SAN FRANCISCO, CA — On Sunday afternoon, there was a lot on the line for the Los Angeles Rams and their playoff seeding against their NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers. On the road with a backup quarterback in Carson Wentz starting in place of Matthew Stafford, not only did the Rams have to win to stay in the sixth seed, rookie Puka Nacua needed four receptions to break the record.
Nacua finally broke the record for most receiving yards in NFL history on his third afternoon catch. A rookie broke bill Groman’s 63-yard record for the most receiving yards. The next play, he captured the season rookie record for receptions in a season with 105.
“As much as [the records] say Puka Nacua… I wish it could say all 11 guys up there because it really takes all 11,” said Nacua.
Nacua finished with a 19-yard touchdown from Wentz and 1,473 yards for the regular season. He is in great company regarding the record, becoming just the third NFL rookie with 100 receptions with Jaylen Waddle (2021) and Anquan Bolden (2003). The Rams won the game and finished with ten wins, which solidified them into the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs. The moment and day belonged to Nacua, a fifth-round draft pick who played like a first-rounder all season long. He also had seven impressive games with about 100 receiver yards.
Los Angeles faces the Detroit Lions and their former first-round quarterback Jared Goff in the NFC WildCard playoff game next week.
