Rams WR Puka Nacua creates noise in offensive rookie of the year race during Thursday's win over Saints

With an ever-present grin, a sticky set of hands and some historically gaudy statistics, Puka Nacua has introduced himself to the NFL world in phenomenal fashion.

His masterful showing Thursday might well have been the best performance of an all-star rookie season -- and created some noise that the offensive rookie of the year race isn't in the bag for a quarterback in Houston.

The Brigham Young product hauled in nine receptions for a season-high 164 yards and a touchdown before coming up clutch on special teams and in the run game to help the Los Angeles Rams to a 30-22 win over the New Orleans Saints.

"He's such a talented kid," Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said after the game on Prime Video. "He's a great guy to be around, and to be honest with you, it's one of the more impressive rookie campaigns I've ever seen from any player at any position. Just what he's going through week in and week out. What he puts his body through, and he just shows up on Sundays or Thursdays, or whatever it is and just, he plays his ass off. It's great for us. We got all those guys rolling. We're tough to deal with."

The Rams (8-7) have rolled to wins in five of their last six, scored 28 points or more in five straight and sit inside the playoff bubble as the NFC’s No. 6 seed.

Nacua has played a major role from Week 1 through Thursday, offering up statistical evidence that Stafford lauding how impressive his wideout's season has been is hardly hyperbole.

For the easy-going 22-year-old, it's just fun -- super fun.

"So excited. Super fun," Nacua told NFL Network’s Steve Wyche when asked about moving the Rams closer to the postseason. "I feel like we're playing our best football right now, and everybody is just enjoying the moment. We go out