Beckham, Manning Lead Giants to Victory Over Ravens

(Photo by Rob Samuels – Double G Media)

The chemistry between Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr, help the Giants defeat the Baltimore Ravens 27-23 on Sunday.

After an uninspiring first half, the Giants entered the second half as an entirely different team. When down 13-10 to the Ravens in the third quarter, Manning led the resurgence in the offense as he completed a pass to Beckham, who would catch and run 75 yards for the touchdown. The Ravens would threaten after a 70 yard pass from quarterback Joe Flacco to wide receiver Mike Wallace. On top of that, Giants cornerback was called for a facemask penalty on Wallace, giving the Ravens a first and goal on the five yard line. The Giants would then hold down the fort, stuffing the Ravens on four straight plays to regain possession of the ball.

In the fourth quarter, the Giants would take a 20-16 lead over the Ravens. With the Ravens regaining possession of the ball, and moving down the field. What would follow will definitely require an explanation from the NFL Head of Officiating Dean Blandino. Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie would break up a 30 yard pass attempt from Flacco to wide receiver Breshad Perriman. However, the referees would call a questionable defensive pass interference penalty on Rodgers-Cromartie, with replays not showing no contact between the two players. What would ensue is a two yard touchdown run by Ravens running back Terrence West, giving the Ravens a 23-20 lead with 2:04 remaining in the game, sending the crowd into an angry frenzy.

With two catches to tight end Larry Donnell for six and three yards respectively, the Giants were left with a fourth down and one with 1:43 left in the game. Manning would throw a pass up the middle, which was caught by Beckham, who would run for 66 yards and a touchdown. The crowd erupted in cheers as the Giants would take a 27-23 lead.

The Ravens would attempt a comeback, as they would move the ball past mid-field. After a supposed stop on fourth down, Giants defensive end Owa Odighizuwa flagged for roughing the passer, which resulted in an automatic first down. With tension rising in the Meadowlands, the Giants would knock down a Hail Mary attempt as time expired to seal the Giants victory.

“27 points, that’s our target each and every week,” said Giants Head Coach Ben McAdoo. “Like I told the players on the offense, if we score 27 points, I shouldn’t have any complaints…”

If we look back at this game, we can pin point to why Odell Beckham Jr, is the spark in the Giants’ offense. When Beckham scores touchdowns, the offense feels like it is in perfect sync. After a brief scare in the first half after leaving the game with a left hip pointer, Beckham would light it up in the second half. Beckham completed eight receptions for 222 yards, and two touchdowns (75 yards and 66 yards).

“It was good to see him make some big time plays in crucial moments,” said Manning. “Nothing better than him catching a slant and going [66 yards] for a touchdown to get the game winning play.”

Eli Manning has undergone scrutiny this past week after his performance last Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, and boy did he prove his doubters wrong today. Eli Manning combined with Beckham to get the Giants back into the game in the second half and earn the eventual victory. Manning finished the day completing 32 of 46 pass attempts for 403 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions (100.2 Quarterback Rating). Not only that, but Eli Manning had a record breaking game as well. Manning threw his 300^th, 301^st, and 302^nd  touchdown passes, moving him past John Elway for seventh all-time.

“He was the same guy on the sideline in between series that he always is,” said McAdoo. “His feet looked like they were settled. Pass protection was good, guys were getting open, and he was hitting them.”

“This is the most prepared person I’ve ever been around in my entire life,” said Beckham. “He puts you in the right positions. He’s making all the throws…He said he was going to come out and give us his all. He led us the entire way in Eli fashion.

The Giants defense stepped up today, showing up in crucial moments of the game. Their four down stoppage of the Ravens offense inside the Giants five yard line. Without linebacker Jonathan Casillas’ fourth down tackle on Terrence West out of bounds on the two yard line, it would be a completely different ball game. Giants looked to have gotten their money’s worth out of their defense. Important run-stuffs and sacks to Joe Flacco by defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins and safety Landon Collins (who looked like he was shot out of a cannon). After this game, the Giants can definitely build off of it.

“I felt like I had my eyes in the right place,” said Casillas.  “…and I did a good job in block construction and made a sound tackle on the running back.”

“That’s the defense we made,” said Collins. “We put all of this money into it and that’s what we want out of it.”

Back to the questionable pass interference call on Rodgers-Cromartie, it will be the talk around the league, considering it almost cost the Giants the win.

“See when I’m running with him, he’s battling for me to get into position,” said Rodgers-Cromartie. “I’m fighting with him and he’s looking at the ball. That’s legal…That should’ve been a hold or something, definitely not a pass interference.”

Although the Giants did look impressive at points in this game, their tendency to turn over the football is still a common thread this season. The Giants had three turnovers in this game, while Baltimore had zero.

“We have to eliminate the turnovers,” said McAdoo. “It’s a big part of things moving forward. You can’t turn the ball over that way and expect a big game week in and week out, so we’ve got to get better there.”

Giants led the game in total yards 435-391 and in pass first downs 16-10. Ravens led the game in total plays 76-64, first downs 22-19, and rush first downs 7-0. Ravens lead the game in number of penalties 15-7, but the Giants led in penalty yards 119-111.

The Giants improve to 3-3 this season and travel across the pond to London to play the Los Angeles Rams. It’s a 9:30 A.M. EST start time, so don’t forget to set your alarms (and fantasy football lineups).