Puka Nacua appears to double down on NFL referee criticism after crushing ‘TNF’ loss
- - Puka Nacua appears to double down on NFL referee criticism after crushing ‘TNF’ loss
Edward Lewis December 19, 2025 at 2:55 PM
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puka nacua
Two days after calling NFL refs “the worst,” Puka Nacua appeared to double down on his stance.
The Rams wide receiver took to his X page to seemingly throw further barbs at league officials following L.A.’s heartbreaking 38-37 overtime road loss to the Seahawks on “Thursday Night Football.”
The most ridiculous two-point conversion ever results in the Seahawks tying it up vs the Rams. Rules analyst Terry McAulay was all over it for Prime Video.
#NFL#TNFpic.twitter.com/BI8HEGwt1c
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 19, 2025
“Can you say I was wrong,” he wrote in a since-deleted post. “Appreciate you stripes for your contribution. Lol.”
It’s not quite clear which calls Nacua might have taken umbrage with, though it looks like Seattle’s improbable lateral two-point conversion could have been one of the culprits.
In the fourth quarter after an AJ Barner touchdown, Sam Darnold attempted to throw a quick bubble screen that was knocked away before it reached its intended target. Initially, it was ruled incomplete, but on replay review, it was called a backward pass.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet ended up picking up the football in the end zone, and Seattle was awarded two points, which tied the game at 30-30.
While it appeared to be the correct call, Rams head coach Sean McVay asked for further clarity on it all during his postgame availability.
McVay said after the game that he did not see Nacua’s post on X, but spoke about the controversy of the wideout’s actions on internet star Adin Ross’ livestream that led to a public apology before the game.
“I know this guy’s heart, and for anybody that was offended, terribly sorry about that,” McVay said of Nacua. “I know he feels that same exact way. He’s a young guy, that’s a great kid that’s continuing to learn about just the platform that he has. I love him, we’re going to continue to put our arm around him and help him learn and grow, but we never want to do things that ever offend anybody and I know he feels that same way.”
Three quarters earlier, a Rams touchdown catch was negated by an ineligible man downfield call that “TNF” rules expert Terry McAulay said on air “really isn’t a foul.”
Puka Nacua scores a touchdown during overtime of the Rams’ road loss to the Seahawks. AP
A Rams touchdown was taken off the board due to officials calling a penalty for illegal man downfield on 4th-and-goal at the 1. They had to settle for a field goal. Prime Video rules analyst Terry McAulay disagrees with the ruling: "This really isn't a foul."
#NFL#TNFpic.twitter.com/gG0Sgr8zlh
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 19, 2025
Nacua previously was critical of referees on Tuesday, when he appeared on a Ross livestream.
The internet star asked the 24-year-old Pro Bowler if he believed “the refs be bulls–tting sometimes,” and then Nacua sounded off.
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“The refs are the worst. These guys are lawyers,” he said. “They want to be on TV too, bro. You don’t think he’s texting his friends in the group chat like, ‘Yo, you guys just saw me on ‘Sunday Night Football.’ Like, that wasn’t [pass interference], but I called it.’”
The loss dropped the Rams to 11-4 and moved them into second place in the NFC West behind the 12-3 Seahawks, who clinched a playoff spot with their victory.
Source: “AOL Sports”
