Catch Or No Catch? Puka Nacua Incompletion Stalls Rams On MNF
Dec 29, 2025, 10:18 PM | Updated: Dec 31, 2025, 5:33 pm
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 29: Puka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams scores a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 29, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA — Former BYU wide receiver Puka Nacua laid it all on the line for a toe-tap catch late in the fourth quarter on Monday night.
Ultimately, with possession questionable while going out of bounds, the refs ruled the play an incomplete pass.
IMAGINE IF PUKA CAUGHT THIS 😱 pic.twitter.com/nk1KrKavOd
— ESPN (@espn) December 30, 2025
Had he caught it, the Los Angeles offense would have been set up inside the 35-yard line with a chance to tie the game and force overtime.
But no dice.
Atlanta got the ball back and secured the 27-24 win, shooting down a late comeback attempt by the Rams.
PUKA NACUA TO TIE UP THE GAME ‼️
(via @RamsNFL)pic.twitter.com/gDwbWF12pU
— ESPN (@espn) December 30, 2025
Although a down game by his standards, Nacua still finished with five catches for 47 yards and a touchdown.
The week 17 loss also mathematically eliminated any hopes for LA to win the division and host a playoff game. The team’s ceiling in the NFC is now the No. 5 seed, and even that would take some favorable results to close the regular season.
About Puka Nacua
Before his college career, the Provo, Utah native played high school football at Orem High School. He finished his career with the Tigers as the owner of multiple state records.
After high school, the receiver attended the University of Washington and played a couple of seasons for the Huskies.
After the 2020 season, Nacua returned home to Provo and immediately became a star for the Cougars.
Nacua finished his BYU career with a total of 91 catches for 1,430 yards and 11 touchdowns as well as 39 carries for 357 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
Puka, man.
Gotta catch ’em all 🏈 pic.twitter.com/7rsLawwY3S
— NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2024
In April 2023, the Rams selected Nacua with the No. 177 overall pick during the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
Nacua finished his first season as a professional with an NFL rookie record 105 receptions for 1,486 yards. He also scored six touchdowns.
The rookie wideout received NFL All-Pro second-team honors for his play in 2023. He finished as the runner-up to C.J. Stroud for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Nacua’s sophomore campaign was plagued with injuries, but he still finished the season with 79 receptions for 990 yards and three touchdowns.
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