In less than two seasons, Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has staked his claim as the most explosive and exciting threat in the NFL. His big games and one-handed highlights have wowed fans weekly.

Opposing coaches tend to have a different view.

"It's frightening," Ron Rivera said Wednesday.

Less than a week before his Carolina Panthers take their 13-0 record up to New York, Rivera was one of the millions watching Monday night when Beckham put on his latest freak show. He torched the Dolphins' defense for 166 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The first was mind-blowing. The second was when Miami's defense somehow let the beast roam wide open for an 84-yard score.

"He's an animal," Panthers quarterback Cam Newton said.

While Newton has continued to strengthen his case for MVP, his opposite number has been desperately trying to keep the Giants in the playoff race. Having Beckham sure helps.

Quarterback Eli Manning, the reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Week after his 337-yard, four-touchdown performance Monday night, leads the league in touchdown passes of 50 or more yards. He's had six of those. All but one have gone to Beckham.

But unlike most of the other defenses he's torn apart, Beckham hasn't faced a cornerback like the one he'll see this weekend.

According to NFL Network research, Carolina's Josh Norman has held Houston's DeAndre Hopkins, Tampa Bay's Mike Evans, Indianapolis' T.Y. Hilton, Dallas' Dez Bryant and Atlanta's Julio Jones to a combined nine receptions and 89 yards. Now Norman will battle Beckham, whose eight games this season with more than 100 receiving yards includes a current run of six straight.

"This will be another big, big, big, bigger, biggest matchups," said Rivera, who can be a lot less scared with a shutdown corner in his pocket.

"[Beckham's] the complete deal; he's the real deal. It should be a fun challenge for us as a defense and for Josh."