As if he needed it, Odell Beckham Jr. sought some “late inspiration’’ two nights before he helped lead the Giants to a taut 21-20 win over the Bengals Monday at MetLife Stadium.
Beckham, the Giants’ record-shattering receiver, attended UFC 205 Saturday night at Madison Square Garden to watch dominant lightweight champion Conor McGregor do his thing en route to becoming the first two-class champion in the sport’s history.
“I wanted some late inspiration so I went to the UFC fight the other night to see Conor McGregor,’’ Beckham said. “He believes so much in himself and he backs up everything he says. I like to see other (athletes) in their environment, like when I go to the U.S. Open tennis. I like to other athletes in their zone.
“I had never been to a UFC fight before and I definitely got a lot of inspiration from (McGregor). I met him after the fight. It was a fun experience.’’
McGregor famously boasted before his fight that he “runs New York.’’
He probably hasn’t watched enough of Beckham to make that statement. Beckham delivered yet another virtuoso performance with 10 catches for 97 yards and a TD in the Giants’ victory — their sixth of the season against three losses, matching their win total in each of the last two seasons.
“The bar I’ve set for myself is high,’’ Beckham said.
His 18-yard reception in the second quarter set the NFL record for the fastest a receiver has reached 3,500 career receiving yards — in his 36th career game.
Better yet, the catch helped set up the 10-yard touchdown reception he would make six plays later that gave the Giants a 14-10 lead at the time.
On the TD play, Beckham beat Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman’’ Jones on a double-move and a spin that Eli Manning calls “The WhirlyBird.” Beckham scored on the same play against the Ravens earlier in the season.
“It’s a play we ran (against Baltimore) and we ran it in practice (on Sunday) and I dropped the ball in the end zone,’’ Beckham said. “I told the coaches, ‘Don’t take that play out; I’ll catch it in the game.’’
And so he did.
Beckham entered the game needing 69 yards to break his latest record, which was owned by the great Lance Alworth, who got to 3,500 yards in 37 games.
Beckham had eight catches on eight targets for 79 yards and the TD in the first half. His 10 catches was his fifth career game with 10 or more catches in a game.
This was yet another of a series of records Beckham has set in his remarkable career.
Beckham became the first receiver in over 50 years to catch 30 touchdowns in his first 35 games and is averaging 0.86 touchdowns per game played, the highest rate in NFL history.
He, too, was the quickest player to 3,000 yards and 200 receptions. He currently owns the highest yards per game mark in the history of the NFL.
It was — as usual — an eventful night for Beckham, who attracts attention like supermodels on New York City Fashion Week runways.
He wore custom “Burberry’’ Nike cleats during pregame warm-ups. And he swapped autographed jerseys with former Vikings great receiver Randy Moss, a future Hall of Famer, before the game.