Locals in the NFL: Puka Nacua goes off to help Rams hold off Bills in 902-yard game

AROUND THE SHIELD — Puka Nacua continues to make the extraordinary look, well, ordinary.

The former BYU and Orem High star caught a season-high 12 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown, and added 16 yards rushing with another scoring run, as the Los Angeles Rams overcame an extraordinary performance by Josh Allen to hold off the Buffalo Bills 44-42 Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Take, for example, one of Nacua's non-scoring plays to keep a drive alive in the third quarter. While nursing a 3-point lead, Matthew Stafford dropped back and lofted a ball to Nacua on a corner route that was aimed further than Nacua's initial route.

But the sophomore receiver who set an NFL rookie record for receiving yards a year ago adjusted, high-pointing the ball before coming down with a toe-tapper for a 19-yard gain that had color analyst Tom Brady exclaiming: "You've got to be kidding me."

"When I see the track and it spins so right, I'm like, 'I know exactly where this ball is going to be,'" Nacua told LA media after the game. "(Stafford) came to the sideline and was like, 'Man, I got guys all in my face.' I'm like, 'Well, you put it in the right spot.'

"I don't care if you're throwing it blind or he's got all eyes on me. He's never missing."

Through the first 25 games of his career, Nacua is one of five players with at least 2,000 receiving yards since 1970 after totaling 2,194. The others? Odell Beckham Jr. (2,626), Justin Jefferson (2,175), Ja'Marr Chase (2,157) and Victor Cruz (2.032).

Nacua's record-setting rookie season isn't slowing down, either. Not even after putting himself in a similar conversation as Odell Beckham Jr. just a week ago.

In Sunday's win over the Bills, he surpassed Stefon Diggs, Alshon Jeffery, Austin Collie, Marcus Robinson, Isaac Bruce and Gary Clark for the most games with at least nine receptions for 160 receiving yards through the first 25 games of his career.

The Rams needed every bit of it, too. Allen was on a tear, a 60-point fantasy football-type game where the former Wyoming quarterback completed 22-of-37 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns, and also rushed for three touchdowns with 82 yards.

He's the first player in NFL history with three passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns in a single game.

But Nacua's 19-yard touchdown grab from Stafford with 1:54 remaining gave the Rams a 44-35 lead — just enough to hold off Allen's charge in a game where both teams combined for 902 yards of offense without a turnover or a quarterback sack.

"He was such an igniter today," Rams coach Sean McVay said of Nacua. "Igniter is one of the biggest compliments I can give somebody. You elevate everybody around you. You bring an energy of this football team, and he certainly did that."

Here's a look at how other former Utah high school and college football standouts performed in Week 14 of the 2024 NFL regular season, including former Utah wide receiver Tim Patrick, who caught his first touchdown in 1,082 days — and then added a second go-ahead score in the second half to help the Lions top the Packers to clinch a playoff berth.

Monday Night Football

Cincinnati 27, Dallas 20

Bengals (5-8)

• Ryan Rehkow, P, BYU: Punted three times for 121 yards (40.3 yards per punt) with one touchback
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC): Reserve defensive lineman also played on special teams
• Tanner McLachlan, TE, Southern Utah (via Arizona): Inactive for Week 14

Cowboys (5-8)

• Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State/Fremont: Reserve linebacker also played on special teams

Sunday Night Football

Kansas City 19, Los Angeles 17

Chiefs (12-1)

• Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU/Orem: Inactive for Week 14

Chargers (8-5)

• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame): Placed on IR (hamstring)

Sunday afternoon

Miami 32, New York 26

Dolphins (6-7)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Active, but did not play

Jets (3-10)

• No locals on the active roster

Minnesota 42, Atlanta 21

Vikings (11-2)

• No locals on the active roster

Falcons (6-7)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for 63 yards and a touchdown on nine carries
• Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah: Reserve cornerback made three tackles on defense
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker totaled a team-high 10 tackles, a sack and two quarterback hits

New Orleans 14, New York 11

Saints (5-8)

• Taysom Hill, TE, BYU: Placed on season-ending IR (knee)
• Dallin Holker, TE, Lehi/BYU (via Colorado State): Reserve tight end caught one pass for 10 yards
• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Reserve tailback ran for 5 yards on three carries, caught two passes for 10 yards, and returned a kickoff for 16 yards with one tackle on special teams

Giants (2-11)

• No locals on the active roster

Philadelphia 22, Carolina 16

Eagles (11-2)

• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Inactive for Week 14

Panthers (3-10)

• Brady Christensen, OG, BYU/Bountiful: Reserve lineman also played on special teams

Pittsburgh 27, Cleveland 14

Steelers (10-3)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Reserve running back ran for 47 yards on nine carries and caught two passes for 25 yards
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety made one tackle on special teams

Browns (3-10)

• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker had a team-high seven tackles with a tackle for loss
• Winston Reid, LB, Weber State/Copper Hills: Reserve linebacker had a tackle for loss on defense

Tampa Bay 28, Las Vegas 13

Buccaneers (7-6)

• No locals on the active roster

Raiders (2-11)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman (via UCLA): Active, but did not play
• Jackson Powers-Johnson, OG, Corner Canyon (via Oregon): Started at center

Jacksonville 10, Tennessee 6

Jaguars (3-10)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker made eight tackles

Titans (3-10)

• Gabe Jeudy-Lally, CB, BYU (via Tennessee): Inactive for Week 14

Seattle 30, Arizona 18

Seahawks (8-5)

• Sataoa Laumea, OG, Utah: Started at right guard

Cardinals (6-7)

• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Inactive for Week 13

Los Angeles 44, Buffalo 42

Rams (7-6)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Starting receiver caught game-high 12 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 16 yards and a score

Bills (10-3)

• Cole Bishop, S, Utah: Reserve safety also played on special teams
• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Inactive for Week 14
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting cornerback made seven tackles

San Francisco 38, Chicago 13

49ers (6-7)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker had three tackles

Bears (4-9)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback totaled four tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass defended
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Started at left tackle
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker also played on special teams

Thursday Night Football

Detroit 34, Green Bay 31

Lions (12-1)

• Sione Vaki, RB, Utah: Reserve running back played 21 snaps on special teams
• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon): Starting right tackle played all 80 offensive snaps
• Tim Patrick, WR, Utah: Starting wide receiver caught six passes for 43 yards and two touchdowns in 53 offensive snaps

Packers (9-4)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 12-of-20 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown with 23 yards on four rushes
• Chris Brooks, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for three yards in 14 offensive snaps
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Reserve safety made four tackles 53 offensive snaps

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