The Giants’ next game is indeed a biggie: They play host to NFC South champion Carolina (13-0) on Sunday.
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At Monday’s night’s National Football League game between the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins, star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. hit the field in a pair of custom Nike cleats based around the comic book villain The Joker. Norman and Beckham represent perhaps the most accomplished players at their respective positions this season. “I’ve had the great fortune of watching Jerry Rice, and man, I see a lot of flashes”.
There’s no question anymore: Beckham is a top-five, perhaps even top-three, receiver in the NFL.
The Dolphins want to get the ball to running back Lamar Miller on a more regular basis but indications are that changes if they’re trailing.
Killing time hours before kickoff at the New York Giants’ hotel, Eli Manning plotted a play he wanted to try against the Miami Dolphins. And Beckham is a student of the game’s history – note both his homage to Ray Lewis with a touchdown dance and his insistence on greeting Dan Marino during a halftime ceremony Monday night in Miami – so he undoubtedly understood the significance. And he rarely fails. To be compared to Rice, Beckham will have to put up some postseason numbers as well. His 12 TDs match total from last season…. His efficiency-per-catch is remarkable.
Beckham, meanwhile, has 176 receptions in his first two seasons, the most in National Football League history. He demonstrated more finesse on his previous touchdown.
We know all about how tight ends have riddled the Giants’ defense throughout the season, and yes, Greg Olsen is a Pro Bowl talent. That’s true in some instances – see the Saints and Buccaneers, for example – but he has done his fair share of damage to trusted cornerbacks. We all know what Brent Grimes can do but do what know what Tony Lippett can do?
“Collins, the Giants second-round pick out of Alabama, didn’t have a particularly strong first half”. Norman has shut down nearly everyone he’s face this season. Carolina leads National Football League with 21 interceptions and 33 takeaways…. “If we let them make plays, they will do it”.
Norman’s lockdown status can’t be questioned. His QB rating is nearly 30 points higher than the season before Coughlin was forced to find a new offensive coordinator. Allowed to stand, Manning threw at a 75% completion rate. If the Panthers can get pressure on Eli and limit the Giants passing attack, the rest should take care of itself.
Here are the five games to keep your eye on this weekend. I played against Jerry. It doesn’t hurt that he’s surrounded by other defensive standouts like Luke Kuechly, Kurt Coleman and Thomas Davis.
Grimes didn’t shadow Beckham, but he gave up a touchdown to the dynamic wide receiver. Norman often likens himself to Batman, and sometimes rocks a shirt donning the Bat Symbol postgame, so it’s tough not to consider the possibility Beckham had that in mind. Manning has been a fine fit in this offense (having the best statistical year of his career) and would benefit from stability. Beckham was expected to show off his hands against the Dolphins and former LSU teammate and fellow one-handed catch enthusiast Jarvis Landry.
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Sunday afternoon can’t come fast enough. I’ll start with “Harry Houdini” Rueben Randle, and I use that prefix because the fourth-year pro has pulled a disappearing act for most of the year.
