2017-Present - McVay's run

Week 4 Preview: Los Angeles Rams hope to bounce back against New York Giants

Photo credit: Adrian Kraus/AP photographer.

The Los Angeles Rams lost their battle against a tough Buffalo Bills squad, but not without a fight to the finish. The Bills had the Rams beat 28-3 with eight minutes left in the third quarter. The Rams roared back to lead 32-28, but on the ensuing Buffalo drive, failed to stop a crucial third-and-long. A pass interference penalty on the next play killed their chance to win. The Bills scored on a short touchdown pass in the end zone with 15 seconds left in the game to give them a 35-32 victory.

The Rams proved they could fight back from an overwhelming deficit. But the Rams will need to be that second-half team from the get-go against the New York Giants. The Rams are back in SoFi Stadium for their second home game of the season after playing on the road in Weeks 2 and 3. The Giants are 0-3 with another mobile quarterback in Daniel Jones to lead the way. The Giants lost 36-9 against a decimated San Francisco 49ers team. The Rams are heavy favorites according to most analysts.

Jones had 17 completions on 32 attempts for 179 yards and no touchdowns against the Niners. He had one interception and was sacked twice. For the season so far, he has 68 passes on 113 attempts for 699 yards and two touchdowns. He also has four interceptions and nine sacks. Jones’s only touchdowns were in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both were to wide receiver Darius Slayton. Slayton is also their receiving leader with 12 catches for 188 yards. He also led in receiving against the 49ers.

The Giants just acquired former Atlanta Falcons star running back Davonta Freeman. Starting running back Saquon Barkley is out for the season after suffering a Week 2 knee injury against the Chicago Bears. Freeman stepped up in his place against San Francisco with only five carries for 10 yards. Jones led in rushing with five carries for 49 yards. He is also the current leading rusher with 12 carries for 92 yards. Dion Lewis will split the backfield with Freeman. He has one touchdown this season against the Bears.

Rams quarterback Jared Goff has 63 completions on 90 attempts for 863 yards and five touchdowns. He also has two interceptions and four sacks. Against the Bills, Goff had 23 completions on 32 attempts for 321 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite targets were Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. Kupp had nine catches for 107 yards and one touchdown. Woods had five receptions for 74 yards and one touchdown. Kupp still leads in receiving with 18 catches for 228 yards. Woods is third in rushing yards with seven carries for 63 yards and one touchdown. Kupp, Woods and tight ends Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett will be utilized against an injury-laden Giants secondary.

The Rams offense still showcases a strong running game. They will meet a Giants defensive line that improved against the 49ers compared to their first two games of the season. Rams running back Darrell Henderson had the best game of his career last week earning 114 yards on 20 carries and had a touchdown. For the season, Henderson leads the Rams in rushing with 35 carries for 201 yards and two touchdowns. The Rams also have veteran running back Malcolm Brown with 36 carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie Cam Akers has been ruled out for Week 4 as he recovers from a rib injury. Brown is also playing in a splint for a broken finger but will be active.

The Giants defensive line has defensive tackles Dexter Lawrence and B.J. Hill as well as defensive end Leonard Williams to press the Rams offensive line. They have four sacks total for the season.  Linebackers Blake Martinez, Lorenzo Carter and Kyler Fackrell also total four sacks. Martinez leads in tackles with 30.

The Giants may be a little thin in the backfield. Their team’s second-leading tackler, cornerback Julian Love is questionable with a leg injury. Safety Jabrill Peppers is also questionable with an ankle injury. They do have cornerbacks James Bradberry and Logan Ryan. Bradberry and Love have the only team interceptions this season with one each.

The Rams defensive backfield will still be stacked deep. Starting rookie safety Jordan Fuller went out of the Bills game with a shoulder injury but may play against the Giants, he’s currently listed as questionable. Safety Taylor Rapp will be on standby. Safety John Johnson will start and had the only interception against the Bills. They will have to watch Jones on the run or tight end Evan Engram on a quick route. Cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill will most likely cover Slayton and wide receiver Golden Tate, respectively.

Up front on the Rams defense, defensive tackle Aaron Donald will give the Giants offensive line trouble. He will command the usual attention of isolating him as best they can. Donald leads the Rams with three sacks. He had two against the Bills. Defensive ends Michael Brockers and Morgan Fox or Greg Gaines will attempt to stuff the run. Nose tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day was questionable to start the week with an ankle injury. He appears to be on track to playing. Linebacker Micah Kiser still leads in tackles with 26. EDGE Leonard Floyd has eight tackles and two sacks.

The Rams best mode of attack will be to apply as much pressure to Jones as possible. Jones’s turnovers were the catalyst for the 49ers win. They capitalized on a recovered fumble, interception and two sacks. The Rams defense will need to tighten up their receiver coverage from their Bills matchup. Their run-stopping should not be a problem, but Jones is fast and evasive. The good news is he is not as accurate as Josh Allen. He is their key offensive player right now.

Sources:  therams.comespn.comgiants.comramswire.usatoday.com

You can follow Erik Ho on Twitter @EHoinSDLVLA. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.

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