EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Odell Beckham Jr. reined in some of the emotions, the exaggerated behavior, the penalties and on-field feuds. Then he did what he does best – make big plays.
A banged-up Beckham turned a short fourth-and-1 pass into a winning 66-yard catch and run with 1:24 to play Sunday as the New York Giants snapped a three-game losing streak with a stunning 27-23 victory over the hurting Baltimore Ravens (3-3).
Beckham caught eight passes for a career-best 222 yards and two touchdowns despite having to leave the field in the first half with a hip pointer in carrying the Giants (3-3) to their 700th win in franchise history.
“I am going to go out there and play the same way every time,” Beckham said of his many problems on the field this season. “I don’t think I played any different besides me being injured. It was the same passing. I think because I was hurt I couldn’t express it as much as I wanted to.”
That’s debatable. After catching a 75-yard scoring pass in the third quarter, Beckham imitated a triple jumper – playing off a line in a commercial in which he appears. He then went to the Giants’ sideline and smashed the kicking net with his helmet. When it flopped to the ground, he laid under it.
After his winning catch, he took off his helmet and drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
The Ravens (3-3) got to the Giants 24 in the waning seconds, thanks to a questionable roughing-the-quarterback penalty on Joe Flacco, but the Giants broke up a pass in the end zone.
The Giants were on the verge of a fourth straight loss after Terrance West scored on a 2-yard run with 2:04 to play, giving the Ravens a short-lived 23-20 lead.
West’s second short touchdown run came three plays after Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was flagged for a questionable pass interference at the New York 8. But Beckham came through on a call Eli Manning changed at the line of scrimmage. Cornerback Tavon Young either slipped or was hurt covering him.
Ravens safety Eric Weddle said Beckham should not have gotten inside on the quick cross from right to left.
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