CHARLOTTE – You get the sense that when cornerback Josh Norman plopped down on the couch Monday night to watch Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. do his thing, Norman wanted Beckham to be the beast he's so often been.
"I was impressed. I was excited that he was able to do what he was able to do, get the yards he needed to be a force for their offense," Norman said. "He made plays where he saw fit."
Beckham extended his streak of 100-yard receiving games to six, meaning that Norman and the rest of the Panthers defense will get the opportunity Sunday to try and stop the streak.
"I can't be more excited for him. That's a great feat," Norman said. "I had chill bumps coming in here Tuesday."
Norman called Beckham a "crowd pleaser," and Norman would like nothing more than to silence the crowd when the Panthers visit MetLife Stadium. Norman and Beckham represent perhaps the most accomplished players at their respective positions this season.
"Looking at some of the stuff my opponent possesses, it's enticing," Norman said. "And it's very edible. I'm looking forward to it."
Norman has already held the likes of Julio Jones, Dez Bryant and DeAndre Hopkins in check this season. Next up is Beckham, who is tied for the NFL lead with 12 receiving touchdowns on 85 receptions for 1,320 yards. In 25 career games, Beckham has 24 touchdowns.
"He's a different type of personality, a different type of athlete," head coach Ron Rivera said. "He's a really good combination of size, speed, strength, quickness, hand-eye coordination. The types of things that most guys do well, he does very well."
Only time will tell how often Norman will match up with Beckham. While Norman almost never lines up in the slot, Beckham does so about one-quarter of the time.
"I can't do anything about that – I really can't," Norman said. "I've got to play within the defensive scheme and what they want from me. My hands would be somewhat tied. It's about what the coaches ask and want me to do."
Thursday, in far from ideal weather conditions, Norman and the defense continued to prepare for all the possibilities the Giants might throw their way.
"That's the mindset we have, that blue-collar workmanship regardless of what the weather is," Norman said. "Facing a guy like that, I'm going to need that work. We'll do our best to try to defend what he possesses. I'm going to work on all the angles and cuts and breaks that he's going to bring to the game. We'll see what happens."
It should be fun to see how it plays out.
"I'll be waiting back there in the shadows until my time comes," Norman said.
