In the Los Angeles Rams’ 44-42 victory over the Buffalo Bills Sunday, one player stole the show: Puka Nacua.
Nacua finished the game with 162 receiving yards across 12 receptions — both were season highs for him — plus 16 rushing yards and a pair of rushing and receiving touchdowns.
One of Nacua’s 12 catches even left Tom Brady in disbelief.
What Tom Brady said about Puka Nacua
Brady called the Rams-Bills game alongside Kevin Burkhardt and heaped praise on Nacua during the replay of a 19-yard reception by Nacua in the third quarter.
“There is no place for (Matthew) Stafford to throw that ball, but he gives Puka Nacua a chance and the control with the body to make the catch — literally, his hands are behind his head. The ball goes past his vision, and he catches it — and then his feet, unbelievable,” Brady said.
Nacua’s performance earned him the honor of being Brady’s player of the game. The two talked when Nacua joined the broadcast after the game.
“There was so many great plays by you today,” Brady said.
Brady asked Nacua about the origin of the name, “Puka.” Nacua explained it’s a nickname his grandmother gave him that means “fat, chubby” in Samoan.
“You’ve got some Pukas up front. You’re not a Puka anymore. You’ve got some big Puka O-linemen is what I’m thinking,” Brady said.
Nacua now has a fan for life in the seven-time Super Bowl champion.
“I love seeing you play in person. You’re off to such a great start, man. Keep it going,” Brady said.
Puka Nacua’s historic performance against the Bills
With Sunday’s performance, Nacua, a second-year receiver, made history.
Nacua, a former BYU star, became the first Rams player with 125 receiving yards and a rushing touchdown in the same game in 18 years, per NFL on ESPN.
He is also the first NFL player to ever record over 12 receptions, 150 receiving yards and both a rushing and receiving touchdown in a single-game, NFL Networks’ Michael Florio tweeted.
Additionally, Nacua became the second player in NFL history with at least 150 receptions, 2,000 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in a player’s first 25 games, according to the Rams.
Per the Rams’ public relations, Nacua passed fellow former BYU Cougar Austin Collie as well as Stefon Diggs, Alshon Jeffery, Marcus Robinson, Isaac Bruce and Gary Clark “for the most games with at least nine receptions and 160 receiving yards through a player’s first 25 career games with three such games.”
His head coach, Sean McVay, called Nacua an “igniter” in his postgame press conference. McVay said that’s “one of the biggest compliments I can give somebody.”
But in his own postgame availability, Nacua was humble when asked about McVay’s compliment and thinks he can still play better, per NFL on Fox reporter Eric Williams.
“I feel like I got to give credit to all the guys around me. It continues to be an all-11 effort in everything we do in this offense and I know that there’s still parts in my game I can improve on, especially in the run game,” he said.