The St. Louis Rams fall to 0-2 in the National Football League season as they drop a 41-13 decision to the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants in the Rams’ home opener Sunday afternoon before 61,377 under the Dome in St. Louis.

The teams traded punts in the early going, then the Giants jumped on the board first on the team’s second possession. Eli Manning took New York from its 36 yard line, driving downfield 64 yards in 7 plays, capping off the drive with a 33 yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress. John Carney’s extra point made it Giants 7, Rams 0. The 1st quarter ended that way with the Rams on the Giants’ 32 yard line.

Less than a minute into the 2nd quarter, the Rams collected their first points of the day as Josh Brown nailed a 54 yard field goal attempt to cap a 12 play, 41 yard drive, making the score New York 7, St. Louis 3.

John Carney got back those three points for New York as he put the finishing touches on a 13 play, 59 yard scoring drive, nailing a 39 yard field goal to make it Giants 10, Rams 3 with just over 8 minutes to go in the half.

With a little under 2 minutes to go in the half, Josh Brown put the Rams back to within 4 points, splitting the uprights with his second 54 yard field goal of the afternoon, this one ending a 7 play, 17 yard scoring drive.

But the Giants stretched their lead to a converted TD as a 9 play, 53 yard drive was capped by a 33 yard John Carney field goal with 2 second to play in the half. The 1st half ended with the Giants leading the Rams 13-6.

In the 3rd quarter a St. Louis punt buried the Giants deep in their own territory at the 3 yard line, but Eli Manning engineered a 10 play, 97 yard touchdown drive that culminated with a 10 yard TD pass to Amani Toomer. The John Carney PAT gave the Giants a 2 touchdown lead, 20-6. That was how the 3rd quarter would end.

The 4th quarter saw the Rams pull to within 7 as Marc Bulger connected on a 45 yard gem to Torry Holt in the end zone. Holt came up with the ball after engaging in a struggle to fend off New York safety Kenny Phillips. Josh Brown added the extra point.

But the defending champs wasted little striking back with a converted TD of their own. Manning tossed an 18 yard scoring pass to Ahmad Bradshaw to cap a 6 play, 82 yard drive. The Carney point after gave the Giants a 27-13 lead.

New York put it away with under 6 minutes to play as Justin Tuck picked off Marc Bulger pass and returned it 41 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. John Carney’s extra point made it New York 34, St. Louis 13.

The Giants added insult to injury with just over 3 minutes remaining as Ahmad Bradshaw scored his second TD of the day, this one on a 31 yard run to end a 3 play, 39 yard drive. Carney’s conversion made the final score Giants 41, Rams 13.

The Rams (0-2) hit the road for a game, next Sunday, against the Seahawks in Seattle.

Download/Listen: Rams Coach Scott Linehan’s post game comments (1:30 MP3)