With Super Bowl 56 just hours away, the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams are going through their final bits of preparation. The latest reports suggest the Bengals seem to think they’ve found a plan to minimize Odell Beckham Jr.’s impact in the big game. Per B/R Gridiron, Bengals cornerback Eli Apple, who has been somewhat controversial with his chatter of late, has specifically requested DC Lou Anarumo that he gets matched up with OBJ.
Who you taking in this matchup 👀 pic.twitter.com/S6jsQPYLkW
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) February 13, 2022
Apple reportedly asked Anarumo for the matchup specifically, claiming that he knows Beckham’s tendencies having played alongside him in the past. Beckham Jr. and Apple were teammates on the New York Giants from 2016-17 before the latter joined the Saints — though he’s made his opinions on that stint quite clear.
That’s a matchup the Rams can probably live with, though Apple seems to think he’ll have the advantage over his former teammate. Beckham has been playing some of the best football we’ve seen from him in recent years, however, so Apple could have his hands full when lining up against OBJ. He’s had trouble with him the past, as evidenced by this old practice video, via Art Stapleton, which dates back five years to their Giants’ tenures. Of course, a lot has changed since then, but let’s hope Apple is a bit more familiar with Beckham’s tendencies now than he was then.
WATCH: Odell Beckham Jr. vs Eli Apple. #Giants #NYG pic.twitter.com/xM0IRB2vXK
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) August 9, 2016
Beckham Jr. has enjoyed a career resurgence since joining the Rams. After being granted his wish to leave the Cleveland Browns, Beckham latched on with McVay’s squad in Los Angeles and has since become a key cog in the offense. Across three playoff games en route to the Super Bowl, the 29-year-old has 19 receptions for 236 yards and 1 touchdown.
