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Puka Nacua was left distraught on the Los Angeles Rams bench after a rare drop that would have put his team 10 points ahead at halftime in the Wild Card playoffs.
LA traveled to Carolina on Saturday night as one of the favorites to win this season's Super Bowl, and Nacua produced a lights-out start with a touchdown and 63 yards receiving in the first half.
It could have been so much more, though, and he knew it after a huge drop with just 16 seconds remaining in the first half.
On 3rd & 10, with the score at 17-14 Rams, quarterback Matthew Stafford once again targeted his star wide-out, launching the ball for a would-be touchdown if Nacua could haul it in.
Much to millions of fans' surprise, though, the ball bounced out of Nacua's hands and the Rams failed to find the touchdown that would have given them a 10-point halftime lead.
The team's star man headed straight back to the bench where he quickly put his head in his hands and kept his helmet on, needing to be consoled by his teammates.
Puka Nacua was on for an almost certain touchdown if he hauled in Matthew Stafford's pass
Nacua inexplicably saw the ball bounce off his hands and the Rams failed to score a touchdown
Head coach Sean McVay even stepped in to give Nacua some words of encouragement, as teammates came and spoke to him one-by-one.
In the second half, Nacua continued to struggle to reach his previous heights, dropping another catch as the Panthers reeled the Rams in.
By the end of the third quarter, he was 6/13 receiving for 63 yards - failing to add to his tally in the second half.
It has been a topsy-turvy year for the wide receiver, who has been incredible on the field but has suffered a series of off-field issues.
Nacua, usually so reliable, went back to the bench and was consoled by his teammates
Even head coach Sean McVay came over with some words of encouragement for his star man
On Sunday, he was voted into the NFL's All-Pro first team offense, and he has scored 10 touchdowns in a brilliant season.
Away from the NFL though, he was fined by the league for eviscerating the referees in a since-deleted tweet, and he was forced to apologize for performing an 'antisemitic' celebration on a livestream.
At the start of the fourth quarter, the Panthers scored a touchdown to give themselves a four-point lead - threatening a huge shock in the first game of the Wild Card round.
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