CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Odell Beckham Jr.’s pestering of Kevin Stefanski paid off.
After running the same play for weeks during practice, Stefanski dipped into his bag of tricks and called for Jarvis Landry to unload a throw to Beckham off a reverse from Nick Chubb, who took a short pitch from Baker Mayfield.
Beckham was wide open and it gave the Browns an early 7-0 advantage.
It also put a big smile on Beckham’s face in the first quarter of Sunday’s 49-38 win in Arlington and set up a big afternoon for the receiver.
“To be on the same team with [Landry] is one [thing], to catch a touchdown from him is another,” Beckham said. “These are moments that we will look back on at 50-60 years old as old men and be able to really feel fulfillment, I guess, would be the word. That is truly special.
“It goes down as one of my favorite plays in my entire career.”
Beckham urged Stefanski to finally pull the trigger on the play, which Beckham said went for six every time they ran it in practice and walk throughs.
“I gave him hell because we kept running it in practice, and I told him either you have to stop running it in practice or you have to call it,” Beckham said. “He was like, ‘Alright, I got you then.’ He calls it – touchdown. It could not have been a better time.”
Even defensive end Myles Garrett, who recorded two more sacks and forced his third fumble in as many games, was not surprised to see Landry and Beckham hook up so easily.
“They have probably been doing that for years honestly, tossing balls to each other,” Garret said. “I know they never imagined they would be doing it in the NFL on the big stage in Cowboys Stadium. I know they were really enjoying it, and I was having a heck of a time.”
Sunday might go down as one of the most memorable games for Beckham, who caught a pair of touchdowns and ran for a third that helped put the game away.
Beckham’s second touchdown came early in the second quarter and tied the game at 14 on a 4-yard toss from baker Mayfield.
“Odell was making plays all day,” Mayfield said.
Dallas countered the Browns’ 34-0 run to go up 41-14 by scoring 24 fourth quarter points to climb within 41-38 with just over 3 minutes remaining before Beckham delivered the knockout punch.
Beckham appeared to be caught by Dallas edge rusher Aldon Smith for a 12-yard loss but ran around his tackle attempt and he never stopped until he reached the end zone, a 50-yard run.
“We just needed a play, and it just came at the right time,” Beckham said. “It was like everybody had a hat on a man. It felt like a punt return or a kick return or something. It could not have been blocked any better. Perfect time to call it. Just put the game away. Let’s go home.”
Beckham admitted he couldn’t take all the credit.
“It is funny, Kareem [Hunt] before the play was like, ‘We just need five yards.’ Harrison Bryant, the rookie is giving me advice and coaching me up, telling me to stay in bounds. I said ‘Thanks, rook,’” Beckham said. “I turned the corner, and everybody was blocking, and it was weird. I was about to slide, and I just turned the jets on and got in the end zone.”
Hunt, who ran for 71 yards and scored twice, was prepared to ice the game with a few more carries before Beckham took off.
“I told him, ‘Odell, look, get five yards, stay inbounds, slide or whatever, and I’m going to handle the rest,’” Hunt said. “I guess this one was greedy. He wanted the homerun, not the base hit.”
The run didn’t leave Garrett speechless, but he admitted that he was impressed.
“I thought it was going to be a big loss, and he did what he is known for,” Garrett said. “He makes big plays. Usually, when he is talking smack, he says, ‘If I were a D lineman, I would have a sack every quarter.’ I wish it were that easy. I feel like if I were a wide receiver, I would be making some big plays like that, too.
“My man is special. We brought him here to make big plays like that. That is what he is doing, and he is trending upwards in terms of productivity. When he is getting his name called, he is coming up big for us.”
The touchdown capped a thrilling afternoon for Beckham, who totaled 154 total yards, and sealed a third straight victory for the Browns with his third score of the day.
“It was a walk-off homerun for me,” Hunt said. “I was very pleased with the way he came out and played. Odell is like that. If he can get going early and get those touches and stay in the game, Odell is going to make those plays. There are not too many guys in the league that are better or if there is, that is a great receiver right there. I think he is the best of the best.”
