Dec 142014
 
Odell Beckham, New York Giants (December 14, 2014)

Odell Beckham – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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The New York Giants defeated the Washington Redskins 24-13 at MetLIfe Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The victory improved the Giants overall record to 5-9 an ensured that the Giants will finish third place in the NFC East.

The star of the game was rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham, who caught 12 passes for 143 yards and three touchdowns – all of the touchdowns scored by New York.

Odell Beckham and Tom Coughlin, New York Giants (December 14, 2014)

Odell Beckham and Tom Coughlin – © USA TODAY Sports Images

“The young man is having outstanding success,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin of Beckham after the game. “When we are getting the ball to him, he’s doing very well with it. He’s a very good football player. He has the ability to go the distance, I think, any time he gets it – whether as a punt returner or as an offensive player. He can run the football; he can throw the football, so we’ve tried to create a lot of situations. He does have the talent to exploit the defense in a lot of different ways.”

The Giants received the football to start the game, picked up one first down due to a penalty, and punted. With Colt McCoy at quarterback, the Redskins drove 79 yards in 13 plays on their opening possession to set up a successful 35-yard field goal.

Wideout Preston Parker returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards to the Giants’ 44-yard line. New York then drove 56 yards in 12 plays to take a 7-3 lead when quarterback Eli Manning found Beckham for a 10-yard score on 3rd-and-8. Key plays on this drive also included a 15-yard pass to wide receiver Kevin Ogletree on 3rd-and-4 and a 2-yard run by fullback Henry Hynoski and 4th-and-1.

After both teams exchanged punts, the Redskins, now with Robert Griffin III subbing for the injured McCoy, drove 77 yards in seven plays to regain the lead 10-7 on a 9-yard touchdown throw.

New York punted twice and Washington once on the ensuing three possessions. Then came the craziness at the end of the first half.

With 2:55 left to play in the half, the Redskins drove from their own 10-yard line to the Giants’ 8-yard line. On 3rd-and-goal from the 8-yard line, and only with eight seconds left, it appeared Griffin scored on a run around right end to give Washington a 17-7 halftime advantage. But before Griffin crossed the goal line, the ball came out of his hands. The instant replay official ruled that Griffin had fumbled the ball out of bounds in the end zone, resulting in a touchback. The antics continued as wide receiver Santana Moss of the Redskins was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct and thrown out of the game due to his verbal attack on the officials due to the replay reversal.

At the half, the Redskins led the Giants 10-7.

The 30 yards in penalties on Moss at the end of the first half affected the start of the third quarter. With the Giants set to kickoff from Washington 35-yard line, the team attempted an onside kick that was successfully recovered by cornerback Chandler Fenner at the Redskins’ 17-yard line. New York could not pick up a first down, but the recovery did set up a 32-yard field goal by place kicker Josh Brown that tied the game at 10-10.

On Washington’s first drive of the second half, the Redskins reached the New York 36-yard line. On 4th-and-2, Griffin was sacked by linebacker Devon Kennard and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. After another punt by the Giants, Washington regained the lead as Griffin hit a 61-yard pass play on 3rd-and-6 from the Washington 11-yard line. Safety Antrel Rolle was beat on the play but hustle by cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie saved the touchdown as the Redskins receiver was tackled behind on his way to the end zone. The Redskins ended up settling for a 38-yard field goal.

Trailing 13-10 late in the third quarter, the Giants drove 81 yards in four plays to take the lead for good. The key plays on the drive were a 16 yard pass to tight end Daniel Fells, a 23-yard pass interference call against the Redskins on Beckham, and then a 35-yard pass play from Manning to Beckham for the touchdown. Giants 17 – Redskins 13.

Cullen Jenkins, New York Giants (December 14, 2014)

Cullen Jenkins – © USA TODAY Sports Images

The Redskins went three-and-out at the start of the fourth quarter, but the Giants could not take advantage of excellent field position as they were stopped on 4th-and-1 on the Washington 28-yard line on a Beckham running attempt. Earlier on this drive, a 30-yard touchdown pass from Manning to Beckham was wiped out due to a holding penalty on right tackle Justin Pugh.

The New York defense held again and the Giants put Washington away for good with a 12-play, 76-yard drive. On 3rd-and-2 from the Washington 47-yard line, Manning found Beckham again for 21 yards. A few snaps later came a huge 3rd-and-8 pass play from Manning to wide receiver Rueben Randle for 18 yards on 3rd-and-8. Then on 2nd-and-goal from the six, Manning found Beckham for his third scoring play. The Giants led 24-13 with 4:41 to play.

The Redskins could not move the ball on their next possession as Griffin was sacked twice. The Giants ran the ball three times and punted. Washington had one last chance but couldn’t move the football and punted with 20 seconds left. Beckham muffed the punt and Washington recovered, but it was too little too late.

Offensively, Manning finished 23-of-34 for 250 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions (118.5 quarterback rating). Beckham caught 12-of-15 passes thrown in his direction for 143 yards and three touchdowns. No other Giants target had more than 30 yards receiving. The Giants only rushed the ball for 49 yards on 22 carries.

Defensively, the Giants accrued seven sacks: DE Jason Pierre Paul (2.5), DT Johnathan Hankins (2.5), DE/DT Cullen Jenkins (1), LB Devon Kennard (0.5), and DE Damontre Moore (0.5).

Video highlights/lowlights of the game are available at NFL.com. The transcript of Tom Coughlin’s post-game transcript is available at BigBlueInteractive.com.

Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were LB Jacquian Williams (concussion), LB James Davidson, CB Jayron Hosley, RB Chris Ogbonnaya, OT James Brewer (concussion), and OG Eric Herman.

Article on the New York Giants and the 2015 NFL Draft: Eli Manning’s heir? … not yet as NY Giants needs loom much larger than next QB in ’15 NFL draft by Ralph Vacchiano of The New York Daily News

Article on Head Coach Tom Coughlin and the 2014 New York Giants: Why it’s not time for Mara & Co. to give Coughlin the boot by Steve Serby of The New York Post

Article on QB Ryan Nassib: Ryan Nassib’s life as a backup quarterback in the NFL: Mimic the opposing QB in practice by Tom Rock of Newsday

Article on WR Odell Beckham: How does Odell Beckham Jr. relate to fame? by Bob Glauber of Newsday

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Eric Kennedy

Eric Kennedy is Editor-in-Chief of BigBlueInteractive.com, a publication of Big Blue Interactive, LLC. Follow @BigBlueInteract on Twitter.

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