Puka Nacua stole the present. Davante Adams was a supporting participant.
That was the story for the star receivers within the Rams’ season-opening victory over the Houston Texans.
Nobody was complaining.
Besides, maybe, fantasy soccer gamers who drafted Adams.
“That’s not in the forefront of my mind,” Adams, chuckling, stated this week. “I know they think it is. I’m just out here trying to win games and contribute and make plays when I can.”
Nacua disregarded a lower above his eye that required stitches and caught 10 passes for 130 yards. Adams, making his Rams debut, caught 4 passes for 51 yards.
Because the season progresses — beginning with Sunday’s recreation towards the Tennessee Titans in Nashville — coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford are apt to even out the targets.
“I’m excited about being able to learn — and it’s a good thing to be able to figure out how to get those guys involved,” McVay stated because the Rams ready for a Titans (0-1) group that will likely be enjoying its dwelling opener.
Nissan Stadium in Nashville was the setting for one of many first massive moments of McVay’s tenure.
In 2017, McVay’s first season, the Rams clinched the NFC West with a victory over the Titans made attainable by then-rookie receiver Cooper Kupp’s diving landing catch.
Final March, a couple of days after they agreed to phrases with the three-time All-Professional Adams, the Rams launched Kupp, the 2021 NFL offensive participant of the 12 months and most precious participant of Tremendous Bowl LVI.
Since final visiting Tennessee, the Rams have performed in two Tremendous Bowls and gained a title. They’ve been to the playoffs six instances in McVay’s eight seasons.
With a deep and proficient roster, they’re considered Tremendous Bowl contenders.
However a lot of that rides on how McVay can mix Nacua and Adams.
“I thought it was a good start,” McVay stated of the opener.
Rams large receiver Puka Nacua evades a Houston Texans defender after making a catch throughout the Rams’ win on Sept. 7.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Occasions)
Late within the first quarter towards the Texans, Nacua caught a go for a primary down, after which left the sphere and went to the locker room, the place he was evaluated for a concussion and acquired stitches.
“I felt like half my face had fallen off into my facemask that was all the way over here,” Nacua stated, gesturing past his left shoulder.
However the third-year professional demonstrated his trademark toughness and returned.
Adams famous that Nacua “bounced up” after taking hits towards the Texans, got here again after receiving stitches and continued to excel.
“It’s hard to stop a pit bull once you get going,” Adams stated. “That’s clearly what you get from somebody like Puka.”
Or someone like Adams.
On the Rams’ third play, Adams absorbed a significant hit after changing a 3rd down, however he popped to his ft and pointed downfield, signaling first down.
That set the tone, Nacua stated.
“To give that exclamation point of being like, ‘All right, we’re here, we’re going to take your best shot, and we’re going to stand up and we’re going to get ready to march the ball forward,’” Nacua stated, including, “There’s a toughness that you earn the right to play with in the NFL, and he definitely has that.”
As does Nacua, who has stated that his bodily model was borne from competing towards older brothers. These siblings pumped him up as a youth by slapping him onerous on his shoulders throughout automobile rides to video games. Nacua had faculty teammates slap him on his shoulder pads earlier than every collection, and he recruited a number of Rams teammates to do the identical.
“It’s always nice to get a little wake up on the sideline before you officially get hit by somebody else out there,” Nacua stated.
Rams receivers have a saying, Adams stated: “You can’t live forever.”
“Sometimes you have to go across the middle and make that play,” he stated. “You can’t just let a ball soar past your eyes just because you’re in harm’s way. It sounds kind of crazy, but that’s what you signed up for when you want to be a receiver in this league.”
Within the opener, Adams and Nacua made pivotal performs for lengthy features.
Adams’ textbook back-shoulder catch alongside the left sideline netted 24 yards. It was the form of play the Rams envisioned once they paired Stafford, a Seventeenth-year professional who performed 12 seasons for the Detroit Lions, with Adams, a Twelfth-year professional who performed his first eight seasons with the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
“I know he is really good at that kind of stuff from playing against him and watching him do it and tormenting my team back in the day,” Stafford stated, laughing.
Mentioned Adams: “It’s a good building block.”
Nacua caught a no-look go for 25 yards within the fourth quarter. Within the remaining collection, he caught a brief go and clinched the victory by turning it right into a 24-yard acquire.
Which receiver will get the main function every week will likely be decided by how opponents try and cease them.
“I’m sure there’ll be times when he’s lighting it up and they say, ‘All right, let’s try to tilt over there, maybe we’ll stop that, see if that works,’” Adams stated. “Then I’ll be one-on-one and have a lot more opportunities as well.
“It’s a long season and I think everybody here knows that.”
