Catches like this are why Puka Nacua is one of the NFL’s most exciting young receivers.
With 7:33 to go in the first room of Sunday’s showdown against the Bills, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford looked at Nacua on the sideline on second-and-10. Nacua made a catch that few in the NFL can make.
The ball was thrown on a line and seemed destined to sail out of bounds. But with cornerback Christian Benford in tight coverage, Nacua jumped facing the sideline and raised both hands high to grab the ball out of the air.
Then came the hardest part. Somehow, Nacua landed with the toes of both feet in to complete the catch and first down.
Benford didn’t want to believe it. He stood up after dragging Nacua out of bounds, waving his arms, confident his counterpart was not landing a legal catch. But his protest was to no avail.
Another angle confirms that Nacua did indeed come in with both feet and had a firm grip on the ball.
The Rams then paid off the 19-yard gain.
Eight plays later, Nacua scored a touchdown on a jet sweep that Bills defenders were unable to stop, extending the Rams’ lead to 24–14.
An injury cost Nacua five games earlier this season. Stafford is certainly happy to have him back.
