If any Carolina Panthers fans were watching Monday night’s playoff clash between the Los Angeles Rams and the Arizona Cardinals, then they might’ve experienced a bit of déjà vu.
In the third quarter of the wild-card round matchup, the Rams dialed up a deep ball for Beckham . . . except Beckham wasn’t the one catching it. He was, instead, the one throwing it into the waiting arms of running back Cam Akers.
.@obj completes a 40-yard pass to @thereal_cam3!! No, that is not a typo.
📺 @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/feS9pX9U2y
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 18, 2022
Now, how is this relevant to Panthers fans again? Well, it was the same exact play Beckham torched Carolina on back when he was with the New York Giants in 2018. And by “same exact play,” we mean it.
🔥🏈 Odell Beckham with the TD pass to Saquon Barkley
(via @nfl) pic.twitter.com/EyyLYQWmSA
— Fanatics View (@fanaticsview) October 7, 2018
The only difference is, Beckham’s 2018 completion went for a 57-yard touchdown to (another running back) Saquon Barkley. Luckily for the Panthers, however, it was them—off the strength of Graham Gano’s 63-yard field goal as time expired—who came away with the last laugh in a 33-31 win.
Oh, and in case you doubted that aforementioned “same exact play” stuff, our buddy John Ellis has you covered:
OBJ pass, 2018.
OBJ pass, tonight. pic.twitter.com/aHJ4BSd0CP— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) January 18, 2022
In another twist, this tomfoolery was likely devised by Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell, who Matt Rhule has reportedly targeted in his search for a new play-caller. Beckham, O’Connell and the rest of their crew eventually stomped away with a 34-11 victory over Arizona, moving on to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the divisional round this upcoming weekend.
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