St. Louis Rams vs New York Giants, week 2: game thread

Well, this is it, the Rams home opener, what promises to be an emotional affair for the franchise as they honor their former owner, the late Georgia Frontiere. We're all hoping that emotion translates onto the field for the team as well. Another spanking will not sit well with fans or anyone else.

A full game preview from our own 3k can be found right here. Those of you tuning in late to all the fun on TST, here's the long and short of it for the Rams: run well, block well, set up the pass; for the defense, mistake free football, give the Giants different looks and, for God's sakes, cover the hell out of Plaxico Burress - make Manning throw shaky passes and intercept the damn things. And while you're at it, that guy in section 246 could use another Bud Light, South Africa's finest light beer.

Key Injuries: LDE Leonard Little and LG Jacob Bell are out for the Rams today. Little's absence puts Chris Long, the second overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, in the spotlight, playing on the left side where Little normally plays. How well can Long execute the outside rush? we'll see, but the kid has his work ethic (one of the few players to play a hard 60 minutes last week) and ability to learn from his mistakes. On the other side of the ball, Adam Goldberg will fill in for Bell. That could be alright for the Rams. Goldberg showed determination and intensity in camp and the preseason, filling in for Orlando Pace at LT and doing a nice job of it.

Game time: Noon, CST

TV: Fox, local KTVI in the St. Louis metro area.

Expectations: High, very high. This game will not only determine if the Rams can get fans interested in the season, and pull ratings better than 12%; this game will have an impact on the team's relationship with the city and the fans, and holds the keys to several careers.

Giants perspective: Big Blue View

Let's go Rams!