Puka Nacua Shines in Record-Tying Night, Then Sparks Controversy Off the Field
Thursday night was a rollercoaster for Puka Nacua-a career performance on the field, and a flurry of headlines off it. The Rams’ rookie sensation turned in the most explosive game of his young career, racking up 225 receiving yards on 12 catches in a dramatic overtime loss to the Seahawks. That stat line didn’t just turn heads-it etched his name into the NFL history books, as Nacua became just the second player ever to post three straight games with at least 150 receiving yards.
And he did it without one of the Rams’ key offensive weapons, Davante Adams, in the lineup. Nacua was the focal point from the opening snap, carving up Seattle’s secondary with a mix of precision route-running and after-the-catch toughness that’s become his calling card. It was the kind of performance that announces a player as more than just a breakout rookie-it says, “I’m here to stay.”
But while the numbers were historic, the postgame narrative quickly shifted off the field.
Moments after the final whistle, Nacua posted a tweet that appeared to express frustration with the officiating. The tweet was deleted not long after it went up, but not before it caught the attention of fans and media alike.
This wasn’t the first time Nacua had voiced concerns about officiating. Earlier in the week, he appeared on a livestream with content creators N3on and Adin Ross, where he didn’t hold back.
“The refs are the worst,” Nacua said during the stream. “These guys are lawyers.
They want to be on TV too. You don’t think he’s texting his friends in the group chat like, ‘Yo, you guys just saw me on Sunday Night Football.
That wasn’t P.I., but I called it.’”
The comments were raw and unfiltered, and while they echoed sentiments many players have privately shared over the years, they quickly added fuel to an already tense week for the wideout.
Earlier Thursday, Nacua issued a public apology for making a gesture during the same livestream that he acknowledged was “antisemitic in nature.” The apology came before kickoff, but the controversy followed him into the night.
After the game, Nacua addressed the now-deleted tweet in the Rams’ locker room.
“It was just a lack of awareness,” he told reporters. “Just frustration.”
As for what exactly triggered that frustration, Nacua didn’t specify. But there were certainly a few moments in the game that had Rams fans scratching their heads.
One key call came when an offensive penalty on the 1-yard line wiped a touchdown off the board. But the biggest moment-the one that will be replayed and debated for days-was a wild two-point conversion late in regulation.
With the Seahawks trailing by two after a furious fourth-quarter rally, their conversion attempt initially looked like a failed pass. Both teams were preparing for the kickoff when the officiating crew initiated a review.
After further examination, it was ruled that the pass had actually gone backward, making it a live ball. Seattle had recovered it in the end zone, and just like that, the game was tied.
It was a stunning reversal and one of the most bizarre two-point conversions in recent memory.
“I’ve never quite seen anything like what happened on the two-point conversion,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said postgame. “You’re lined up to kick off, then they say it’s a fumble because they had a clear and obvious recovery.
Very interesting. Didn’t get a clear explanation of everything that went on just because of the timing of it.
I’ve never seen anything-or been a part of anything-like that, and I’ve grown up around this game.”
Even after that chaos, Nacua wasn’t done. He scored in overtime to give the Rams a temporary lead, but Seattle answered with a touchdown of their own and sealed the win on another successful two-point try.
When asked about Nacua’s deleted tweet, McVay declined to comment directly, saying he hadn’t seen it yet. But he did offer support for his star receiver, making it clear the team stands behind him.
It was a night that showcased everything Puka Nacua brings to the table-elite production, raw emotion, and a competitive fire that burns hot. He’s quickly becoming one of the most compelling young players in the league, both for what he does between the lines and how he handles the moments that come after.
For now, the Rams will look to regroup after a tough loss. But if Nacua keeps playing like this, they’ve got a cornerstone to build around for years to come.