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What to watch for: Giants vs. Jaguars storylines

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  1. Odell Beckham Jr.'s offensive rookie of the year campaign.**

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The Giants' first-round draft choice made one of the best catches you're ever going to see last week against Dallas on a one-handed grab in the end zone for a 43-yard touchdown. The play launched his season to another level as Beckham now has 41 receptions for 609 yards and five touchdowns in seven games after missing the first four with a hamstring issue.

Below is a look at Beckham's place in the 2014 Draft Class, which has been very productive from the wide receiver position.

Player REC/G YDS/G
Odell Beckham Jr. 5.6 87
Mike Evans 4.9 84.1
Kelvin Benjamin 4.7 69.8
Sammy Watkins 4.4 62.2
Brandin Cooks 5.3 55

In terms of rookies in Giants history, Beckham needs seven receptions to surpass Hakeem Nicks (47) for the third-most receptions by a Giants rookie receiver. With eight receptions he would move past Bobby Johnson for second. Tight end Jeremey Shockey holds the franchise rookie receiving records for most receptions (74) and yards (894) in a single season.

2. What the Giants play for in the final five games.

The Giants' hopes of winning the NFC East were officially eliminated with last week's 31-28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, which dropped Big Blue to 3-8 and extended the losing streak to six games. But as Eli Manning said at the beginning of the week, it's never too late to get things rolling.

"We felt we had opportunities to win these last two games and just fell short," said the franchise quarterback, who threw his 248th, 249th, and 250th career touchdown last week. "I think guys have competed and played well enough, and put us in positions to win those games.

"I think you look back to our 2006 season. We went 8-8, we weren't a very dominant team, next year without really much adjustment with players and personnel, we win a championship. I think that is kind of the way football goes. Being with the same crew for a year, two years, or three years, it is going to make you stronger and more comfortable. We had some new guys on this squad and hopefully we will be able to stick together for a few more years and make something special. I think it can start right now. It can start at this time. I think we have made some improvement, we are doing some better things, but it is not too late to get on a hot streak, and get things rolling right now."

3. The injury report.

Linebacker Jameel McClain (knee), left tackle Will Beatty (eye), guard Adam Snyder (knee) and Beckham (back) all left at different points in Sunday night's game with injuries.

"Beatty came back in, so you know the answer to that," coach Tom Coughlin said on Monday. "I think Snyder will be fine. I don't know if he'll miss a little bit of practice or how we'll do that just yet, but I think he'll be okay, okay to play."

As for McClain, "He's got a couple of things going on but it doesn't stop him," Coughlin said. "At this point in time I would project that he would be able to practice."

While Coughlin added that Beckham was very sore coming out of the game, the Giants played without right tackle Justin Pugh (quadriceps), defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins (calf), and linebacker Jacquian Williams (concussion).

4. The offensive line adjustments.

For the first time all season the Giants started a different offensive line in Week 12, with Geoff Schwartz playing in place of the injured Pugh and Snyder taking over for rookie Weston Richburg at left guard. We'll see what the line looks like moving forward after Schwartz made his Giants debut last Sunday. "He did okay for a guy who has not been involved for as long an amount of time as it's been for Geoff," Coughlin said. "For him to go out and see the fast ball the way it is, not only in the league but in the division, I thought he stood up and did well. He certainly would be a guy that would tell you honestly that there are things that he definitely can improve upon but for him to go out and do the things he did with as little practice or play time that he's had in the last two-plus months, I thought he did a fine job."

5. Coughlin to coach his 300th game in return to Jacksonville.

Before taking over the New York Giants in 2004, Coughlin built the expansion Jaguars from the ground up, leading the team to two AFC Championship Games in his tenure (1995-2002). Now he returns to Jacksonville for a Week 13 matchup that will mark his 300th regular-season game as a head coach. He will be the 13th person in NFL history to do so, joining Bill Belichick and Jeff Fisher as the only other active ones.

Photos of Tom Coughlin's career as head coach of the Giants

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