When the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks take the field for the NFC Championship Game, all eyes will be on the perimeter for a clash between the NFL’s two most prolific pass-catchers.
The matchup features Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the league’s 2025 receiving yards leader, and Puka Nacua, who led the NFL in receptions and finished a close second in yardage. Both stars were officially named finalists for the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year award, cementing their status as the gold standard at the position. For Nacua, the game is a chance to continue a postseason run where he has been a nightmare matchup, while JSN looks to lead the top-seeded Seahawks to Super Bowl LX by exploiting a defense he has shredded for explosive plays already this season.
Before the matchup, let's take a look at both of their stellar receiving seasons.
MORE 2026 NFL PLAYOFF NEWS:
- 3 reasons why every team remaining will (and won't) win Super Bowl
- Inside the Patriots vs. Broncos AFC championship matchup
- Predicting the Super Bowl 60 matchup
- Breaking down Seahawks vs. Rams NFC championship matchup
Comparing Puka Nacua vs. Jaxon Smith-Nijgba stats
Both Smith-Njigba and Nacua have established themselves as the premier weapons in the NFC West, and their statistical neck-and-neck race throughout the 2025 season makes this NFC Championship matchup even more compelling.
Here is the statistical breakdown of their 2025 regular season performance and where it ranks among wide receivers:
| Category (Rank) | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Puka Nacua |
| Receiving Yards | 1,793 (1st) | 1,715 (2nd) |
| Receptions | 119 (3rd) | 129 (1st) |
| Receiving Touchdowns | 10 (4th) | 10 (4th) |
| Targets | 163 (4th) | 166 (3rd) |
| Yards Per Reception | 15.1 (9th) | 13.3 (32nd) |
| Explosive Plays (20+ Yards) | 27 (4th) | 27 (4th) |
| PFF Receiving Grade | 93.1 (2nd) | 96.2 (1st) |
MORE: Rams vs. Seahawks picks, predictions
Receiving yards
Smith-Njigba and Nacua were the top two in the NFL this season in receiving yards, placing first and second respectively. Between the two, there were 15 100+ yard games, with Smith-Njigba having nine to Nacua's six.
Nacua had the highest receiving yards total in a game this season when he racked up 225 yards against Smith Njigba's Seahawks in their Week 16 overtime thriller.
MORE: Seahawks' John Schneider receives award for stellar offseason amid deep playoff run
Receptions
Nacua finished the 2025 regular season as the NFL's reception leader with 129 catches (1st), while Jaxon Smith-Njigba followed closely behind with 119 grabs (4th).
Smith-Njigba was third among wide receivers, with Cardinals tight end Trey McBride finishing second overall.
MORE: How Seahawks landed Sam Darnold in free agency
Touchdowns
In the scoring department, both young stars were neck-and-neck, each finding the end zone 10 times to finish the year tied for the fourth-most receiving touchdowns in the league.
Though Nacua ranked top-five in the NFL in receiving scores, he didn't lead his team; that was Davante Adams, who led the entire NFL with 14 touchdowns.
MORE: Where is Jaxon Smith-Njigba from?