of the league's most highly paid corners, sticking to his receivers like magnets and picking off Winston in the end zone to thwart perhaps the Giants' best drive of the night. His four pass breakups included a fingertip deflection on a downfield shot to Malik Nabers, the equivalent of a soccer goalie's save.

McDuffie was the clear winner of that matchup. Nabers, who at one point left with a shoulder injury, finished with one catch for one yard on four targets.

Defensive lineman Aaron Donald

Of course Donald is among the winners here. Although he wasn't involved in a signature splash play, his effect on the line of scrimmage was obvious. Only Aaron Donald could come back after two years away and have an immediate impact. The Giants offensive line had their hands full accounting for Donald and keeping him from blowing up plays.

He finished with a tackle for loss and a quarterback pressure, extending his mind-boggling Next Gen Stats streak. Per ESPN's Ben Solak, Donald hasn't gone pressureless in a game since NGS was born 10 years ago.

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