Eric Williams
NFL reporter
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Always a stickler for particulars, Puka Nacua would not hassle with the little issues.
Nacua, Cooper Kupp and the remainder of the Los Angeles Rams’ receivers commonly work on the meticulous artwork of tapping their toes on the sector with receivers coach Eric Yarber. That diligence paid off in an enormous manner for the second-year professional in his group’s 44-42 upset win over the Buffalo Bills – one of many AFC’s Super Bowl contenders – on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
Nacua took two spotlight pictures alongside the sideline, displaying off his trailing model.
“We do that on a regular basis in observe,” Kupp informed FOX Sports. “We do a ‘Tap, Tap’ drill and a ‘Tap, Turn’ drill. We in all probability do that each week. It’s actually easy… It’s nearly strolling your path, maintaining your eye on the ball and your toes will transfer do the remaining.”
Nacua’s arms and toes did all of it Sunday, ending with 12 receptions for 162 yards on 14 targets, 178 complete yards and two touchdowns. For his efforts, Nacua earned Tom Brady’s LFG Player of the Game Award.
“Getting an award from Tom Brady, having one of many best gamers on the planet praise your model of play and incomes additional {hardware}, it was candy,” Nacua informed FOX Sports. “I’ll add it to the gathering and hope to order a spot for the Lombardi Trophy.”
Tom Brady’s LFG Player of the Game: Rams’ Puka Nacua | Week 14 DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
Last 12 months, as an unheralded fifth-round choice, Nacua set NFL rookie information for receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486). And on Sunday he made historical past once more, turning into the second participant in league historical past with not less than 150 receptions, 2,000 receiving yards and 7 landing receptions in his first 25 video games.
According to Next Gen Stats, since getting back from a knee damage in Week 8, Nacua has been focused on 38.8% of his routes – the best charge amongst receivers with not less than 100 routes run throughout that span. time.
Nacua was a part of a formidable offensive explosion for the Rams, who scored a season-high 44 factors in opposition to top-of-the-line defenses within the league.
Rams coach Sean McVay had excessive reward for his star receiver.
“A lighter is without doubt one of the best compliments I can provide somebody,” McVay mentioned. “You uplift everybody round you and also you carry vitality to this soccer group. And he definitely did that immediately.”
McVay and the Rams wanted all of Nacua’s catches, because the Bills trailed by as many as 17 factors however nonetheless had an opportunity to win on the finish.
Winners of seven straight in Sunday’s contest and led by MVP favourite Josh Allen, the Bills refused to go away. Los Angeles acquired a blocked punt for a rating, a 320-yard passing efficiency by Matthew Stafford, and a late restoration of an onside kick by Tyler Bass by operating again Ronnie Rivers to shut out the sport.
“It’s an enormous deal for us,” Rams offensive lineman Steven Avila mentioned of the win, which strikes Los Angeles (7-6) into first place within the hotly contested NFC West behind the Seattle Seahawks. “You need to face each opponent the identical manner. That’s our mentality. But the best way we dealt with this week, it confirmed on the pitch.
“They’re a extremely good group. They’re going to go far within the playoffs and we additionally really feel like we’ve got the instruments to get these issues accomplished.”
Nacua made his first acrobatic catch down the sideline for 19 yards on second-and-10 from midfield with the Rams main 17-14 halfway by the second quarter.
“It was loopy,” Avila mentioned of the catch. “I did not even see it. I did not even look; I simply watched the primary one down. But then they performed it once more and I used to be like, ‘Oh my God, simply him.’
Added Rams rookie defensive finish Jared Verse: “I’ve by no means seen something prefer it. You by no means get used to it. Sometimes you see a ball and suppose, ‘It’s going out of bounds.’ But then he takes it.”
Nacua made one other diving catch and spike drag to maneuver the chains within the second half, then put a punctuation mark on his efficiency when Stafford heard a bubble display with Buffalo displaying a full-court blitz.
“I believed Matthew had complete command,” McVay mentioned. “He ended up getting us on the appropriate play on Puka’s landing once they introduced the zero blitz. And that sort of mirrored what he did all day.”
Nacua caught the move and ran 19 yards for the game-winning rating with 1:54 left. Nacua broke free due to spectacular blocks from offensive lineman Rob Havenenstein and Kupp.
Limping and a bit of bruised later within the locker room, Nacuas mentioned nothing will cease him from enjoying a brief week in an NFC West division matchup in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday. And he gave credit score to his teammates for his nice day on Sunday.
“I simply attempt to make performs when the ball involves me,” Nacua mentioned. “No. 9 (Stafford) does an incredible job of orchestrating our offense, placing the ball the place it must be for us to make performs. I’m grateful to that man and all of our guys for contributing to this win.
“And it positive feels nice to get in the long run zone.”
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, masking the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN e Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.
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