Puka Nacua has been prone to having impactful performances during the first three years of his NFL career, and that happened again Sunday.
This time, the star Los Angeles Rams wide receiver set a career high in helping the Rams become the first NFC team to clinch a playoff spot as they beat the Detroit Lions 41-34 at SoFi Stadium.
Nacua caught nine passes for 181 yards — a regular-season best for Nacua, who entered the game ranked the NFL’s top receiver by Pro Football Focus — in helping Los Angeles rally from 10 down late in the first half.
He also had two carries for 8 yards.
Nacua’s previous career-high in receiving yards during a regular-season game was 170, which he set in a win over Indianapolis earlier this season.
His playoff high for receiving yards is also 181 yards — Nacua had that on nine catches in his postseason debut in 2023, when the Rams lost to, ironically enough, the Lions in the wild-card round.
Sunday was Nacua’s seventh career regular-season game with 150 or more receiving yards.
Nacua passed 100 receptions on the year during Sunday’s victory. He now has 102 receptions for 1,367 yards and six touchdowns in the 2025 season — the receptions and receiving yards totals rank second in the NFL.
In Sunday’s win, Nacua:
- Caught passes of 6 and 10 yards to convert back-to-back fourth-down attempts to extend the Rams’ first touchdown-scoring drive
- Had a 36-yard reception that moved Los Angeles inside the red zone to set up a go-ahead touchdown when the Rams went up 14-10
- Caught a 37-yard pass to help move the Rams into field-goal range in the final minute of the first half, setting up a 37-yard field goal that made it 24-17 Lions at the break
- Had a 39-yard catch that set up an 11-yard touchdown run on the next play late in the third to give Los Angeles a 34-24 lead
- Caught a 12-yard pass in the fourth for his final reception, and it set up another touchdown the next play — giving the Rams a 41-27 lead with under five minutes to play
Historical significance of Puka Nacua’s career receiving yards game
Sunday was the first time in Nacua’s career that he’s recorded back-to-back games with 120-plus receiving yards — he had seven catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns last week in a win over Arizona.
From a franchise perspective, Nacua also matched former Rams great Torry Holt in a pair of categories.
His 336 receiving yards combined over the past two games was the most by a Rams receiver since Holt in 2003, according to the Los Angeles Rams PR team.
By surpassing 100 catches on the year, Nacua also joined Holt as the only receiver in franchise history to reach the 100-reception mark in two different seasons — Holt did so in 2003 and 2005.
What’s up next for the Los Angeles Rams?
With three weeks left in the regular season, the Rams hold the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the playoff race.
If Los Angeles wins out to end the regular season, the Rams would have home-field advantage through the conference championship.
The Rams’ final three games are as follows:
- Week 16: Dec. 18, at Seattle Seahawks
- Week 17: Dec. 29, at Atlanta Falcons
- Week 18: TBD, vs. Arizona Cardinals