In 2021, Cooper Kupp had arguably the greatest season by a wide receiver in NFL history. The Los Angeles Rams star receiver finished with 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns, winning the receiving Triple Crown and being named AP Offensive Player of the Year. Kupp became just the fourth receiver in the Super Bowl era to achieve the Triple Crown, but there are now five players as Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase accomplished it this year.
Chase was absolutely outstanding for the Bengals this year as he finished the season 127 catches for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns, leading the NFL in all three categories. Chase joined Kupp, Jerry Rice, Sterling Sharpe and Steve Smith Sr. as the only players to win the Triple Crown.
Being the most recent to accomplish the feat before this year, Kupp would take to social media to congratulate Chase on an amazing season and said it was fun to watch:
The greats always recognize the other greats at their position and celebrate them and that is the case here for Kupp and Chase. The number of great receivers in the league today is astounding and almost every year there seems to be another one to jump to the top of the group, but very few are able to pull off a Triple Crown. Kupp did it and eventually led the Rams to the Super Bowl in 2021, but Chase won’t have that opportunity as the Bengals just missed out on the playoffs.
For Kupp, now the focus will be on the postseason as the Rams won the NFC West, but will have a tough task ahead of them in the Wild Card round. Thanks to their Week 18 loss against the Seattle Seahawks the Rams dropped to the 4-seed and will host the 14-3 Minnesota Vikings. The Rams will need Kupp at his best and perhaps seeing Chase match his accomplishment will inspire the receiver to flip the switch and dominate in the playoffs.
Rams coach Sean McVay believes Cooper Kupp has played well despite lack of targets
Unfortunately, Cooper Kupp has done the opposite of dominate over the past month. The receiver has only been targeted nine times over the past three games, totaling four catches for 53 yards in that span. But Rams coach Sean McVay still feels Kupp has played well over this time.
“I think he’s played well,” McVay said. “I think it really comes down to are we getting opportunities? The receiver position is unique because there are so many things that you’re relying on to be able to be a factor, protection… Does the coverage dictate me getting the football and am I getting the opportunity? With what he can control, I think he’s done a good job.”
