AROUND THE SHIELD — One of the top receivers in the NFL had another field day in Sunday's regular-season finale.
Puka Nacua caught 10 passes for 76 yards in Los Angeles' 37-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals, including a stunning 2-yard touchdown from Matthew Stafford as the Rams clinched the No. 5 seed in the NFC.
Nacua's 129 receptions led the NFL in the 2025 regular season, a mark that ranks tied for the seventh-most in a single campaign in league history with former Pittsburgh star Antonio Brown (2014). The former BYU and Orem High star also caught a career-best 10 touchdowns in his third season.
Nacua's 1,715 receiving yards is the 13th-best mark all-time, and second-best in 2025 behind only Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seattle wide out caught 119 passes for 1,793 yards in 2025.
ONE-HANDED PUKA TD
— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2026
AZvsLAR on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVntpic.twitter.com/RdnazjR50F
But Nacua still made history for receiving yards, passing Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss for the second-most receiving yards by a player in his first three seasons.
Nacua trails only Justin Jefferson, who had 4,825 yards in his first three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings from 2020-22.
Los Angeles will face the NFC's No. 4 seed Carolina Panthers in the wild-card round at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Here's a look at how other former Utah college and high school football standouts performed in the final week of the 2026 NFL regular season.
Puka Nacua passes HOF Randy Moss for the 2nd-most receiving yards by a player in their first 3 seasons in NFL history 😤@RamsNFL | #RamsHousepic.twitter.com/ThPfX8kYoA
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) January 5, 2026
Sunday Night Football
Pittsburgh 26, Baltimore 24
Steelers (10-7)
- Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East: Starting running back ran for 66 yards on 14 carries, caught five passes for 33 yards, and returned two kicks for 59 yards on special teams
Ravens (8-9)
- Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Reserve linebacker made two tackles on defense
- Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Active, but did not play
- Alohi Gilman, S, Orem High (via Notre Dame): Starting safety made eight tackles with a tackle for loss and pass defended on defense
Yards. After. Contact. Jaylen Warren 💪
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2026
BALvsPIT on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/j5boo5AKzd
Sunday afternoon
Washington 14, Philadelphia 17
Commanders (5-12)
- Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker totaled five tackles on defense
Eagles (11-6)
- Cameron Latu, TE, Olympus High (via Alabama): Reserve tight end made one tackle on special teams
- Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview High: Reserve receiver caught two passes for 20 yards and returned two punts for 20 yards (10.0 yards per return)
New England 38, Miami 10
Patriots (14-3)
- Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger High: Inactive for Week 18
Dolphins (7-10)
- Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon High: Reserve quarterback went 0-for-2 passing
Las Vegas 14, Kansas City 12
Raiders (3-14)
- No locals on the active roster
Chiefs (6-11)
- Kingsley Suamataia, OG, BYU/Orem High: Started at left guard and hauled in a lateral for 14 yards
- Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State: Starting wide receiver caught two passes for 4 yards
- Jeffrey Bassa, LB, Kearns High (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker made two tackles on defense
Los Angeles 37, Arizona 20
Rams (12-5)
- Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem High: Starting wide receiver caught 10 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 24 yards on two carries
Cardinals (3-14)
- Kedon Slovis, QB, BYU: Active, but did not play
Garett Bolles plants the flag after the Broncos clinch the one-seed 😤 pic.twitter.com/PlhK67qGcd
— Romi Bean (@Romi_Bean) January 5, 2026
Denver 19, Los Angeles 3
Broncos (13-3)
- Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake High: Started at left tackle
- Jonah Elliss, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on defense and another on special teams
Chargers (11-5)
- Andre James, C, Herriman High (via UCLA): Started at center
Detroit 19, Chicago 16
Lions (9-8)
- Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills High (via Oregon): Inactive for Week 18
- Sione Vaki, RB, Utah: Reserve running back made one tackle on special teams
Bears (11-6)
- Noah Sewell, LB, Orem High (via Oregon): Placed on injured reserve (Achilles)
- Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting defensive back made five tackles
One last 'Mr. Brightside' at Highmark Stadium.
— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) January 5, 2026
Featuring Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox filming with a GoPro.#BillsMafia@BuffaloPluspic.twitter.com/H3roUdfwRG
Buffalo 35, New York 8
Bills (12-5)
- Cole Bishop, S, Utah: Started at safety
- Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Starting tight end caught three passes for 48 yards
- Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Did not punt, but kicked three times in second half and added a tackle on special teams
- Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Active, but did not play
- Jackson Hawes, TE, Highland High (via Georgia Tech/Yale): Reserve tight end caught one pass for 0 yards
Jets (3-14)
- Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham High (via USC): Placed on injured reserve (ankle)
Atlanta 19, New Orleans 17
Falcons (8-9)
- Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Starting running back had seven carries for 16 yards and caught one pass for 3 yards
- Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker had six tackles and a pass defended
- Deven Thompkins, WR/RS, Utah State: Reserve receiver returned three punts for 26 yards and two kicks for 42 yards
Saints (6-11)
- Taysom Hill, TE/QB, BYU: Starting running back caught three passes for 32 yards, made one tackle on special teams, and made one tackle on a lost fumble
- Terrell Burgess, S, Utah: Reserve safety made on tackle on defense and one tackle on special teams
- Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Starting defensive end had four tackles and a tackle for loss
Cleveland 20, Cincinnati 18
Jalen Davis: From practice squad to key player, inspiring Bengals' defense resurgence https://t.co/8LOXQnI1Vlpic.twitter.com/2DuxkffNvN
— Local 12/WKRC-TV (@Local12) December 26, 2025
Browns (5-12)
- Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker totaled seven tackles
Bengals (6-11)
- Ryan Rehkow, P, BYU: Punted five times for 222 yards (44.4 yards per punt) with four punts downed inside the 20
- Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State: Reserve cornerback had three tackles on defense and one tackle on special teams
Houston 38, Indianapolis 30
Texans (12-5)
- Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham High (via Stanford): Starting tight end caught four passes for 73 yards
Colts (8-9)
- No locals on the active roster
Dalton Schultz snags it with one hand!
— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2026
INDvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVntpic.twitter.com/EKeBkKFESH
Jacksonville 41, Tennessee 7
Jaguars (13-4)
- Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker totaled four tackles and a tackle for loss on defense, and one tackle on special teams
- Tim Patrick, WR, Utah: Reserve wide receiver caught one pass for 4 yards
Titans (3-14)
- Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton High: Starting linebacker made four tackles on defense
Minnesota 16, Green Bay 3
Vikings (9-8)
- Tyler Batty, LB, BYU/Payson High: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on defense
Packers (9-7-1)
- Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Active, but did not play
- Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury High: Placed on injured reserve (ankle)
- Chris Brooks, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for 61 yards on 13 carries
New York 34, Dallas 17
Giants (4-13)
- Jaxson Dart, QB, Corner Canyon/Roy High (via Ole Miss): Starting quarterback completed 22-of-32 passes for 230 yards with two touchdowns, and ran for 32 yards on five carries with four sacks taken and a fumble (recovered)
Cowboys (7-9-1)
- No locals on the active roster
Jaxson Dart had an impressive rookie season
— PFF (@PFF) January 4, 2026
🍎 24 total TDs
🍎 5 INTs
🍎 2,740 total yards
🍎 74.3% adjusted completion rate pic.twitter.com/Kc7gH71Raj
Saturday
Tampa Bay 16, Carolina 14
Buccaneers (8-9)
- No locals on the active roster
Panthers (8-9)
- No locals on the active roster
Seattle 13, San Francisco 3
Seahawks (14-3)
- Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State: Starting receiver caught one pass for 2 yards, returned two punts for 30 yards with two fair catches, and returned one kick for 34 yards
- Connor O'Toole, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker played 12 snaps on special teams
49ers (12-5)
- No locals on the active roster








