Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams are on the path to being a part of another historical receiving season as wide receiver Puka Nacua is just 147 yards and nine receptions away from owning the NFL record for rookie receiving yards as well as rookie receptions.
Even if Nacua doesn’t manage to break those records, his rookie year with the Rams will still go down in history. In the Thursday night matchup with the New Orleans Saints, the fifth-round draft pick accrued 164 yards receiving on nine receptions. This was Nacua’s sixth 100-yard receiving game during his rookie year, which puts him in elite company as Justin Jefferson and Odell Beckham Jr. are the only receivers with more(seven).
Stafford is no stranger to record-setting receiving seasons. He was the quarterback for Calvin Johnson on the Detroit Lions in 2012 when Johnson set the record for most receiving yards in a season with 1,964. He was also Cooper Kupp’s QB in 2021 when he had the second-most receiving yards of all time with 1,947 during his triple crown Super Bowl-winning season.
In 2012, Calvin Johnson set the NFL single season record with 1,964 receiving yards. His QB was Matthew Stafford.
In 2021, Cooper Kupp had the second most receiving yards in a single season in NFL history with 1,947. His QB was – and still is – Matthew Stafford.
Puka Nacua… pic.twitter.com/sg0whgea75
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 22, 2023
Matthew Stafford and Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay are responsible for two legendary receiving seasons since 2021
In an article on KSL, Nacua details why he enjoys having Stafford as a quarterback. Nacua realizes how much a veteran QB like Stafford can help him as a rookie.
“It’s a blessing to be out here with him,” Nacua said. “In pressure moments and when we start the game, he lets us know it’s going to be smooth sailing when No. 9 is in there. It’s a blessing to have him.”
If Nacua doesn’t break the big aforementioned records, he will still hold league records and franchise records. He is already the franchise leader in rookie receiving yards, and his 15-reception performance in week two is a league record.
If Nacua didn’t obtain another receiving yard in the last two games, he would be the fifth-best rookie NFL receiver in terms of yards. As a rookie, he already broke the record for most yards by a BYU player, which previously belonged to Todd Christensen (1,247).
Nacua is joining elite Rams receiving company in teammate Cooper Kupp. Kupp had one of the best receiving seasons of all time in 2021 as he won the Super Bowl MVP. He led the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Giving Matt Stafford Puka Nacua was just straight up unfair. I can’t believe he fell to the 5th https://t.co/WL7PD8EjNB
— Mile High Mario (@VetanzeTherapy) December 22, 2023
Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford contributed to one of the best receiving careers of all time
“It’s a cool thing to be a part of it,” Stafford said. “It makes me feel lucky I got to play with two great players in different eras.”
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