Giants vs. Rams score: Cooper Kupp's late score lifts L.A. as Daniel Jones' comeback attempt falls short

The Rams improve to 3-1 by hanging on in a tight home contest

The Los Angeles Rams were not perfect on Sunday, stalling on consecutive drives after an opening-series touchdown and nearly allowing Daniel Jones to lead the New York Giants to a last-minute comeback. But they also capitalized when it mattered most, with Jared Goff hitting Cooper Kupp on a 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown to break things open in the fourth quarter and seal a 17-9 victory. Steadied by an early dose of quick-strike throws, the Rams improve to 3-1 in the NFC West with the low-scoring decision, while Joe Judge's Giants fall to 0-4 and last place in the NFC East.

Jones outplayed Goff for several stretches of Sunday's affair, using his arm and legs to will New York back into contention as the final minutes ticked off the clock. As per usual, however, some of his worst decisions of the day really cost the Giants; his last one, for example, a telegraphed target to No. 4 wide receiver C.J. Board on a crucial shot to the red zone, made for an easy Rams interception. New York's defense, meanwhile, deserves credit for keeping Sean McVay's uncharacteristically out-of-sync attack under wraps for much of the afternoon, but it was only a matter of time before L.A. hit on a big play -- which Kupp did in crunch time.

The Giants won't necessarily have it any easier in Week 5, when they're set to visit the rival Dallas Cowboys (1-3), whose record may not be much better but whose offense could easily score dozens of points against New York's battered secondary. The Rams, meanwhile, will stay in the NFC East by visiting the Washington Football Team (1-3), which has been routed in three straight contests.

[Oct 4, 2020 at 5:39 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

The Giants defense holds after the robbed turnover anyway. This is definitely a 10-6 game -- ugly all around, at least offensively. L.A. may hold a slight lead right now, but New York has honestly done more with the ball since that first series. Daniel Jones has looked solid on an otherwise underwhelming unit. If another play or two would've broken his way, the G-Men would be looking at a surprise lead right now.

[Oct 4, 2020 at 5:35 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Wow. Giants might've been robbed there, with officials overturning the Tae Crowder pick. The ball definitely came close to the ground, but different replays appeared to show it bouncing off Crowder's own leg rather than the ground. So Jared Goff and the Rams are saved from a potentially game-shifting turnover. Let's see if they can establish rhythm on the ground.

[Oct 4, 2020 at 5:33 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Looks like Jared Goff is banking on yet another late-game surge this afternoon. Just forced a pass to Robert Woods, and it looks like Giants rookie Tae Crowder came down with the sliding interception. If the turnover holds up, New York absolutely has to capitalize with six. The G-Men have actually had the momentum advantage for the better part of a quarter; they just need to finish. Los Angeles, meanwhile, needs to settle down and play ball. There's no need to be forcing plays when your short, quick-strike game works just fine.

[Oct 4, 2020 at 5:17 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Neither side has been particularly pretty so far, but you have to give quite a bit of credit to the Giants going into the half down just four points. The Rams walked all over them on the opening series, but it's been a step-for-step matchup since then, with New York getting pressure on Jared Goff up the middle, holding tight in the red zone and watching Daniel Jones stay poised in the pocket. Giants will need to finish series better in the second half if they want to keep pace, but it's a solid start. We've got ourselves a ballgame (for now) heading into the break.

[Oct 4, 2020 at 5:02 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Rams have drifted into neutral since their first drive. They now lead 10-3 after the field goal, but they should probably be up at least 14-3. Good on them for going for -- and converting -- a fourth-and-one inside Giants territory, but they're capable of finishing the drive with six. New York "D" deserves some credit, too, for getting pressure up the middle the last few series. L.A. looked picture-perfect on its first possession but has now punted, fumbled and settled for three in its last three drives. Giants need to do something on offense next.

[Oct 4, 2020 at 4:48 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Good stuff by the Giants defense to get off the field quickly on two consecutive drives, but Daniel Jones is having trouble in the pocket -- and understandably so, considering the presence of guys like Aaron Donald. Practically runs into a sack trying to move up to throw, and just like that, the Rams are getting the ball again. They'd be wise to just go back to that first-drive well and keep the ball moving on short, efficient stuff. It'll be hard for New York to slow them down that way.

[Oct 4, 2020 at 4:38 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

That's the difference between a 2-1 team and 0-3 team. The Giants get a huge turnover with the James Bradberry fumble recovery, but then they can't punch the ball in from deep inside L.A. territory. It goes without saying, but New York can't expect to settle for three on those kind of momentum-shifting drives and upset the Rams.

[Oct 4, 2020 at 4:33 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Hold up! Just when the Rams appeared to suck the little remaining life out of the Giants, Gerald Everett coughs up the football to kick off L.A.'s subsequent drive, and James Bradberry -- one of the very few bright spots during New York's 2020 season -- quickly hops on it, putting Big Blue in scoring position. Unfortunately, the Giants' bottom-tier red-zone offense rears its head right afterward, with a couple of short runs failing to move the chains as we head to the second quarter.

[Oct 4, 2020 at 4:25 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Daniel Jones, in case you didn't know, came in with a ball-control issue, and he's fortunate he didn't just lose another fumble. Sacked on second down and loses the ball before he hits the ground, but somehow corrals it as he lands on the turf. Turnover avoided. But Giants are already giving the ball back to the Rams, who used up more than a quarter to take an early lead. This one's already setting up to be ugly in L.A.'s favor.

[Oct 4, 2020 at 4:18 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Couldn't have scripted a better start for the Rams. Sean McVay dials up lots of dink-and-dunk targets for Jared Goff, with some Darrell Henderson sprinkled in, and L.A. has no trouble whatsoever moving the ball down the field. Ball is out quickly. Chains keep moving. And the clock keeps ticking. Rams just ate up more than half of the first quarter and are now up 7-0 early against New York. Daniel Jones has his work cut out for him. The question is: Does he have enough of a supporting cast to fight back?