Vikings Frustrate Beckham, Giants While Getting to 4-0

The pressure is mounting on Odell Beckham Jr., and the New York Giants wide receiver admits his frustration is growing.

In a 24-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had almost as many penalty yards (15) as he did receiving yard (23). “I just think they take care of that stuff in house”. “We just have to put it all together”. “The game ball should go to those guys”. They did drop, though, from No. 1 in sacks with 15 to No. 2 behind Denver, which has 17.

Yes, officials may have Beckham on a shorter leash than most players, given his well-documented issues.

Sam Bradford completed 26 of 36 passes for 262 yards, and threw a touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph for the third consecutive game in the second quarter as the Vikings moved into a 14-0 lead – one they never looked like relinquishing.

With Shields likely out for at least another week, the Packers defensive backfield will be tested again by the Giants, who are fourth in the league in passing offense (288.5 yards per game).

The Vikings (4-0) have only finished the first quarter of the schedule, so their replacements have much more to prove over the long haul that they can render moot the absence of Teddy Bridgewater, Adrian Peterson and Matt Kalil.

“(Rhodes) wasn’t covering him one-on-one all night; it wasn’t like that, ” Zimmer said. That’s making plays on special teams. “You keep fighting, you keep working and you get your opportunity and you take advantage of it”.

“We kind of had a bond early”, Bradford said, adding: “He’s just such a big target”. “You have to know that, you have to know that, you have to be OK with it. How come we’re not in pads today?'”

The one-on-one showdown became heated enough that Beckham drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty following a collision and an apparent verbal exchange on the sideline with Rhodes. “I want to go out and play and I know he wants to go out and play, answering questions about it every week is not going to change how I feel about it”. It’s going to be that way. Seemed to me like he did absolutely fine in the second half in spot duty. It’s just going to make me have to work harder, smarter and just understand that it’s all against you.

Manning expressed more concern about his star receiver’s behavior than he had before.

Asked if he got an explanation from the referees on the taunting penalty, Beckham said: “There’s no explanation, it’s just always my fault”. We can’t afford to do anything.

“The coach coming out and saying he needs to do this.no”. The game versus Carolina a year ago that exposed his penchant for tantrums and aggression was as ugly a display as the modern National Football League has ever seen. “That’s how we’re built”. The interception by Rhodes gave him the chance to make a 44-yarder less than 3½ minutes later.

“There’s numerous ways you can affect the quarterback, ” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Tuesday. Whatever you want to call it, it’s against you. They’re the money men.

Getting safety Morgan Burnett back should help the secondary after the veteran missed the win over the Lions with a groin injury. His and the Giants’ struggles exacerbate the problem. Jennings (thumb), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (groin) and DT Robert Thomas (illness) were limited on Wednesday.

RECIPE FOR TROUBLE: The Giants have a minus-8 turnover margin at the quarter mark of the season.