Vikings Anger Odell Beckham In 24-10 Win Over Giants

The Minnesota Vikings’ defense denied Odell Beckham Jr. all night and forced two turnovers to score 10 points en route to a 24-10 home victory over the New York Giants on Monday night.

Vikings Anger Odell Beckham In 24-10 Win Over Giants

After just four games into Ben McAdoo’s reign as head coach, the Giants continue to suffer from several problems, all of which contributed to Monday’s loss. Among those problems were an excessive amount of penalties, mounting injuries (tight end Larry Donnell’s first-half concussion the most recent), and Beckham’s hot temper.

For the fourth straight week, the Giants’ defense failed to force a turnover. Given the injury-riddled secondary, with safeties Darian Thompson (foot) and Nat Berhe (concussion) and cornerback Eli Apple (hamstring) all inactive, Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford was able to finish 26 of 36 for 262 yards and a touchdown. Bradford — who did not join Minnesota (4-0) until the week before the season opener– also kept his turnover-free streak intact, and tossed a TD pass to tigth end Kyle Rudolph for the third consecutive game.

Beckham, who remains scoreless this season, was blocked and pushed by cornerback Xavier Rhodes several times, and recorded 23 yards on three catches. The third-year wide receiver lost his cool following his first catch in the second quarter, angrily confronting the referee and Rhodes, whom Beckham seemed to claim had aggressively pushed him out of bounds. Nevertheless, the officials showed no mercy and gave Beckham an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty for taunting. That was one of eight penalties by the Giants (2-2) for a total loss of 69 yards, coming one week after they drew 11 against Washington.

Eli Manning looked inconsistent, finishing 25 of 45 for 261 yards, while Victor Cruz and Sterling Shepard struggled to connect with their quarterback for catches. Rhodes picked Manning off in the third quarter, the 15th interception for the Giants QB in eight career starts against the Vikings. He’s 2-6 with only five touchdown passes.

Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon each ran for a touchdown as Minnesota rushed for a season-high 104 yards.

The Giants trailed 14-0 in the first half, the first touchdown coming after Dwayne Harris mishandled a punt. The Giants’ offense was also missing key players, like running backs Rashad Jennings, out for the second straight week with a thumb injury, and Shane Vereen, who is reportedly out for the season with a triceps injury.

One of New York’s big plays, however, came in the fourth quarter, when rookie Paul Perkins turned a swing pass from Manning into an incredible 67-yard run. Orleans Darkwa made a 1-yard touchdown run that cut the Vikings’ lead to 17-10 with just under 14 minutes left to play.

But Bradford directed the Vikings (4-0) right down the field. He found wide receiver Charles Johnson for a 40-yard gain to the Giants’ 4, where Jerick McKinnon ran it in with 9:20 to play.

“Offensively, we have to play better and score more points, plain and simple,” Manning said. “We’re doing some good things, but we’re not good enough, not efficient enough.”

Beckham would not say whether he thought Rhodes had hit him late. “You have to protect yourself at all times,” Beckham said. “I have to assume I’m always in the wrong no matter what. You have to be able to cope with it and just keep moving.”

Manning said Beckham needed to keep his emotions in check.

“He’s got to be aware,” Manning said. “They’re looking for him, and he’s got to play smart. He can’t afford to do anything. They’re going to call him, and he brought that on himself.”

 This was the Vikings’ second regular-season game in the massive, new U.S. Bank Stadium, a $1.1 billion fixed-roof stadium with a glass wall facing the downtown skyline, constructed on the former site of the Metrodome.

 The last of the six penalties by the Giants in the first half, for delay of game, lengthened Josh Brown’s field-goal attempt just before halftime, but he converted from 40 yards. Minnesota’s struggling kicker, Blair Walsh, connected from 44 yards in the third quarter after having pulled a 46-yard attempt wide left on the previous series.

 MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 3: Bobby Hart #68 of the New York Giants and teammate Odell Beckham #13 talk while walking off the field after the first half of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on October 3, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)