Week 1: George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb.
Week 2: Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
There is no easing into the season for the Giants defensive backs.
“I was saying we start the season off strong,’’ cornerback Dru Phillips told The Post. “We got like four of the top 10 receivers in this league, in my opinion. … The Rams are different though. They’re marrying up their runs with their passes. You got to be honest with it.’’
Yes, the Rams do want to run the ball and Monday night might be without Nacua, who is dealing with a hip issue and is listed as questionable.
The Giants have their own issues in the secondary. Starting cornerback Deonte Banks is questionable with a calf injury, and Paulson Adebo, supplanted in the lineup, was put on injured reserve (knee) and will miss the next four games.
If Banks is unavailable, that leaves second-round rookie Colton Hood next in line to start opposite Greg Newsome II. The Giants took Hood No. 37 overall in the NFL draft.
“Don’t make it bigger than what it is,’’ Newsome said. “Just to go out there, play your game. He has a lot of confidence, and I love that in him. If it is his number called, he’ll be ready to go.’’
Phillips committed three pass interference penalties in the season-opening victory over the Cowboys, and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson spotted exactly what was wrong with the coverage.
“You don’t need to grab,’’ Wilson said. “We are in position at the top of the route. It’s just cleaning up our hands. We’re going to be physical. We’re going to challenge people. … But at the top of the route, we have to understand how they’re going to call it. And it’s no excuse. When they get to the top of the route, we can’t grab.’’
For the first time since 1970, three teams will each play their first two games in primetime in the same season. The Giants join the Chiefs and Rams in that exclusive company. … The Giants fumbled four times in the opener — one apiece by Cam Skattebo, Jaxson Dart, Isaiah Likely and Tyrone Tracy Jr. — and were fortunate that only Tracy’s was recovered by the Cowboys for a turnover. Running backs coach Willie Taggart said the ball carriers practiced this past week with a weighted ball as a way to home in on ball security. … Facing Matthew Stafford on the road is a tough assignment. Last season, Stafford in eight home starts at SoFi Stadium tossed 22 touchdown passes and only one interception, compiling a passer rating of 114.7.
