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Rams receiver Puka Nacua (17) keeps his toes inbounds to catch this pass past Bills cornerback Christian Benford. (Kyusung Gong / Associated Press)
They were two moments seemingly frozen in time, balletic catches by Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp that not only indicated the Rams offense could finally produce consistently but also could do it with panache.
In Sunday’s victory over the Buffalo Bills, Nacua made a full-extension, toe-tap catch on the sideline that should be framed as artwork. Kupp’s leaping acrobatic touchdown catch harked to the veteran’s historic 2021 season.
It was not the first time the two receivers showed they were past injuries that sidelined them early this season. In a mid-November victory over the New England Patriots, both amassed more than 100 yards receiving.
But this was different.
Nacua and Kupp both displayed the flair of masters performing at the top of their games, and it could not come at a better time for coach Sean McVay and the Rams.
Rams receiver Cooper Kupp catches a touchdown pass in front of Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
On Thursday night, the Rams play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium, the first of three games against NFC West opponents remaining on the Rams’ schedule.
The Seattle Seahawks (8-5) lead the division. The Rams (7-6) are in second place, with the Arizona Cardinals (6-7) and 49ers (6-7) close behind.
The Rams play the 49ers, at the New York Jets, and then finish the season at home against the Cardinals and Seahawks. If the Rams sweep their division opponents, they will be assured a playoff spot for the sixth time in McVay’s eight seasons.
The Rams are only four days removed from their 44-42 victory over the Bills. The 49ers, coached by McVay’s mentor-turned-nemesis Kyle Shanahan, are coming off a 38-13 victory over the Chicago Bears.
“It’s a great challenge,” McVay said. “They know us. We know them.”
On Sept. 22 at SoFi Stadium, the Rams defeated the 49ers,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/unlike-last-rams-49ers-meeting-110040133.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-12-12 11:00:00
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