McVay wants Rams to build on win over Giants as Denver awaits

Sean McVay praised the Rams' energy in a 28-6 win over the Giants but warned against letting up before a short week against the Broncos.

Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay said Tuesday that his team's 28-6 win over the New York Giants on Monday Night Football showed what the roster is capable of, but he cautioned that a single strong performance is not enough. "Human nature tells you to exhale a little bit," McVay said. "We can't afford to do that."

The Rams were without wide receiver Puka Nacua, who felt groin soreness after practicing earlier in the week. McVay said the staff planned as if Nacua would not play and treated any availability as a bonus. His status for the upcoming game against Denver, along with safety Kam Kinchens, remained unclear pending further evaluations.

With Nacua out, Davante Adams and Matthew Stafford connected early, and Adams finished with two touchdowns. McVay admitted he had not done enough to get Adams involved in the season opener in Australia. He also credited the offensive line for protecting Stafford against the Giants' pass rush and noted tight end Terrance Ferguson bounced back from a drop with a touchdown catch.

Defensively, McVay highlighted an attacking front paired with tight coverage, including cornerback Trent McDuffie. Aaron Donald returned after nearly 1,000 days away, played more than 30 snaps, and McVay said his presence lifted the entire team. Depth edge rushers Josaiah Stewart, Byron Young, Desjuan Johnson and Wesley Bailey, who recorded his first career sack, also contributed with Myles Garrett out.

McVay flagged special teams as an area needing improvement after a Giants return compounded by a 15-yard penalty. He said Kyren Williams and Blake Corum will continue to share carries. The Rams host a short week of preparation before facing Denver, and McVay said consistency is the next test. "Humility is only a day away, as we learned in Week 1," he said.