The Giants’ Cooper Taylor lost his helmet covering a kickoff and still made the tackle…. Last year, Coughlin famously declared that Odell Beckham’s absence from practice due to a hamstring issue was not a “setback”.
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So good that, in at least one head coach’s mind, he’s already conjuring images of the finest wideout in the history of the NFL.
Whatever Odell had, all the other Giants should order it. After missing the first series of the second half while undergoing an IV treatment, Odell Beckham Jr. returned to the field and caught two touchdown passes to lead the Giants to a sorely needed 31-24 victory over the Dolphins on Monday night at Sun Life Stadium while further cementing his status as the most exciting receiver in the NFL. “But watching what [Beckham has] done in his first two seasons is tremendous”.
“He really has an opportunity, I think, to be one of those guys you’ll talk about … he and Jerry Rice, ” Rivera said on a conference call. “I played against Jerry as well, and I see a lot of flashes in Odell’s game”.
The Panthers (13-0) will put their flawless record on the line Sunday when they visit the Giants (6-7).
Such is the encouragement offered by a boss who in all likelihood won’t be here next season. A victory over the Giants would assure Carolina of homefield advantage during the NFC playoffs. But the Panthers have racked up 40 sacks, third-most in the league, and they should be able to get to Manning enough to force him into a multiple mistakes.
Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry, who has become accustomed to Beckham’s legend as his former team-mate at LSU, said of his friend: “Obviously, his performance is something we all expect”. “He’s a person I’m a fan of”.
Check out this week’s edition of “Five Things I Think I Think.” Norman stays on the outside for the majority of snaps, so it will be interesting to see if he can – or if he will – cover Beckham as a nickel corner.
While many will chalk up the 84-yard touchdown, which ended up being the turning point of the game, to Beckham Jr. beating the Dolphins coverage, in actuality it was Manning recognizing the defense Miami was running and audibling to the play that produced the touchdown. But it doesn’t to Panthers coach Ron Rivera. But in Beckham’s savvy route-running and ultra-reliable hands, Rivera still sees shades of Rice.
Rivera, a linebacker with the Chicago Bears from 1984-1992, saw plenty of Rice during his career.
“I caught a stomach virus or a bug or something and then allergies just kept up with me throughout the week”, said the one-of-a-kind talent who missed the start of the second half because he was getting IV treatments for dehydration and cramps in his calves.
But Beckham will have to work for his Rice-ian stats on Sunday against the equally up-and-coming Norman.
Fortunately, the matchup on the field will be better than the one played out in the locker room this week.
“I think the question I’ll have again for our players is, ‘OK, we did this the other night”.
Beckham will be hoping to continue his current hot streak.
A breakout star in 2015, Norman has completely and utterly shut down the receivers he’s faced, no matter how talented.
ERIC RISBERG/AP Rice is the NFL’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving touchdowns and receiving yards.
“I was on him like white on rice, ” Norman told reporters. “He hasn’t (played in the slot), but that doesn’t mean he can’t”.
“You have to score more than 24”, interim coach Dan Campbell said.
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“It’s a must-win, a playoff game for us”, Beckham, said.
