Rams face Giants on Monday Night Football

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Since leaving the New York Giants two years ago to become St. Louis Rams coach, Steve Spagnuolo hasn't hesitated to seek advice from Tom Coughlin.

They've talked on the phone and exchanged text messages in discussing football, coaching and life in general.

It's been a typical relationship between a pupil and a mentor, and that's why Spagnuolo is so concerned as the Rams (0-1) head into tonight's game at the Giants (0-1) in a matchup of two of the NFL's most banged-up teams.

Neither can afford to start 0-2, and Spagnuolo, who was Giants defensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008, knows Coughlin is at his best when his back is against the wall. That's where it seems to be with New York missing the playoffs the past two seasons and facing an early crisis after a poor showing at Washington.

"Tom is one of the premier and elite head football coaches in this league, and anybody who sees it otherwise is wrong in what they are seeing," said Spagnuolo, who will be facing the Giants for the first time since leaving. "I think he has proven it time and time again, but we are in this business and we know what it is all about.

"Tom accepts it and he understands it. I have no doubt that Tom will fight through whatever is going on right now. I hope he doesn't figure it out this week, but I have too much respect for Tom and I believe a lot of other people do, too."

If it sounds like Spagnuolo is being overly protective of Coughlin, maybe it's because he feels he owes him something. The Giants opened the 2007 season, Spagnuolo's first as coordinator after being hired away from Philadelphia, with the defense allowing 80 points in the first two games.

Coughlin defended his young coordinator and told everyone to give him a chance. The Giants won 10 of the next 12 games, then won their third Super Bowl when Spagnuolo's defense limited Tom Brady and undefeated New England to 14 points in the title game.

The 65-year-old Coughlin said most of his talks with former assistants involve the mechanics of the game, how he allocates time for practices and meetings, and even dealing with the new collective bargaining agreement. It's nothing that will decide a game, but it's time he's willing to share.

"I don't think they feel like my kids, but there's always a relationship," Coughlin said. "I'll help them as much as I can as long as it doesn't have anything to do with interfering with our team."

Both teams have to improve this week while dealing with injuries.

The Rams are coming off a 31-13 loss to the Eagles. Quarterback Sam Bradford probably will play with a bruised right index finger. Top running back Steven Jackson is doubtful with a strain of his right quadriceps, and receiver and punt returner Danny Amendola has a dislocated left elbow.

Cadillac Williams, who rushed for 91 yards and had six catches for 49 yards, probably will start for Jackson.

"I've never felt it like this," Spagnuolo said of the injuries. "In all honesty, no. Sometimes they happen like that. The hope is we got them all out of the way, but there's no guarantee of that."

St. Louis also has to be concerned about its defense. It was gouged for 16 plays of 10 or more yards and saw the Eagles gain 237 yards rushing, a 7.6-yard average.

New York struggled on offense, converting 1 of 10 third-down chances and being shut out in the second half. The unit also might be without leading receiver Hakeem Nicks because of a bruised left knee.

Veteran Brandon Stokley was signed Wednesday as an insurance policy.

Defensively, the Giants are hopeful two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Tuck will play after missing the season opener with a neck injury.

They have lost cornerback Terrell Thomas, middle linebacker Jonathan Goff and second-round draft pick DT Marvin Austin for the season with injuries. Defensive end Osi Umenyiora is out with a right knee injury and first-round draft pick -- CB Prince Amukamara -- is expected to be sidelined about another month with a broken left foot.

"You want to win every game at home," Giants guard David Diehl said. "You want to set the precedent early, and that's what we're trying to do. We don't want to be 0-2. We don't want to start the season off that way. We're going to do everything that we can and take every step necessary to make the corrections and move forward."

An 0-2 start is almost the surest way to miss the playoffs.

Since 2000, only nine of 98 teams that have started 0-2 have made the playoffs. The 2007 Giants not only made them, but Coughlin, Spagnuolo and company won the Super Bowl.

In the past two years, 17 teams have started 0-2 and none has made the playoffs.

The Rams started off 0-2 last season and finished 7-9, losing the NFC West title to Seattle in the final weekend of the season.

"I think last year we had some close games early in the season that we could have won and possibly put away and didn't," Bradford said. "Last year we ended up in a tie for our division [lead] and then lost in the tiebreaker and didn't go to the playoffs. I think everyone on our team understands the importance of these early games and how they can come back to bite you if you don't put them away."

This will be the Rams' first appearance on Monday night since Dec. 11, 2006.

"I think growing up as a kid, 'Monday Night Football' was always something that I tried to watch if I wasn't busy," Bradford said. "It was always the highlight of my week if I got to watch it. Now I have the opportunity to play on that stage."