East Rutherford, N.J. ? Steve Spagnuolo and the St. Louis Rams came to the Meadowlands bearing gifts and the New York Giants readily accepted them.

Eli Manning threw two touchdown passes and linebacker Michael Boley scored on a 65-yard fumble return to lead New York to a 28-16 victory over the mistake-prone Rams on Monday night in the first matchup between Giants coach Tom Coughlin and Spagnuolo, his former defensive coordinator.

This one was ugly with mistakes by the Rams (0-2) giving New York (1-1) a crucial win after a disappointing loss to Washington in the season opener.

All four of New York’s touchdowns resulted directly from St. Louis mistakes.

Manning hit Hakeem Nicks with a three-yard TD pass after a muffed punt and Domenik Hixon made a spectacular juggling grab on a 22-yard score after a busted coverage late in the first half.

Manning finished 18 of 29 for 200 yards and one interception.

Sam Bradford threw a touchdown pass and Josh Brown kicked three short field goals for the Rams, who moved up and down the field except in the red zone.

Bradford, who was 22-of-46 for 331 yards, might have made the biggest mistakes, throwing a pass backward and seeing Boley run it into the end zone.

It was that kind of night for the Rams.

The Rams killed themselves in the red zone. They settled for three short field goals after drives stalled inside the Giants 10, with the first coming after they got a first-and-goal at the one following a 68-yard catch and run by Danario Alexander, who had three catches for 122 yards.

New York built a 21-6 halftime lead and was never threatened again.

After Manning threw an interception deep in Rams’ territory on the opening drive, the Giants looked lost for a couple of minutes, until the Rams woke them up with their first big mistake.

It resulted because St. Louis was without regular punt returner Danny Amendola.

Greg Salas took his place and muffed Steve Weatherford’s punt with Dave Tollefson recovering at the 38.

Nicks, who was questionable for the game due to a bruised knee, put New York ahead with the three-yard TD catch. The score came after New York got a first down at the Rams’ nine after Bradley Fletcher was called for pass interference against Nicks.