CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns knew what kind of talent they were getting when the front office acquired multi-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in a trade with the New York Giants on the first day of the new league year back in March, and he put those skills on display for a national television audience.
In his return to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Beckham Jr. hauled in six passes for 161 yards and one touchdown in a 23-3 win over the New York Jets on the prime time stage of Monday Night Football.
That performance came on the heels of Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams asking Odell who? and implying that Beckham Jr. was not one of the most talented receivers in the NFL.
“He said that?” Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield said. “Next question. Not a dynamic football player? Okay.
“That’s the difference with what we see inside the lines, in the locker room. He’s a guy that’s motivated, no matter what. When the lights come on, on a Sunday or a Monday in this situation, he’s going to turn it on. He’s a special guy that loves when the game’s played.”
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Running a slant route from the left side of the field with the Browns backed up deep in their own territory, Beckham Jr. caught a pass from quarterback Baker Mayfield and sprinted the final 79 yards for his first touchdown with the Browns.
Beckham Jr.’s touchdown gave the Browns a 23-3 lead over the New York Jets with 3:32 to play in the third quarter.
“It was an RPO (run-pass option), cover two shell, just reading the Mike, and knowing that the nickel’s playing in the middle between the three and the two, and he’s going to have speed down the alley,” Mayfield said. “Just really giving a token fake and getting the ball in his hands, just making sure I’m getting the ball to him where he can keep on the move. The rest is all on him. That’s why you give him the ball.
“Just seeing his placement before the snap, and when we hopped the back over to the other side, the linebackers kind of bumped over, so it was knowing that I had an even bigger window and he made a play.”
Beckham Jr.’s touchdown even garnered praise and attention from those on the Browns’ defense.
“I’m pretty sure you’ll see it tomorrow on video,” defensive end Myles Garrett said. “I was ecstatic. You don’t see that often from players in any part of the league. He’s so dynamic, and he can really do it all. That was my first time getting to see it, especially for us, and so, I was as excited as I could be. I was jumping up, high-fiving. I was ready to get back on the field, get another and get him the ball again.
“He does this. It’s his job. No matter where he is or who he’s up against, he’s going to go out and make plays. You’ve seen that his whole career, and he’s never going to change, $200,000 watch or not, he’s going to go out and do his thing.”
According to Mayfield, Beckham Jr.’s showing against the Jets is just the tip of the iceberg for the Browns’ offense.
“That’s how explosive we can be,” Mayfield said.
“Just getting the ball in his hands, getting it in the playmakers’ hands, he’s a big difference maker when it comes down to it.”