
Monday, September 21, 2026 Time: 8:15 PM ET Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California TV: ESPN / ABC Tickets: As low as $89 Line: Los Angeles Rams -7 Over/Under: 47.5
Monday Night Football features a fascinating NFC matchup as the 1-0 New York Giants visit the 0-1 Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.
New York enters with momentum after opening the John Harbaugh era with an impressive 28-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, finishing with a 134.2 passer rating. Dart was also dangerous with his legs, rushing for 54 yards.
Cam Skattebo powered the Giants’ rushing attack with 81 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, while Isaiah Likely immediately became one of Dart’s favorite weapons, catching all eight of his targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns. New York finished with 394 total yards, including 165 on the ground, and controlled possession for more than 36 minutes.
Malik Nabers also successfully returned from the knee injury that ended his 2025 season, catching six passes for 69 yards on nine targets.
Los Angeles’ opener was dramatically different.
The Rams suffered a 27-7 loss to San Francisco in the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia. Matthew Stafford completed only 15 of 25 passes for 155 yards, no touchdowns and one interception before leaving late with the outcome decided.
Puka Nacua remained productive despite the offensive struggles, catching five passes for 74 yards, including a 41-yard reception. Davante Adams was limited to three catches for 26 yards.
The Los Angeles running game was more encouraging. Blake Corum rushed 10 times for 54 yards, while Kyren Williams added 41 yards and scored the Rams’ only touchdown. The two backs combined for 95 rushing yards on 21 carries.
The supplied betting number of Los Angeles -7 with a 47.5 total is available in the market, although some books have moved the Rams to -7.5 and the total to 48.5. CBS currently shows Los Angeles -7 and 47.5.
Exact player props vary by sportsbook. The numbers below are projected betting targets unless your book offers them.
Skattebo immediately established himself as the centerpiece of New York’s rushing attack.
He carried 18 times for 81 yards and a touchdown against Dallas while helping the Giants accumulate 165 rushing yards as a team.
The matchup is especially interesting after San Francisco ran for 174 yards against Los Angeles in Week 1. Christian McCaffrey produced 68 yards on 10 carries, while rookie Kaelon Black added 65 yards.
The absence of Myles Garrett also removes one of Los Angeles’ most disruptive front-seven defenders.
If New York can keep this game within one possession, Skattebo should receive enough carries to threaten 70 rushing yards again.
Projected Bet: Cam Skattebo Over 64.5 Rushing Yards
Los Angeles produced only seven points against San Francisco, but Nacua still managed five receptions for 74 yards on nine targets.
That included the Rams’ biggest offensive play of the night, a 41-yard completion from Stafford that helped set up Williams’ touchdown.
Nacua remains the centerpiece of Sean McVay’s passing attack after recording 129 receptions for 1,715 yards in 2025.
Stafford should be better after his unusually poor opener, and the Rams will likely emphasize getting their best offensive playmaker involved early.
Projected Bet: Puka Nacua Over 69.5 Receiving Yards
Dart’s rushing ability adds an entirely different dimension to the Giants offense.
He ran 11 times for 54 yards against Dallas, including a 22-yard scramble that helped set up New York’s opening touchdown.
Los Angeles now has to prepare for Dart without Garrett.
The Rams confirmed that Garrett will undergo knee surgery and be placed on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least four games beginning with this matchup.
Dart doesn’t necessarily need designed quarterback runs to reach this number. His ability to escape pressure and turn broken passing plays into positive yardage gives him multiple paths toward another productive rushing performance.
Projected Bet: Jaxson Dart Over 34.5 Rushing Yards
New York’s opener produced 48 total points, while the Giants showed much more offensive efficiency than many expected.
Dart completed nearly 80 percent of his passes, New York ran for 165 yards, and the Giants converted nine of their first 10 third-down opportunities.
Los Angeles scored only seven points in Australia, but expecting Stafford and McVay’s offense to remain that ineffective may be aggressive.
The Rams produced the NFL’s top offense last season, and Stafford entered 2026 after throwing for 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns in 2025.
With Los Angeles returning home and New York showing legitimate offensive improvement, both teams reaching the 20s is realistic.
Bet: Over 47.5 Points
Jaxson Dart, QB, New York: Completed 79.3% of his passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns while adding 54 rushing yards against Dallas. His dual-threat ability creates major problems for a Rams defense missing Garrett.
Cam Skattebo, RB, New York: Rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries while setting the physical tone for New York’s offense.
Isaiah Likely, TE, New York: Caught all eight of his targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns in his Giants debut. His chemistry with Dart was one of the biggest stories of Week 1.
Malik Nabers, WR, New York: Returned from his 2025 knee injury with six receptions for 69 yards on nine targets. Another week removed from his return could lead to a larger role.
Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles: The reigning MVP completed only 15 of 25 passes for 155 yards and an interception against San Francisco. A major bounce-back performance would completely change this matchup.
Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles: Even during a disastrous offensive performance, Nacua produced five catches for 74 yards. He remains Stafford’s most reliable big-play target.
Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles: Rushed for 41 yards and scored the Rams’ only touchdown against San Francisco. Los Angeles may need more balance after Stafford struggled in the opener.
The biggest injury development involves Garrett.
Los Angeles confirmed Monday that the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year will undergo knee surgery and be placed on injured reserve. Garrett will miss at least the Giants, Broncos, Eagles and Bills games.
Garrett generated five pressures in the opener despite failing to record a sack or tackle, but acknowledged that his knee was limiting him.
That makes Aaron Donald’s potential return even more important.
Donald returned to the Rams this offseason following a two-year retirement but did not play against San Francisco. As of September 16, Sean McVay had not officially committed to Donald playing against New York, saying his Week 2 availability remained to be determined.
New York’s major Week 1 injury question was Nabers, but he was active against Dallas after practicing fully throughout the week and successfully completed his return to game action.
Run the football and stay ahead of the chains.
The Giants found an identity immediately under Harbaugh, controlling Dallas with Skattebo, Dart and a physical offensive line.
New York rushed for 165 yards at 4.5 yards per carry and dominated time of possession, 36:40 to 23:20.
That formula should travel.
San Francisco rushed for 174 yards against Los Angeles, and Garrett’s absence weakens a Rams front that already struggled to control the running game.
The other priority is avoiding negative plays.
Dart was extremely efficient against Dallas, but the Rams still have talented defenders capable of creating turnovers. New York doesn’t need Dart to become a pure drop-back passer if the running game is working.
Defensively, the Giants need to pressure Stafford.
San Francisco didn’t record a sack in Australia but generated consistent pressure and disrupted the timing of Los Angeles’ passing game. Stafford completed only four of his first 11 attempts and never established a consistent rhythm.
Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux have an opportunity to make Stafford uncomfortable again.
The Rams must rediscover their offensive identity.
Los Angeles generated only 290 total yards and converted two of nine third downs against San Francisco.
McVay has too many offensive weapons for that level of production to become acceptable.
Nacua needs touches early. Adams needs to become more involved. Williams and Corum combined to average better than four yards per carry, giving Los Angeles a foundation for establishing play-action.
Stafford also needs better early-down situations.
The Rams repeatedly found themselves behind schedule against San Francisco, allowing the defense to dictate the game.
Defensively, stopping Skattebo and containing Dart’s legs must be priorities.
Dallas allowed the Giants to dictate the game through their rushing attack and never regained control. Los Angeles cannot allow New York to repeat that formula and keep Stafford standing on the sideline.
The Rams are favored by a touchdown largely because of home field, their established veteran talent and expectations of a major bounce-back performance.
But seven points is a substantial number against a Giants team that looked considerably better than expected in Week 1.
Dart wasn’t simply making occasional spectacular plays against Dallas. He was efficient, accurate and in control.
The Giants converted third downs, ran effectively and controlled possession.
Those are characteristics that travel well.
Los Angeles should play much better than it did in Australia. Stafford is unlikely to remain near 155 passing yards, and Nacua should create problems for New York’s secondary.
The question is whether the Rams can separate.
Without Garrett and with Donald’s availability still uncertain, Los Angeles’ defense doesn’t look quite as intimidating as it did entering Week 1.
At Giants +7, New York has enough offensive versatility to stay within the number.
The total also presents an interesting opportunity.
Los Angeles should generate considerably more than seven points at home, while Dart and the Giants demonstrated they can sustain touchdown drives.
Expect a much better Rams offense than the one that appeared in Australia.
Stafford gets Nacua involved early, Los Angeles establishes Williams and Corum on the ground, and the Rams eventually find the offensive rhythm that was completely absent against San Francisco.
But New York won’t go quietly.
Dart’s mobility creates problems, Skattebo finds running room against a defense that allowed 174 rushing yards in Week 1, and Likely continues to give the Giants a dependable option over the middle.
Los Angeles eventually produces the decisive scoring drive late in the fourth quarter, but New York stays inside the touchdown spread.
Final Score Prediction: Los Angeles Rams 27, New York Giants 24
Best Bet: New York Giants +7
Against the Spread: New York Giants +7
Moneyline: Los Angeles Rams
Total: Over 47.5
Top Player Prop: Cam Skattebo Over 64.5 Rushing Yards
Additional Props: Puka Nacua Over 69.5 Receiving Yards | Jaxson Dart Over 34.5 Rushing Yards
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