Puka Nacua takes accountability after major misplay against Vikings in NFL playoff game: "I knocked everybody off of their block"

During the second quarter of LA's wild card victory against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday, the Rams and Matthew Stafford looked to have given the Vikings some much-needed momentum.

As Stafford was being taken to the ground by Jonathan Greenard, he threw a no-look shovel pass intended for Puka Nacua, who was near him. However, Minnesota linebacker Blake Cashman picked the ball and returned it 26 yards for a scoop-and-score.

After further review, the officials ruled it as an incomplete pass but that didn't stop the Rams wide receiver from taking the blame for the almost-costly turnover.

During Wednesday's episode of "The Pat McAfee Show," Nacua explained that he bumped into his linemen, knocking them all off their assignments and causing Stafford to get pressured quickly.

"I was supposed to go to the backside and block and I knocked every single one of our lineman off their block," Nacua said. "Then Matthew's just gonna toss the ball out to the side and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, how can you see me?'"

Trailing the Rams 10-3, the Vikings would have tied the game if the play was not overturned. The Rams went on to score two second quarter touchdowns for a 24-3 lead at halftime. They ultimately won 27-9.

Matthew Stafford admitted he attempted a shovel-pass to Puka Nacua

Matthew Stafford, left, Puka Nacua, right, during Los Angeles Rams v New York Giants - Source: Getty

After the LA Rams-Minnesota Vikings wild-card game, Matthew Stafford pleaded his case of seeing Puka Nacua in the vicinity.

Stafford said that when his head was going down, he saw Nacua's cleats, prompting him to throw the ball in its direction.

“I was gonna be hurt in a bad way if they tried to say that wasn’t a shovel pass," Stafford said in the postgame presser. "I mean, that’s exactly what I was trying to do, and trying to plead my case. I’m glad that they looked at it and understood that’s what I was doing. I could see his cleats looking down and just dumped it at his cleats."

Following the Rams' wild card round win, they will face the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. EST.

Philadelphia is a 6.5-point home favorite. The two teams met on Nov. 24 with the Eagles winning 37-20.