Dan Graziano, senior NFL national reporter 9y

Rueben Randle sure needed a game like this

ST. LOUIS -- There are eye-popping numbers all over the box score from the New York Giants' 37-27 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. Rookie Andre Williams ran for 110 yards. Eli Manning passed for 391 yards and three touchdowns. Odell Beckham Jr., of course, had his usual eight catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Orleans Darkwa had a touchdown run. This was a serious group effort right here.

But of all the offensive contributors, few were as flat-out relieved to have a big game as wide receiver Rueben Randle, who caught six passes for 132 yards and a touchdown.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that," Randle said. "I'm just out there trying to make the most of my opportunities. But the coaching staff was expecting a big game from me, and I was able to deliver, so I'm happy about that."

It's been a rough season for Randle, a player the Giants hoped would take a big step forward in his third season. Sunday was only his second 100-yard game this season, and his touchdown catch was his first since Week 5. Moreover, he'd been benched for parts of two of the previous three games by coach Tom Coughlin for disciplinary reasons relating to being late for meetings.

Neither Randle nor Coughlin have discussed the most recent benching in detail, but Coughlin made it clear last week he believed the issues with Randle could and would be resolved, and Randle was on the field for the very first play Sunday. He also was on the field for the fourth play, which was a 49-yard second-down completion that moved the ball from the Giants' 33-yard line to the Rams' 18 and helped set up the Giants' first field goal.

"I usually don't get the ball on that one," Randle said. "I'm the decoy on that play. But I guess everything else was covered, so I was happy I was able to make the play."

It was the kind of play the Giants hope to see more from Randle, as he used his size to go up and out-fight the defender for the ball.

"I was real happy to see him get back in the end zone," said Beckham, who's been stealing Randle's thunder and basically all of the touchdowns lately with his own brilliant run.

As for all of the other stuff, Randle insists he's focused on finishing strong with another big game next week and "just trying to move forward from here on out."

Coughlin had no comment on Randle, because he cut his news conference short and stormed out after he didn't like the first few questions.

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