Matthew Stafford posts 157.2 rating as Los Angeles Rams beat New York Giants 34-22 in Week 2

Inglewood, CA - Matthew Stafford completed 22 of 24 passes and finished with a 157.2 passer rating as the Los Angeles Rams defeated the New York Giants 34-22 in Week 2.

Stafford threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, giving Los Angeles an exceptionally efficient passing line. Puka Nacua was the leading beneficiary of the Rams' production, catching eight passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns. His longest reception covered 57 yards.

Los Angeles complemented that passing performance with 158 rushing yards, including 151 yards and a touchdown from Kyren Williams. Williams carried 28 times and produced a long run of 36 yards, giving the Rams a second 150-yard performer alongside Nacua.

"The biggest thing for me was being accurate and giving our guys opportunities," Stafford said. "When you finish a game with only two incompletions, that tells you the passing game was operating at a high level. Puka was productive every time the ball went his way, and Kyren gave us a lot of offense on the ground."

The Rams finished with 444 offensive yards and 23 first downs. New York recorded 332 offensive yards and 18 first downs, leaving Los Angeles with advantages of 112 offensive yards and five first downs. The largest team-level difference came on the ground, where the Rams outgained the Giants 158-45.

Nacua's stat line stood out even in an offense that received major production from both its quarterback and its leading rusher. His eight receptions averaged more than 20 yards per catch, while his three receiving touchdowns accounted for all of his team's verified receiving scores.

"Three touchdowns is a special result, but I'm just trying to be available and do something positive with every target," Nacua said. "Matthew was putting the ball where it needed to be, and when the offense finishes with 444 yards, there are a lot of guys contributing to that number."

New York generated its own explosive passing production through Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabers. Dart completed 25 of 38 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns, and Nabers caught six passes for 142 yards and two scores. Their longest completion went for 54 yards.

The Giants also received seven receptions for 85 yards from Theo Johnson, but their rushing output remained limited. Cam Skattebo accounted for all 45 of New York's verified rushing yards on 15 attempts, with a long run of 10 yards.

Dart's overall performance included an 89.3 passer rating and two interceptions. The Rams recorded both takeaways while also finishing with five sacks. Aaron Donald led that pass-rush production with 2.5 sacks. New York's defense finished with one sack and no interceptions.

"There were throws and production we can build from, but the two interceptions are part of the result too," Dart said. "Malik gave us a lot in the passing game, and Theo was consistently involved. I have to evaluate the entire performance, not just the yardage."

Not every efficiency category favored Los Angeles. The Giants converted 6 of 12 third downs, while the Rams went 3-for-7. New York was unsuccessful on its only fourth-down attempt. In the red zone, the Giants recorded two touchdowns and one field goal over three trips. Los Angeles made five red-zone visits and finished with two touchdowns and one field goal.

The contrast between the quarterbacks remained the defining individual comparison. Dart produced more passing yards, but Stafford completed 91.7% of his attempts, threw three touchdowns and avoided an interception. That performance accompanied a Rams offense that exceeded 150 yards both rushing and receiving through its top individual producers.

"Five sacks is a strong number for the defense," Donald said. "My job is to keep affecting the passing game and finish the opportunities that are there. We can look at the production, appreciate it and still see areas where we have room to improve."

Los Angeles leaves Week 2 with a 12-point victory and one of the week's most efficient quarterback performances, while New York turns forward after Nabers' two-touchdown, 142-yard receiving effort came in a loss.

Up Next

The Los Angeles Rams will take their Week 2 victory on the road against the Denver Broncos in Week 3, while the New York Giants will return home looking to rebound against the Tennessee Titans.