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Puka Nacua puts his mindset into perspective by saying he thinks more about the misses than the catches.
Since his return from injury, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has been nearly unstoppable. In his last game, Nacua recorded 17 catches in what was another amazing display during a prime-time game. This week, Nacua and the Rams are set to play the Arizona Cardinals. Sitting at 2-3 on the season, the receiver has only one thing on his mind, and that's winning.
He displays that desire through his level of execution throughout football games. The All-Pro pass catcher provided some insight into his mindset when he was asked this week about the number of receptions he had and if he's aware of his stats during a game. Nacua told reporters that it's actually the misses that make up his memories.
“I think in our first or second series, feeling a couple when they come back-to-back to you," said Nacua. "I'm finding a rhythm and flow. When we leave the stadium, you think back, and you think more about the misses than the 17 catches. I can think back to that first third-down we missed over the middle. Obviously, the big one before halftime, the one where Matthew had the… I don't know if they called roughing the passer or the one that got picked up there.
"I'm trying to think. I know we missed another one, but just some of the ones where I'm like, 'Man, we were right there.' Especially that one at half just being a momentum swing, just being able to put points on the board. You don't really realize it in the game and then after when you're starting to move around, you're like, 'Maybe I did get hit more times than I thought [laughter].’”
As he looks to achieve his third straight game with over 100 yards receiving, the Rams have to appreciate how dedicated their star receiver is to the game of football. Nacua's 24 targets and 17 receptions were career-highs.