It didn’t take long for Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua to make a breathtaking play in Thursday Night Football’s showdown against the San Francisco 49ers.
In the first quarter, Nacua hauled in a stunning catch from Matthew Stafford along the sideline. As he was falling backward and taking a heavy hit from 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward, Nacua somehow managed to secure the ball—clutching it over Ward’s helmet with remarkable strength. Analyst Kirk Herbstreit couldn’t contain his amazement, praising Nacua’s physicality in completing the catch. Fans and media across the league quickly echoed his sentiments, dubbing the play a version of the iconic “helmet catch.”
Puka Nacua is really good at football. pic.twitter.com/VFZOaKYtqD
— Zach Bollinger (@zachbollinger18) December 13, 2024
This came just days after Nacua put up an incredible performance against the Buffalo Bills, recording 12 receptions for 162 yards and a touchdown, along with several other mind-blowing plays.
Though the catch didn’t impact the final outcome of the game—since the Rams punted shortly after—Nacua added yet another highlight to his growing reel of sensational moments.
