FOXBOROUGH — On a third down late in the fourth quarter a week ago, Odell Beckham caught a pass over the middle, drifting toward the right sideline.
As he gained possession, Beckham instantly planted his right foot and spun around, darting backward a few yards while Malcolm Butler and Rashaan Melvin, in coverage, reversed course to track him down. Butler stumbled, dove and fell short of Beckham's legs. It looked as though ODB had the angle on Melvin to get to the sideline and turn the play — a first down at the Giants' 24-yard-line — into something much bigger and much more devastating for the Patriots.