Five Takeaways from New York Giants’ Win

Beckham Takeaways

It would be ludicrous to state Odell Beckham overrated, as his ascendance in the NFL to cultural superstar can not be overlooked.  But, as Victor Cruz and Sterling Shepard showed in the victory, Beckham is not necessarily the number one defensive focus for opponents week in and week out.  The Saints went one-on-one with Beckham throughout the game, and in one noticeable instance, Beckham got open only to drop a perfectly placed ball from Eli Manning. Meanwhile, both Cruz and Shepard had clutch receptions on the final drive, both decidedly more difficult than the one Beckham dropped.

Beckham possesses a suddenness and burst that is unrivaled in the most competitive athletic sphere on the planet. But his physical traits and brashness often give credence to the perception that Beckham is overrated. All receivers drop passes. But great receivers have a knack for making the play regardless of the pressure, defense, or outside circumstances. Cruz’s catch that led to the game winning field goal is a prime example of that. Cruz was, and perhaps still can be a great receiver. Beckham is a superstar, but would he be the go-to target for Manning in crunch time?

There have not been many opportunities to gauge this, as their connections have mostly come in losing efforts. Maybe it’s more of a relief to see other weapons on the Giants emerge; as well as a chance for Giants fans to determine that while Beckham has been great, his teammate from LSU, Jarvis Landry, has more catches over his first two seasons.