Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is so talented that even his incompletions are drawing rave reviews.
The Rams, trailing 27-24 with 10 seconds left, needed a big play from Nacua to escape Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., with a win. Facing 3rd-and-10 in the Rams’ own territory, Matthew Stafford threw toward the sideline to Nacua right at the edge of field goal range.
Nacua paid homage to former Falcons legend Julio Jones with an incredible toe-drag play before falling into the sideline with the football.
puka nacua; rams vs falcons pic.twitter.com/L7otrP4tsm
— ◇ (@F0RGIAT0) December 30, 2025
The home fans held their breath for several minutes as referees reviewed the play, which was initially ruled a catch. While the ESPN broadcast believed Nacua had made a legitimate catch, the officials eventually upheld the ruling: no catch.
While Nacua’s play on the ball was ruled incomplete, the admiration for his efforts was overflowing on social media.
This wasn’t an NFL catch, and yet it is still one of the best catches of the football I have ever seen.
— Mike Kennedy (@MikeKennedyNFL) December 30, 2025
Puka Nacua is an alien. pic.twitter.com/ECO0J5AHGQ
Puka Nacua is the best wide receiver on Earth
— Savage (@SavageSports_) December 30, 2025
Incomplete still but holy hell pic.twitter.com/NOcVgS2Xuf
Some even argued that Nacua had made a legitimate catch, regardless of the referee’s final ruling.
CATCH OF THE YEAR. PERIOD.
— The Ultimate (@TheGistGiant) December 30, 2025
Puka Nacua is actually human? I’ve never seen a grab like that in my life. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/6cItathHQY
PROOF THE NFL IS RIGGED… watch this frame by frame and tell me with a straight face this is “incomplete.” Puka Nacua has both hands on the ball, feet down, control through contact, this catch gives the Rams a shot at a game tying field goal and a real path to the top seed… 🤔 pic.twitter.com/j8gCzawhcZ
— Carlos Gil (@carlosgil83) December 30, 2025
The Rams stormed back from down 21-0 to get within 27-24 in the final minute of the contest. But the comeback fell short against a Falcons team that had nothing to play for. Nacua finished the game with 47 yards and a touchdown on 5 catches.
The referees did not make the Rams’ comeback bid any easier down the stretch. Los Angeles also got burned by a botched call one play prior, when wide receiver Tutu Atwell was grabbed while trying to make a play on a deep ball.
