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Rams vs Falcons MNF Preview: McVay Tree, Odds & Best Bet
Puka Nacua made an unreal sideline catch that was overturned after replay, reigniting debate over the NFL’s catch rule during Rams–Falcons.
Puka Nacua's jaw-dropping catch was so close to being one of the best catches football has ever seen, except it didn't count.
The Los Angeles Rams are down late in a Monday night thriller against the Falcons, and their star wide receiver Puka Nacua is in full desperation mode. He dived toward the sideline, stretching for a pass from quarterback Matthew Stafford. In one smooth motion, he snagged the ball with his left hand, got both feet down, crashed to the ground, and somehow still had possession when it's all over.
Right there on the field, the refs signal it's a catch. Everyone's pumping their fists, thinking the Rams have a shot at a comeback.
But then comes the replay review. It turns out the ball popped loose for a split second, just as his feet hit the turf and before he fully went out of bounds. That tiny bobble was enough for the officials to flip the call and rule it an incompletion.
Social media exploded. Fans everywhere were furious, and you could see why. By any normal definition of "catch," Nacua nailed it. He grabbed the ball, controlled it through the air, tapped both feet in bounds, and maintained possession even after hitting the deck.
Yet the NFL rulebook is brutal on this stuff. It demands "surviving the ground" in a very specific way, meaning no fumbling once your feet touch, no matter how quick the recovery. Without that ultra-slow-motion replay, we'd never have spotted the bobble. He secured it in the air, landed with it secure in his mind, and even popped up with it still in hand. But rules are rules, and this one robbed what could have been a career-defining highlight for Nacua.
It's moments like these that highlight just how tricky the NFL's catch rules can be. They take the human element out of the game and turn magic into math. It took away what could have been a huge moment for Nacua's career. However, Nacua finished the night with five receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown.
The Los Angeles Rams are now 11-5, and head coach Sean McVay says the starters will still play in Week 18 against the Arizona Cardinals, even though they've already locked up a playoff spot. That gives Puka Nacua another opportunity to add to what’s already been the best statistical year of his young career by far.
