Aaron Donald is back on the field, and the Los Angeles Rams finally got their first win of the season, taking down the New York Giants on Monday night. This victory was exactly what the doctor ordered for a team that started 0-2 and still has those heavy Super Bowl favorite tags hanging over them.
That Crucial Win They Desperately Needed
After looking totally out of sorts in Week 1, where the 49ers took full advantage, this Rams team desperately needed a bounce-back. Evan Craig from Turf Show Times, an insider who really gets the Rams, said the win was “extremely important and exactly what the doctor ordered.” LA looked like a completely different squad from those first two games. New York, honestly, didn’t stand much of a chance.
Sure, there are things to clean up, as Craig pointed out. Being only up 11 points at halftime and then having back-to-back turnovers, a Matthew Stafford pick and a signature Kyren Williams fumble, definitely gave the G-Men some hope. But it was still a night-and-day difference, partly because the Rams, as Coach Sean McVay put it, “didn’t have a ‘dumbass’ travel plan” like they did for Week 1 in Australia. That awful showing against the 49ers was largely due to arriving just a day before the game, making it tough for new pieces to gel.
AD’s Immediate Impact, Two Years Later
The biggest story? Aaron Donald’s return. This dude was two years removed from the game, and his presence on Monday night was HUGE. Craig noted that while AD didn’t light up the stat sheet, playing 33 snaps, his power and burst were on full display and felt on every single one of those plays. It was like he never even left! That fitness regimen he was on during retirement clearly paid off.
Donald’s return initially seemed like it might be a gimmick or an unnecessary distraction, but he was genuine about it, and you saw why on the field. The Rams already boast a reigning MVP and an explosive offense, so adding Donald back to the defense just elevates everything. Imagine what this D will look like once Myles Garrett returns from IR. If Donald gets better as the season progresses, which is very likely, every opposing offensive coordinator out there should be terrified.
With their first win under their belt and AD back in the mix, the Rams are looking to build on this momentum. This team poured resources into the offseason for a reason, and they’re not backing down from that Super Bowl run just yet.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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