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News | Washington Commanders - Commanders.com

Stopping Odell Beckham Jr. Key For Redskins Defense

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The Redskins understand how difficult it is to stop Odell Beckham Jr., as they've struggled to the first two games against him, but they're hoping for better results Sunday at FedExField.

If the Washington Redskins want to find a way to defeat the New York Giants on Sunday at FedExField, they need to find a way to contain Odell Beckham Jr., who is already one of the NFL's top wide receivers in just his second season.

Through his first 22 NFL games, the LSU product has amassed 154 receptions for 2,168 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Already this season through the Giants' first 10 games, Beckham Jr. has collected 63 receptions for 863 yards and eight touchdowns – third most in the NFL.

One of those touchdown receptions came against the Redskins in Week 3 on Thursday Night Foootball, as he went up for a ball that was just out of cornerback Bashaud Breeland's reach.

"He's obviously an explosive player and he's got unbelievable hands," Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said. "He can adjust to any ball in the air, you know what I mean? It's going to be challenge for our guys, but I think whether it's [Quinton] Dunbar, [Chris] Culliver, [Will] Blackmon, [Bashaud] Breeland, they're fired up about the opportunity to cover a great player like Odell."

What makes Beckham Jr. – who stands at 5-foot-11 and weighs 198 pounds – special is the type of athletic moves he makes on the football field.

The grabs he makes on a routine basis, which force him to extend his body in ways not every player in the NFL can make, are unique in their own way.

The one-handed catch last season against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football stands out, but there have been other similar plays, too.

"I don't know what his catch radius is, I don't know what his wingspan and all that is, but any time you can move your body and contour yourself the way he does to make plays [is special]," cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. "That catch he made [last year against the Cowboys], ain't no regular guy flexing they arms back like that. He's just a hell of a football player. I think all that kind of weighs into it."

A look back at some of the top images in games between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants.

The Giants, however, do not have one of the top 10 passing offenses in the NFL this season just because of Beckham Jr.

Rueben Randle has caught 39 passes for 475 yards and three touchdowns, while the speedy Dwayne Harris is more of a threat on offense with the Giants than he ever was with the Cowboys, as his four touchdowns this season are more than what he recorded in his three seasons combined in Dallas.

Factor in running back Shane Vereen's pass-catching ability in the backfield – he has 36 receptions this season – as well as tight end Larry Donnell, who is expected to be out of Sunday's game against the Redskins, and the Giants' passing attack is difficult to stop at all levels.

"I think when you put the Giants on tape and you watch them and you watch our last three games against them, I think guys have to be excited about this opportunity to compete against the New York Giants," Gruden said. "I know I am to compete against Tom Coughlin, but we're not playing. But I know the players are eager and ready for all challenges and there's a lot of them. You know, you talk about the receiving corps, the backs are tough, the line is playing good. So it'll be a great challenge, but our guys will be fired up."

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