ST. LOUIS - It didn't take St. Louis Rams rookie Chris Long too long to learn the bottom line in the NFL.

The second overall pick in this year's NFL draft earned his first career sack Sunday against the New York Giants, but the Rams fell to 0-2 after a 41-13 loss in their home opener.

"We're struggling. Guys are showing their frustration, not with their effort, but with their execution, and, just the outcome," Long said. "It's not good enough to just hang around for three quarters, or to play OK. We gotta win."

Long, a 6-foot-3, 263-pound defensive end out of Virginia, wrapped up Giants quarterback Eli Manning late in the first half. Manning went back to pass on a third-and-8 from the Giants 26-yard line, but was taken down for an 11-yard loss.

The Rams didn't even enter the red zone against the defending Super Bowl champs Sunday, but were within seven at halftime after two Josh Brown field goals. Brown hit both from 54 yards out at the Edward Jones Dome, which were the longest successful Ram kicks since Jeff Wilkins connected from the same distance in 2001.

St. Louis did little more in the second half, offensively. A jump ball between wideout Torry Holt and the Giants' Kenny Phillips in the fourth quarter proved to be the only offense the Rams could muster the rest of the way. Holt was able to hang onto the 45-yard pass from Marc Bulger in the end zone after Phillips tipped it twice.

The Giants scored much more methodically, as Manning threw for three touchdowns and New York used three running backs to near perfection. Former Southern Illinois University standout Brandon Jacobs rushed for 93 yards, Derrick Ward added 58 more and Ahmad Bradshaw padded the lead with a late score.

"You gotta feel like you're in the game until the end, and we had a chance to make a stop, and that was on us," Long said. "Once we got, you know, within seven points, I feel like it's on us to make a stop. We had to, and we gave up too much on the ground. Credit them, they're a good running football team. They got a couple great backs."

The Rams hope Long can strengthen their pass rush. The two sacks Sunday were St. Louis' firsts of the season. Bulger has been sacked 10 times this season, six by the Giants Sunday.

Long was the first pure defensive end drafted by St. Louis since it took Grant Wistrom in 1998. Long had 21 sacks at Virginia, tying him for seventh on the university's all-time list with Sean Scott (1984-87). A unanimous All-American selection, he was also named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Long had four tackles Sunday and now has eight for the season. Unfortunately for the Rams, he's getting a lot of opportunities on the defensive side. St. Louis has been outscored 79-16 and hasn't entered the opponents' 20-yard line yet this season.

todd.hefferman@thesouthern.com / 351-5087