Rams vs. Giants Week 2 Preview: 5 Things to Watch in the Big Apple

The New York Giants and St. Louis Rams square off in this week’s Monday night showdown on ESPN. Each team is coming off a difficult Week 1 loss, and there will be a lot to watch for at Met Life Stadium when they clash in Week 2.

Steve Spagnuolo will lead his Rams to New York, where he helped coach the Giants to a Super Bowl victory in 2008. Tom Coughlin and the Giants are trying to prove to the rest of the NFL that they can win in spite of countless injuries. The Rams are dealing with a few injuries of their own. When these teams put an exclamation point on Week 2 of the NFL season, keep an eye out for…

5. Which Team Is the Legitimate Contender

Heading into 2011, both of these teams were considered playoff contenders. The Giants were considered a dark horse to win the NFC East, and the Rams were widely considered the best of the worst division in the NFC West. As both teams suffered brutal losses in Week 1, only one will be on the right track following Monday nights matchup.

Pay close attention to how these teams respond to adversity. If either team falls behind early, their ability to come back could parallel their ability to come back and remain a contender in 2011.

Week 2 is early to judge, but the Giants are in one of the best divisions in football and will need to keep pace their rivals as their schedule gets tougher toward the end of the season. The Rams coaching staff could have a lot of trouble keeping a young team focused and on track if they’re 0-2 out of the gate.

The winner this week will instantly vault themselves back into the playoff conversation. And even though the season just started, two early losses could spell doom for one of these teams.

4. Who Eli Is Throwing to

Hakeem Nicks is still questionable for Monday night, and whether he plays or not, the Giants are lacking depth at wide receiver. Victor Cruz and Domenik Hixon were thought to be battling for the Giants’ third receiver slot. Neither guy looked very good in Week 1, so the Giants went out and got veteran Brandon Stokley.

The chances of Stokley being a major contributor in Week 2 are slim to none, but if Nicks is out, he’ll need to be.  

Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks have been Eli’s only reliable targets; it will be interesting to see if he can develop a rapport with either Stokley or a guy like Cruz or Hixon in Week 2.

3. The Ram's Running Game Without Steven Jackson

One of the most consistent runners in the league, Steven Jackson will be greatly missed against the Giants in Week 2.  Without Jackson, the Rams will turn to the veteran and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Cadillac Williams.

Williams was effective against the Eagles in Week 2, rushing for 91 yards on 19 attempts and pulling in five catches for 49. Williams has faced questions about the consistency of his play for the entirety of his career, and that isn’t likely to change anytime soon.

He could have a solid showing on Monday night, but he’s no Steven Jackson. Expect the Giants to try to stuff the run early and force Sam Bradford to beat them through the air. Keep an eye this development in the first half, as Williams’ early success should determine the frequency of his use for the rest of the game.

2. Sam Bradford's Injured Finger

Earlier in the week, there were questions as to whether or not Bradford would even play this week.  He practiced with the team on Wednesday and should be ready to go come Monday night.

A bruised right finger doesn’t sound like a serious injury, but when it is on the right hand of your starting quarterback, it’s very serious indeed.

The Eagles had no trouble getting to Bradford in Week 1 and the Giants are one of the best pass-rushing teams in the league.  Bradford is only feeling minor soreness now, but if the Giants get to him early, his accuracy could suffer significantly.

1. Depleted Pass Defenses

Everyone knows that the Giants are dealing serious injuries in their secondary. Pro Bowler Terell Thomas is out for the season and so is his backup Brian Witherspoon. First-round pick Prince Amukamura is out for at least another month. The Giants were exposed in Week 1, as Rex Grossman passed for over 300 yards and handed the Giants their first loss of the season.

The Rams have injuries in  their own secondary. Nickle CB Jerome Murphy will be gone for a while, and starter Ron Bartell is headed for the injury reserve list. The rest of their secondary has a history of injuries, and they looked lost at times against the Eagles in Week 1.

Both teams need guys off the bench to perform at a high level if they’re going to succeed. Follow Aaron Ross of the Giants and Justin King of the Rams, as they’re still transitioning into their respective starting roles. Eli Manning and Sam Bradford could pick on these guys all night.

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