Odell Beckham Jr. is the real deal.
All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman told the rookie wide receiver as much following the New York Giants' 38-17 loss on Sunday to the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Beckham, the 12th overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, posted seven catches for 108 yards with the vocal leader of Seattle's vaunted secondary tracking him for much of Sunday's game.
As a sign of respect, the two met after the final whistle and exchanged jerseys.
"We didn't look and say, 'We're going to throw it at Sherman,'" Beckham said later of the Giants' game plan. "It was just whoever was on that side and whatever play we called…It didn't really matter who it was. When you go up against a great defense like that, you can't just sit back and not try to attack anything. You have to go at them. I think we did a great job of that tonight. We didn't execute as well in the second half."
En route to his second straight 100-yard performance (he had 156 last week against Indianapolis), Beckham racked up 92 yards in the first half, the bulk of which came late in the first quarter on a 44-yard pass from Eli Manning in which the LSU product made a double move to get behind Sherman. Two plays later he hauled in another 26-yard gain, setting up Andre Williams' three-yard touchdown run to give the Giants a 14-7 lead at the time.
But in a game that was tied heading into the fourth quarter, the offense stalled and was shut out in the second half while Seattle scored 24 unanswered points.
One of the major turning points was an interception by Seahawks safety Earl Thomas in the closing seconds of the third quarter. From Seattle's 39-yard line, Manning launched a pass intended for Beckham, who was covered tightly by Sherman in the end zone. Beckham did all he could to get a hand on the ball but tipped it into the hands of Thomas, who returned it back to Seattle's 42. The Seahawks capitalized off the takeaway and turned it into a touchdown on the ensuing possession to take a lead that they would not relinquish.
"[Odell] Beckham is a great player, so they had to depend on him and take risks and take shots in games like this," Sherman said after the game. "He was able to get one earlier, which was a great play by him."
"Thirteen is a great player," Thomas said of Beckham, who wears No. 13. "They tried to move him in the slot, the Z receiver, and the X receiver just to get him open. He did a great job making big plays for them."
The praise for Beckham didn't end with the "Legion of Boom." His play also caught the attention of Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll.
"I thought Beckham was really good," said Carroll, who has been the coach of Seattle since 2010. "He really came out of there and he was the big factor early on, and then [secondary coach] Kris [Richard] and [defensive passing game coordinator] Rocky [Seto] and those guys made a couple of adjustments, and he really quieted down with some nice things in there to keep him from having his opportunities. I thought that he showed that he was a really good football player today, and they've got a great one in that kid."
photos that tell the story of Sunday's loss to the Seahawks
Wide receiver Rueben Randle warms up before the Giants kick off against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and their vaunted secondary. >>VIEW PREGAME PHOTOS
The Giants huddle up in the tunnel before running out at CenturyLink Field, where the Seahawks had won 20 of their previous 22 games. >>VIEW PREGAME PHOTOS
After forcing the Giants to punt on the opening possession of the game, Seattle marches down on a six-play, 80-yard drive, capped by running back Marshawn Lynch's one-yard touchdown, his first of four on the day. >>WATCH MARSHAWN LYNCH 1-YD TD
Cornerback Zack Bowman intercepts Russell Wilson's pass intended for Paul Richardson, returning it seven yards down to Seattle's 24-yard line. It was Bowman's second interception of the season. >>WATCH ZACK BOWMAN'S INTERCEPTION
On the ensuing drive, the Giants capitalize on the turnover with a six-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning to wide receiver Preston Parker for his first score of the year. >>WATCH PRESTON PARKER'S TD
With All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman tracking him for much of the game, rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. catches a 44-yard pass from Manning that would be the Giants' longest play of the game. Two plays later Manning and Beckham hook up again for a 26-yard gain, setting up a first-and-goal at the three-yard line. >>WATCH ODELL BECKHAM'S 44-YD CATCH
Rookie running back Andre Williams, starting again in place of Rashad Jennings (knee), punches it in with a three-yard touchdown run. >> WATCH ANDRE WILLIAMS 3-YD TD
The Giants force their second turnover of the first half when linebacker Jameel McClain knocks the ball away from Robert Turbin and safety Antrel Rolle recovers near midfield. >>WATCH GIANTS VS. SEAHAWKS HIGHLIGHTS
Unable to capitalize on the turnover this time, the Giants punt the ball back to the Seahawks, who put together a 15-play, 85-yard drive, beginning with a 26-yard run by Wilson.
Lynch scores his second touchdown on a two-yard run to tie the game 14-14.
Running the two-minute drill before halftime, Manning hits tight end Larry Donnell three times to bring the Giants into Seattle territory.
Josh Brown makes a 41-yard field goal to give the Giants a 17-14 lead at halftime.
On the first drive of the second half, safety Quintin Demps intercepts Wilson's pass intended for Doug Baldwin. >>WATCH QUINTIN DEMPS INTERCEPTION
Wilson finds wide receiver Jermaine Kearse for a 60-yard gain. >>WATCH JERMAINE KEARSE'S 60-YARD RECEPTION
Steven Hauschka makes a 28-yard field goal to tie the game again 17-17.
Manning throws his first interception since Week 4 on a pass intended for Beckham in the end zone. >>WATCH ELI MANNING INTERCEPTION
The Seahawks respond with another Lynch touchdown from three yards out.
Demps forces Wilson to fumble, but Seattle is able to recover and maintain possession.
Pierre-Paul forces another fumble by Lynch, but Seattle is again able to recover the ball.
Lynch puts the Seahawks up 31-14 with a 16-yard touchdown run. >>WATCH MARSHAWN LYNCH 16-YD TD
The Giants fail on fourth-and-10 with an incomplete pass by Manning intended for Randle.
Wilson puts the game out of reach with a one-yard touchdown run. >>WATCH RUSSELL WILSON 1-YD TD
Manning is sacked and fumbles the ball, which the Seahawks are able to recover and take a knee for the victory.
Coach Tom Coughlin holds his post-game press conference. >>WATCH COACH TOM COUGHLIN'S POSTGAME INTERVIEW
Manning addresses the media following the 38-17 loss. >>WATCH ELI MANNING'S POSTGAME INTERVIEW
