The 5-9 Atlanta Falcons will take on the 11-4 Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football in their Week 17 matchup. Atlanta is coming off a 26-19 win against the Arizona Cardinals, while Los Angeles is coming off an overtime loss to the first-place NFC West Seattle Seahawks.
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has been on a tear this season, and the Falcons will have their work cut out for them. Here’s how they can try to slow one of the NFL’s rising stars.
How The Falcons Can Stop Puka Nacua
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is currently one of the best receivers in the NFL, and he has proven that this season. Nacua has 114 catches for 1,592 yards and eight touchdowns so far, with two regular-season games remaining. His best performance came against the Seattle Seahawks last week, when he caught 12 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns.
Nacua is a do-it-all receiver who can block, catch, and run routes. The Rams use him in a role similar to how they previously used former wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing more than 200 pounds, Nacua can win 50-50 balls and is not afraid to get physical with opposing defenders. He is not just an athletic threat, either, as the BYU product has continued to improve as a route runner.
With Nacua being one of the league’s top wideouts, stopping him entirely may be unrealistic. However, the Falcons can work to contain him. Nacua is quarterback Matthew Stafford’s favorite target, and one way to limit his impact is to make sure he does not see the ball consistently. Atlanta could bracket Nacua with a corner underneath and a safety over the top wherever he lines up. Another option would be to play man coverage and blitz in an effort to pressure Stafford.
Atlanta has a solid secondary, led by cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. Terrell Jr. has recorded 40 tackles and a forced fumble this season. Because Nacua moves around frequently within the Rams’ offense, Terrell Jr. could be asked to shadow him. Cornerbacks Cobee Bryant or C.J. Henderson could also see snaps against him, particularly when Nacua lines up in the slot.
Nacua is one of the larger receivers on the Rams’ roster, so Atlanta could try to match size for size with Terrell Jr., who is 6-foot-1 and weighs 201 pounds. Beyond individual matchups, the Falcons’ primary objective must be generating pressure on Stafford and forcing the Rams to become more one-dimensional by leaning on the run. Without consistent pressure, who is guarding Nacua may not matter nearly as much.