Puka Nacua has taken the leap into superstardom for the Los Angeles Rams as he’s been arguably the best receiver in the league during the 2025 season.
When the Rams decided to waive Cooper Kupp in the offseason, it signaled the team’s confidence in Nacua to lead the receiver room. He has returned the organization’s trust with an outstanding regular season, helping Los Angeles clinch a playoff berth after a dominant performance against the Detroit Lions in Week 15.
In the primetime game of the week, Nacua shined bright as he recorded nine receptions for 181 yards. While he didn’t get into the end zone, the superstar came up with several clutch plays that allowed L.A. to stave off Detroit.
Following the win, head coach Sean McVay had a fun comparison for Nacua and his catching ability, via Wyatt Miller of TheRams.com:
“(Nacua’s) like Pac-Man, he just eats up yards and catches,” McVay said.
With Matthew Stafford and the offense facing multiple fourth downs, Nacua came through with tough contested catches. The star wideout expressed how much fun he has being in that position to make important plays for his teammates:
“When it’s my opportunity to make those plays (where everyone knows where the ball is going), it’s even more fun,” Nacua said. “Trusting that at every spot that everybody else is going to do their job and then just leaving it up to me and being able to come down with that ball. I knew I owed nine once, so it was fun.”
Nacua is widely regarded as the best blocking receiver in the NFL because of his physical play style, but he’s also turned into one of the best contested and deep ball receivers. Stafford shows zero hesitation throwing to Nacua when Los Angeles needs to move the chains and he’s almost always a certainty to come down with the football.
As a bonafide superstar, Nacua has proven he can do just about anything on the field despite all the defensive attention he gets. However, his plate did get fuller now that Davante Adams will miss time with his hamstring injury.
Without Adams on the field to help draw away attention, McVay will need to find ways to get Nacua the football in more creative ways.
Puka Nacua excited about first-career two-touchdown game
Surprisingly enough, Puka Nacua didn’t have his first two-touchdown game until the Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14. He expressed his excitement over the accomplishment and was happy it came in a win.
