Los Angeles Rams rookie wide-receiver Puka Nacua continued his strong rookie campaign on Sunday by scoring the game-winning touchdown in the Rams overtime victory over the Indianapolis Colts. The fifth-round draft pick ended the day with 163 receiving yards on 10 receptions.
STAFF! TO PUKA! FOR THE WIN!!
? @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/BvaBnPEJD8
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 1, 2023
The game in Indianapolis started with the Rams taking a 23-0 lead early in the third quarter, but the Colts mounted a comeback that took the game to overtime. The 23-point comeback started with an Anthony Richardson rushing touchdown that made Richardson the first-ever quarterback to rush for a touchdown in every one of the first three games of their career.
The Rams started overtime with the ball, and quickly got Nacua involved on the drive with a 20-yard reception that took the Rams to the Rams' 45-yard line. Seven plays later, Stafford would laser a pass over the middle to a wide-open Nacua at the nine-yard line. After making an acrobatic catch, Nacua juked out a Colts defender and broke a tackle attempt from safety Julian Blackmon to fight his way into the end zone. Rams head coach Sean McVay spoke of his admiration for both his quarterback and Nacua after the game.
"I can't say enough about Puka Nacua and Matthew Stafford. [They] delivered in a big way," McVay said.
The Rams' leading receiver has been one of the most impressive rookies early on in the 2023 season. In week two, he broke the record for the most receptions in the first two career games. After today's performance, he has had over 100 receiving yards in all but one game of his career. His game-winner against the Colts was the first touchdown of his NFL career and gives him the record for most receptions (31) through a player's first four games.
The Rams are now 2-2 on the season and will look to build on this thrilling win next weekend against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
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