DID YOU NOTICE?

FIRST QUARTER

On the second play after a pass to the Giants’ Larry Donnell, the Rams’ Mark Barron and Lamarcus Joyner converged on a tackle, and Joyner’s shoulder knocked the ball loose for teammate C.J. Gaines to recover.

On the ensuing drive, Rams receiver Tavon Austin lined up offside on a second-down play from the 10. No flag was thrown. Austin scored on the next play.

Jason Pierre-Paul got the sack that forced the Rams to settle for a field goal, but it was pressure from Kerry Wynn and especially Johnathan Hankins that made Case Keenum step up in the pocket and into the waiting arms of Pierre-Paul.

SECOND QUARTER

Austin got both hands on the football that deflected into the arms of the Giants’ Landon Collins, who returned the interception 44 yards for a touchdown.

With 30 seconds remaining in the half, Keenum nearly committed two turnovers on one play. First Olivier Vernon beat Rob Havenstein on an outside rush and stripped the ball from Keenum’s grasp. The quarterback scooped up the loose ball, rolled right and threw downfield, where the Giants’ Eli Apple almost intercepted the pass near the sideline.

THIRD QUARTER

Under the category of “you can’t miss these opportunities,” the Rams’ Kenny Britt streaked eight yards past the Giants’ Collins, but Keenum overthrew the wide-open receiver, who would have had an easy catch and touchdown. The ball landed five yards past Britt at the New York 30.

The turf looked fairly long at the field created for rugby, and many players were slipping and sliding. Even Giants punter Brad Wing had his plant foot slip on one of his punts.

FOURTH QUARTER

Before the fateful fourth interception thrown by Keenum, the Giants appeared to get away with two penalties on the final drive. On first and 10 from the Giants 26, Keenum targeted Britt at the two, and the Giants’ Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie never turned to see the ball and ran into the Rams receiver before the pass arrived. On the play before the clinching interception, it appeared Bradley Marquez never saw Keenum’s pass coming in the end zone. However, the truth is Marquez was knocked off his pattern at the five by Leon Hall. That contact was well past the permitted five yards beyond the line of scrimmage, with the ball having been snapped from the 15.