ESPN Monday Night NFL Picks: St Louis Rams @ NY Giants Odds and Predictions Week 2 – Free NFL Picks 9/19

Monday Night NFL Picks: St Louis Rams @ New York Giants Monday Night NFL Week 2 Vegas Odds, Free Picks, and Expert Predictions on ESPN 9/19/11: During his time as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, Steve Spagnuolo was the architect of an aggressive defense that led the franchise to a Super Bowl victory. When Spagnuolo returns to New York Monday night as the head coach of the St. Louis Rams, he will try to solve the very unit he helped create. Both teams are dealing with injuries, and the Giants are seven-point favorites entering the game.

For the Rams, question marks abound on the offensive side of the ball. Qaurterback Sam Bradford is expected to play, but he is dealing with an injury to a finger on his throwing. Star running back Steven Jackson is questionable for the meeting, and slot receiver Danny Amendola is doubtful. All three players went down early in the Rams’ 31-13 loss to Philadelphia in the season opener, and St. Louis struggled to put points on the board once the injuries started piling up.

Ironically, the Giants’ defense is just as beat up as the St Louis offense. Defense ends Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck are both questionable, and the New York already lost two starters in the secondary during the preseason. The losses were evident in the season opener when Rex Grossman was able to top 300 yards in a 28-14 Redskins victory. Even with an injured finger, Bradford could easily put up similar numbers against an injury-riddled Giants’ defense.

The St. Louis Rams’ defense isn’t dealing with injuries, but Spagnuolo inherited a unit that ranked among the worst in the NFL. He has slowly but surely improved the defense, but it is still a work in progress. Against the Eagles in Week 1, the Rams were able to put some pressure on Mike Vick. However, they also gave up big plays on the ground and through the air. The Giants have a pair of big play receivers in Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham, along with a two-headed monster at running back in Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs. The balanced attack of the New York offense could be tough for St. Louis to slow down.

With Amendola and Jackson likely out, the X-factors for the Rams could be running back Cadillac Williams and receiver Mike Sims-Walker. Williams filled in nicely against the Eagles, topping 100 yards in total offense. The same cannot be said about Sims-Walker. He was acquired in the offseason to become Bradford’s top target, but he managed just a single catch for five yards in the opener. Sims-Walker has to step in the wake of all the injuries if the Rams are going to be able to hang with Eli Manning and the Giants’ attack.

In the end, the injuries to the Rams will likely be more costly than the injuries that the Giants are dealing with. The strength of St. Louis was supposed to be the offense, but with Jackson and Amendola out and Bradford at less than 100 percent, the Rams are essentially mediocre on both sides of the ball. The Giants aren’t exactly the most consistent team in the NFL either, but they simply have more healthy firepower available for Monday night’s meeting.

Prediction: New York Giants (-7) Cover the Spread

Free NFL Football Picks and Predictions: NY Giants -7

Stop by NSAwins.com daily throughout the NFL Football season for daily Free NFL Picks and Vegas NFL Lines plus daily updated Super Bowl 2012 Futures Odds.