How Utah ties performed in Sunday’s NFL conference championship games

Puka Nacua had never been this close to reaching the Super Bowl.

That dream will have to wait another year for the star Los Angeles Rams wide receiver and his teammates, though.

The Rams lost to the Seattle Seahawks 31-27 in Sunday’s NFC championship game, ending the season for Nacua, the former BYU and Orem High standout who enjoyed his best year in his third season as a pro.

Though Los Angeles ultimately lost, Nacua gave his team a chance to complete a rally after it fell behind by double-digits twice in the second half.

One play after an unsportsmanlike conduct on Seattle extended a drive, Nacua made an incredible 34-yard touchdown catch with 2:06 remaining in the third quarter to cut the Seahawks lead to 31-27.

Just throw it up for Puka.

LARvsSEA on FOX/FOX One
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/xPlqQyznpl

— NFL (@NFL) January 26, 2026

The Rams, though, couldn’t complete the comeback, as they failed on fourth and goal in the fourth quarter and then had the clock run out on their final drive — a possession in which Los Angeles started with the ball at its own 7 and only 25 seconds on the clock with no timeouts.

Nacua ended the game with nine catches for 165 yards, including two receptions for 44 yards on that last-gasp possession.

That was the headline effort among Utah ties during conference championship Sunday.

Here’s how other Utah ties on active rosters performed in Sunday’s AFC and NFC championship games.

NFC championship: Seahawks 31, Rams 27

Seattle

• Rashid Shaheed, WR,RS, Weber State: Shaheed started at wide receiver and caught a 51-yard pass on Seattle’s first drive, leading to a Seahawks touchdown. He also had a 21-yard kickoff return and a carry for no yards.
• Connor O’Toole, LB, Utah: O’Toole had a special teams tackle.

Los Angeles

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU and Orem High: See above.

AFC championship: Patriots 10, Broncos 7

New England

• Christian Elliss, LB, Juan Diego High: Elliss started at linebacker and had a critical sack and forced fumble in the second quarter. The play set up New England’s only touchdown of the day, as the Patriots took over inside the Denver 15. Elliss also finished with four tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry.

Play is ruled a fumble and @Patriots ball

NEvsDEN on CBS/Paramount+
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/KIe2UPl47Q

— NFL (@NFL) January 25, 2026

• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU and Granger High: Tonga had three solo tackles and a tackle for loss, a 3-yard loss in the fourth quarter after Denver started a drive inside the New England 35.

Denver

• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah, Snow College and Westlake High: Bolles started at left tackle for the Broncos.
• Jonah Elliss, LB, Utah: Elliss had three tackles, including a tackle for loss, and a stop on special teams.
• Karene Reid, LB, Utah and Timpview High: Reid was inactive for Sunday’s game.