went for a 49-yard touchdown early in the second half did not win Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears for the New York Giants. It did New York Giants Hoodie , give the Giants an early third-quarter lead after an awful offensive first half and alert everyone to the idea that maybe, just maybe, an upset was brewing in the Meadowlands.Beckham’s wrong-footed 50-yard throw was impressive.It was not, however, the most amazing thing about the momentum-changing play. What was?How about the fact that Shepard, the wide-open by 20 yards recipient of the pass from Beckham, wasn’t even supposed to be in the pass route. He said he “freelanced” the play.What was Shepard supposed to be doing?“Probably blocking Khalil Mack so he could throw the ball,” Shepard said.Shepard said he saw the Chicago defense all go to the right, where Beckham was moving around behind the line of scrimmage with the ball, and “kinda just snuck through the crease.”The only question was whether Beckham would find him. Shepard said he was screaming and waving and, just when it appeared Beckham would run with the ball, he pulled up and launched it to Shepard.“He did an amazing job of seeing me,” Shepard said. “For him to see me and not know I was supposed to be there is crazy.”“Sometimes you have to draw it up in the dirt,” said Giants quarterback Eli Manning.Beckham said the play was designed for Bennie Fowler.“I told Bennie (Fowler) I don’t care what happens, I’m going to throw it to you and they double covered him and this grown man (Shepard) from LSU who I’ve played with for a long time, I saw him down the middle of the field and I was like this can’t be real and I just launched it to him,” Beckham said. “It’s all good, he wasn’t supposed to do that, but he’s just playing football and he came up with a huge play for us. Very, very Odell Beckham Jr Color Rush Jersey , very big play.”Beckham said he spoke to his teammates at halftime, with the Giants trailing 14-10.“I addressed the team at halftime and I told them there’s just something I had to get off my chest. I love these boys,” Beckham said. “Every time I put on a helmet, whether it’s practice or it’s a game, I’m going to give it my all and I feel like I owed them more, to give them all of me and whatever that entails.”Shepard said he waited so long for the ball to reach him that it was “like a punt.”“He’s (Beckham) the best person I’ve seen with a ball in his hands. He can hit a home run in an MLB stadium, he can kick a soccer ball. I’ve known him since he was 16, 17 and he’s probably one of the best people I’ve see with a ball in his hands. He kicked a 50-yard field goal a couple weeks ago.”Shepard’s freelancing, combined with Beckham’s vision and arm, didn’t win the game for the Giants on Sunday. It did, though, give them a chance. Remember when it was called the NFC Beast? Now, it’s a pussy cat.Washington leads the division at 2-2, followed by Dallas and Philadelphia at 2-3, New York at 1-4. The Giants host the Eagles — the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles, who have looked anything but title worthy so far — on Thursday night.Eagles coach Doug Pederson has cited “self-inflicted wounds” as a major reason for injury-riddled Philly’s struggles. His offensive coordinator, Mike Groh, concurs.“We obviously don’t condone those kinds of mistakes,” Groh says. “The guys that are responsible for that, we’ve talked to those guys. Those things can’t happen. I mean Olivier Vernon Color Rush Jersey , they just can’t happen. That’s simple football. We’ve got to get out of the huddle, we’ve got to get lined up, and we’ve got to know where we’re supposed to be and what our assignment is. We’ve got to do a better job collectively of teaching that, and then when we get out there, everybody has to know what to do and where to line up. Those things have to be eliminated.”The Giants eliminated a lot of those things at Carolina last Sunday and made an impressive comeback, only to fall on Graham Gano’s 63-yard field goal with 1 second remaining.“These guys love to play the game, it’s their livelihood, but they certainly play it with great emotion and great passion and they just keep playing,” coach Pat Shurmur says.“As we get better — I think we played better last week — we need to find 63 more yards somewhere to get the win. But we played better and we’ve got to continue on that path. Then eventually it will crack.”Philadelphia, ranked 15th in the AP Pro32, is a 3-point favorite over the No. 28 Giants. The short week probably is more damaging to the Eagles.GIANTS, 22-20KNOCKOUT POOL: Thanks, New England. Very tough choice this week, will gamble on TEXANS.No. 6 Carolina (pick-em) at No. 18 WashingtonGetting Panthers at a bargain price.BEST BET: PANTHERS, 26-20No. 12 Pittsburgh (plus 2 1-2) at No. 5 CincinnatiReally like what Bengals are doing, but pick them here? Sorry.UPSET SPECIAL: STEELERS, 21-20No. 1 Los Angeles Rams (minus 7) at No. 25 DenverNFL’s most talented roster keeps unbeaten season going.RAMS, 30-20No. 2 Kansas City (plus 3) at No. 4 New EnglandExpect a load of points, and a victory for …PATRIOTS, 37-31No. 11 Los Angeles Chargers (minus 1) at No. 16 ClevelandChargers remember that 2016 loss to Browns Rhett Ellison Color Rush Jersey , who went 1-15 that season.CHARGERS, 22-17No. 19 Seattle (minus 2 1-2) vs. No. 31 Oakland at LondonIs Jon Gruden wondering about going back to ESPN booth?SEAHAWKS, 25-20No. 8 Chicago (minus 3) at No. 17 MiamiBears favored on road? Dolphins should have won last week, will this week.DOLPHINS, 19-17No. 29 Indianapolis (plus 2) at No. 24 New York JetsIf only Colts were healthier, this would be upset special.JETS, 30-26No. 22 Tampa Bay (plus 3 1-2) at No. 27 AtlantaInjuries have ruined Atlanta’s season already.BUCCANEERS, 31-29No. 26 Buffalo (plus 7) at No. 21 HoustonBills are gutsy, Texans are gutsy and more talented.TEXANS, 21-10No. 10 Baltimore (minus 2 1-2) at No. 13 TennesseeTitans are gutsy, Ravens are more talented. But …TITANS, 20-16No. 7 Jacksonville (minus 3) at No. 23 DallasIs anyone more inconsistent than Jacksonville? Well, maybe Dallas is.JAGUARS, 19-17No. 30 Arizona (plus 10 1-2) at No. 9 MinnesotaSo the Cardinals got a win. Big deal.VIKINGS, 30-16No. 32 San Francisco (plus 10) at No. 14 Green Bay, Monday nightPackers make too many mistakes to be so heavily favored.PACKERS, 27-20