ODELL YOU SAY: Odell Beckham was spectacular Sunday night, from his typical pregame theatrics captured lovingly in slo-mo to his teary interview after an emotional, thrilling win. Okay, it wasn’t all perfect. He did suffer a hamstring injury that took him out of the game until the Giants’ game-winning drive. Indications are that Beckham will be OK, however. Until we hear more we can appreciate what Beckham did. Seven catches, 127 yards and one touchdown in essentially three quarters of work is damn good stuff.
Only Odell Beckham’s hamstring can stop him
Odell Beckham was the highlight of a fun Sunday night game between the Giants and the 49ers.
Alex Goodlett/Getty Images
THERE’S A NEW BEST MANNING: Eli had a magnificent game on Sunday, passing for 441 yards and three touchdowns, the last being a 12-yard strike to tight end Larry Donnell to beat the 49ers. Peyton’s line was much more pedestrian against the Raiders -- 22-of-35 passing for 266 yards, two interceptions and no touchdowns.
It wasn’t a one-week anomaly. On the year, Eli has thrown for 1,417 yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions, while Peyton has thrown for 1,234 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions. There’s no question the younger Manning is having a better year as the elder continues his twilight. That doesn’t mean Eli has a better team, however, thanks to Denver’s ridiculously nasty defense.
CHARLES WOODSON FULFILLS CAREER GOAL ... TWICE: Charles Woodson and Peyton Manning have been linked since college -- from a tight 1997 Heisman race through their prolific NFL careers. In eight professional meetings, however, Woodson had never picked off Manning. He stated before the game that it had always been a goal of his. Then on Sunday he finally did ... then did it again.
NOT AGAIN: Jamaal Charles suffered a knee injury Sunday against the Bears, and the Chiefs fear it’s a torn ACL. Charles was in the midst of an excellent season, with 541 total yards and five touchdowns.
LAMBEAU LULL: Aaron Rodgers’ streak of games without an interception at Lambeau Field finally ended at 19 games. After Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis broke the seal, Rodgers threw another interception for good measure, THEN lost a fumble in what was his first three-turnover game since 2009.
The Packers still won to remain one of the league’s unbeaten teams. Fortunately for them, the rest of the offense undid the fine work of running back Todd Gurley and the defense. Gurley slammed Clay Matthews to the ground like it was a botched figure skating routine.
BOOGIE DOWN: John Brown is a pretty good wide receiver and a FABULOUS DANCER. Bonus points because dancing all over the Lions’ logo accurately represents what the Cardinals did to them in Detroit.
DEAD TO RIGHTS: Sometimes, there is literally nothing you can do about a Von Miller pass rush.
AFTERNOON DELIIIIIGHT: Whoa those early games were crazy. Four teams blew second half double-digit leads to lose. A fifth lost on a pick-six in overtime. Let’s recap:
- The Seahawks led 24-7 at one point before losing on an overtime field goal that DOINKED through the uprights.
- Jay Cutler fumbled the snap of what would become the game-winning touchdown pass to beat the Chiefs.
- A Browns player literally caught a pass with his butt to help his team storm back against the Ravens.
- Kirk Cousins ... ohhh nooooo, Kirk Cousins.
It was an immensely fun start to the day (assuming your team didn’t choke).
HARBINGERS OF DOOM: The Lions’ blowout loss to the Cardinals featured appearances by two of the quarterbacks who started during the team’s 0-16 season in 2008. That’s a not a good sign for an 0-5 team. The Lions are sticking with Matthew Stafford despite benching him for Dan Orlovsky against the Cards.
DOMINATION: The Lions shouldn’t feel too bad, however. The Cardinals have been doing this to opponents all season. Only nine teams have ever outscored their first five opponents by 100 points like Arizona has. The last was the 2007 Patriots who went 16-0.
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