Those anticipating or hoping for Odell Beckham Jr. to light it up in his return from a one-game suspension had to be disappointed with his showing Sunday. Beckham was relatively quiet in the Giants’ 35-30 loss to the Eagles, with only five receptions for 54 yards — and only one catch for 12 yards in the first half.
There was nothing close to any fireworks around Beckham, playing for the first time since he self-destructed in an out-of-control series of altercations with Panthers cornerback Josh Norman. Eli Manning spread the ball around, throwing seven times to Beckham, seven times to Rueben Randle and giving eight targets apiece to Shane Vereen and Will Tye.
The suspension cost Beckham a shot at a 100-catch season. He finished with 96 receptions for 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns. His two-year total of 2,755 yards is the most receiving yards in the first two years of an NFL career. Beckham broke Randy Moss’ record of 2,726 yards.
Manning finished with a career-high passer rating of 93.6, thanks mainly to 35 touchdown passes and only 14 interceptions.
With the loss, the Giants finish in third place in the NFC East, meaning they will play the Rams on Oct. 23 next season in London. The rest of the 2016 road schedule: At Green Bay, at Minnesota, at Cleveland and at Pittsburgh in addition to road games against the Eagles, Cowboys and Redskins. At home, the Giants will play the Bears, Lions, Ravens, Saints and Bengals in addition to their three division rivals.
The Giants will own the No. 10 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
The 420 points scored this season was the fifth-highest total in Giants history. Their 422 points allowed was the second-highest total in franchise history (they gave up 501 in 1966).
The Eagles converted 10-of-13 third downs, a 77 percent success rate that was the highest by a Giants’ opponent in 45 years.
Reports have circulated that Giants assistant general manager Kevin Abrams will interview for the Lions GM job. That makes sense, with former Giants GM Ernie Accorsi working as a consultant for the Lions.
The 9-yard TD pass from Manning to Tye in the second quarter was the 35th passing touchdown allowed this season by the Eagles, a franchise record.
LB Uani ‘Unga was forced out in the second quarter with a concussion. … S Brandon Meriweather left in the third quarter with a sprained knee. … CB Trumaine McBride early in the fourth quarter took a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit from a full-speed Nelson Agholor at the Giants 3-yard line. Both players went to get evaluated for concussions.
WR/KR Dwayne Harris (back/shoulder) was inactive, moving Hakeem Nicks into the No. 3 receiver slot and moving Beckham in as the punt returner. … Justin Pugh started at right tackle in place of Marshall Newhouse (concussion), with Dallas Reynolds starting in Pugh’s left guard spot. Two safeties, Craig Dahl and Cooper Taylor, were not in uniform because of concussions.