On Monday night, Davante Adams reminded everyone of his elite status as one of the top wide receivers in football.
The Rams, however, still have some convincing to do if they want to be seen as Super Bowl contenders.
These are distinct issues, and it’s important not to let a strong performance against the Giants lead to confusion between them.
Adams stepped up when the Rams needed it most, showing his explosiveness and reliability. He managed to turn what could have been a frustrating game into something manageable for quarterback Matthew Stafford.
He recorded eight receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns, a powerful reminder that, even at 33 and in his 13th career season, Adams can still dominate on the field.
But the rest of the Rams’ team？
That part still needs improvement.
There were mishaps, like Kyren Williams fumbling at the Rams’ 11-yard line, which cost them points. A stronger opponent might have capitalized and secured a touchdown instead. Additionally, Terrance Ferguson dropped a well-thrown pass from Stafford that would have led to a first down.
Stafford himself was not free from mistakes, as he threw an interception while trying to squeeze a ball into double coverage. There were also issues on special teams that raised more flags than confidence.
These problems are fixable. As the game progressed and the Giants began to falter, the Rams showcased a more positive side to their performance.
Still, to achieve their ambitious goals, they must eliminate the inconsistency. Tougher opponents are ahead, and they’ll make the Rams pay for mistakes the Giants overlooked.
Adams gave them enough to pull through on Monday.
They can’t rely on their future adversaries to be as lenient.
Despite all the buzz around the Giants’ opening game victory against the Cowboys, they were still a team struggling to find its footing after winning just four games last season, now in their first year under head coach John Harbaugh.
Then, quarterback Jaxson Dart went down early in the game. Jameis Winston stepped in but, well, “stepping in” might be putting it mildly.
This context is essential when evaluating the Rams’ performance at SoFi Stadium. Additionally, besides Adams, the Rams appeared a bit disjointed, not quite living up to expectations.
After suffering a loss to the 49ers in their previous game, they certainly needed this win. Moreover, they were looking for a reason to believe that their earlier struggles were being addressed.
Adams played his part in that.
Whether the surrounding team did enough is a separate matter.
Before halftime, Adams was already making waves, with five receptions for 145 yards, one of which was a 31-yard touchdown and another a 64-yarder setting up another Rams score.
He was the spark they needed, providing hope that the offense could regain its rhythm.
It was a remarkable response to a situation the Rams hoped wouldn’t arise.
With Puka Nacua sidelined due to a hip injury, someone had to step up as Stafford’s primary target.
And Adams remembered how to do that.
Once upon a time, this might not have seemed noteworthy. Adams had long been the focal point for defensive strategies, racking up impressive seasons and arguing that he was the best at his position.
Time, however, has shifted that narrative.
Nacua has stepped into the spotlight, arguably taking the lead.
When Adams joined the Rams, his role changed — he was there to support a rising star while also being another reliable target for Stafford.
Nacua can be the main guy, while Adams can be the one giving defenses fits.
Before Monday, there was little doubt that Adams could still carry a team when needed.
Now, though, the Rams found themselves leaning on him more heavily than expected.
And there he was, turning key plays that could shift the momentum of the game.
His touchdown added to the score, while the big reception set the Rams up for more points.
Both plays served as a reminder that just because his role had shifted doesn’t mean his skills had faded.
Yet, the Rams should also acknowledge a tough reality.
They needed a lot from Adams against a team that saw its own chances diminish when Dart went down.
While it’s one thing to appreciate a veteran’s ability to step up, it’s another to feel good about constantly relying on him to do so.
Monday illustrated the former quite well; the latter could use further examination.
The Rams have reasons for some of their inconsistencies — losing Nacua impacts the offense, while missing Myles Garrett affects the defense. Having Aaron Donald back adds talent and energy, but it doesn’t automatically fix every other issue.
These adjustments matter.
They also present a hurdle for a team aiming higher than just scraping by.
The standard of performance cannot drop so low that being somewhat undisturbed against a rebuilding team feels satisfactory simply because their previous game was worse.
The Rams have higher ambitions than that.
And they’ve invested too much in this season.
That’s why Adams’ performance should be appreciated for what it was, without it serving as evidence that everything else is fine.
It wasn’t a signal that all is well.
Instead, it underscored his enduring value.
When the Rams required reliability, it was their veterans who connected — with Stafford throwing and Adams catching.
There’s something comforting about that heritage, about players who know that everyone’s counting on them to perform.
And perform, Adams did.
How often the Rams will need this version of him could depend on how quickly Nacua recovers. If he’s out for a while, Adams will face a heavier workload and more defensive attention, which presents a different set of challenges compared to just one night of excellence.
We shouldn’t assume that one strong game automatically answers the bigger questions.
However, knowing that Adams can still tap into his old form is certainly a positive takeaway.
In an ideal world, the Rams would see Nacua return, allowing Adams to smoothly fall back into a supporting role — giving them one of the best secondary options in football.
This is an appealing prospect.
Yet achieving it will take more than just waiting for Nacua’s recovery. The Rams must find a way to achieve greater consistency around their stars while delivering performances that inspire confidence going beyond just a few standout plays.
Monday highlighted that they still have a receiver capable of stepping up. It also revealed the significant growth needed from the team surrounding him.
