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Eric Williams
NFC West Writer
Unheralded Los Angeles Rams rookie receiver Puka Nacua keeps breaking tackles and breaking records on his way to a historic rookie season that could end with the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Nacua totaled nine receptions for 164 yards and a touchdown as the Rams held off a late rally by the New Orleans Saints to secure a 30-22 victory in a Thursday night contest at SoFi Stadium.
The win was the Rams’ fifth over the last six games, improving their record to 8-7 on the season — that currently has them sitting at the No. 6 seed in the postseason, while the Saints dropped to 7-8 on the year.
But the star of the show for the Rams was the team’s hard-charging rookie, fifth-round draft pick in Nacua, who had a tough, 7-yard run on a jet sweep for a first down late in the game and a recovery on an onside kick that helped seal the win for the Rams.
Nacua finished his fourth game of the season with 150-plus receiving yards — the most by a rookie in the Super Bowl era — and passed Michael Thomas (92) for the third-most catches by a rookie in a single season in NFL history. The memorable night for Nacua included new Los Angeles Dodger Shohei Ohtani in attendance, wearing the BYU product’s No. 17 jersey.
“[C.J.] Stroud has had a great year, but this guy is — he would get my vote,” Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters after the game. “He’s really special. But the best part about him is he doesn’t worry about those things. He worries about just being a great teammate, continuing to improve his game, and sure love this team. And he’s one of those guys that you really love.”
At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Nacua’s versatility allows McVay to move him all over the formation to create mismatches for big plays. According to Next Gen Stats, Nacua was used in shift or motion on 21 of his 66 snaps (31.8%) against the Saints, gaining 107 yards from scrimmage when going in motion, the…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/rams-hold-off-saints-unleash-puka-nacua-for-another-historic-performance
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Publish date : 2023-12-22 16:55:03
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