- A long list of stars duel on Sunday night: Amon-Ra St. Brown and Aidan Hutchinson should line up regularly against Cooper DeJean and Lane Johnson, respectively.
- Can Devon Witherspoon limit Puka Nacua?: The Seahawks cornerback should align outside to match the league's highest-graded receiver this season.
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Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes
What made NFL Week 10 so exciting is true of every fresh slate of action: Watching individual star matchups. The ability to analyze some of the NFL’s brightest and most burgeoning stars clash with one another nearly every snap shouldn’t be taken for granted.
Indeed, while one play can alter an entire game flow, the victor of Week 10’s top individual wars swayed the arrow of victory in their team’s direction. Consider Joe Thuney permitting only one pressure to Dexter Lawrence in the Bears’ victory.
Below are 10 head-to-head collisions to circle as you determine which games to prioritize watching and/or following this weekend.
Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. Philadelphia Eagles CB Cooper DeJean
Lions-Eagles profiles as one of the best games of the season. After all, the Eagles owe it to us to have one of these heavyweight tilts actually live up to the hype. Talent will dot the field all over on Sunday night, but this war in the slot is as elite as it gets.
St. Brown has remained lethal in 2025, ranking fifth among qualified receivers with an 86.6 PFF receiving grade, tying for third in yards per route run (2.49) and placing fifth in Wins Above Replacement. Over the last three seasons, the Lions stud is third in receiving mark (92.6) among wideouts with 100 or more targets.
Similarly, very few cornerbacks have been as tremendous as DeJean since his NFL debut. Over the last two seasons, DeJean ranks second in overall PFF grade (86.7) and fifth in coverage grade (85.3) among qualified corners.
Considering that 52.2% of St. Brown’s receiving snaps have come in the slot, and that DeJean has played 65.7% of his snaps from that alignment, these two stars should tangle frequently. How much Jared Goff will throw at DeJean is compelling, as he leads qualified slot cornerbacks in snaps per target (8.8) and reception (12.1).
Los Angeles Rams EDGE Jared Verse vs. Seattle Seahawks T Charles Cross
Seahawks-Rams is the dandy that’s dangled over the NFL horizon for weeks, pitting two NFC West powerhouses against one another. In a matchup between two teams with similar constructions, starting in the trenches is a fair baseline.
Verse has remained a monster off the edge for Los Angeles’ elite defense. His 86.2 overall PFF grade is eighth among qualified edge defenders this season, and his 42 pressures sit ninth. Altogether, Verse is sixth in PFF WAR at the position since the start of last season, a feat rendered even more impressive considering the saturation of talent at edge rusher.
Cross has also been an anchor for Seattle’s lights-out offense. His 82.8 PFF pass-blocking grade is fifth among qualified tackles, having surrendered only one sack on 245 opportunities this season. Cross’ pass protection has undoubtedly contributed to Sam Darnold playing at an MVP level.
Verse was contained by another dynamic NFC West tackle last week in Trent Williams, not scoring a single pressure on 15 pass-blocking matchups. He’ll hope to fare better in this gargantuan matchup.
Detroit Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson vs. Philadelphia Eagles T Lane Johnson
It’s hard to write too much about Lions-Eagles after all. This matchup on the edge is another extremely compelling one.
Hutchinson has simply been one of the better defensive players in football in 2025. Among qualified edge rushers, he ranks third in overall PFF grade (91.2), second in PFF pass-rushing grade (92.3) and third in pass-rush win rate (24.3%).
Johnson played at his usual All-Pro caliber, too. This season, he places sixth among qualified tackles in PFF pass-blocking grade with an 81.3 mark. Since the start of 2024, his miniscule 2.7% pressure rate permitted is the best figure among tackles with 100 or more snaps.
The Lions have a tendency to rotate Hutchinson between sides, which means he should duel with both Johnson and Mailata on Sunday. Still, he’s played more snaps aligned near the right tackle (49.1%) than the left (37.4%). That sets the stage for a clash between two of football’s best on the line of scrimmage.
Buffalo Bills EDGE Joey Bosa vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers T Tristan Wirfs
Buccaneers-Bills can easily get lost in the shuffle during a paramount Week 11 slate, with each side seeking to rebound from disappointing results last week. Much of the microscope will be on Tampa Bay’s offense against Buffalo’s defense, with the intensity squarely on Bosa vs. Wirfs.
Bosa’s first campaign in Buffalo has been everything the team could have desired. He’s produced 35 pressures on a team-high 18.3% pass-rush win rate and a 91.1 PFF pass-rushing grade, his highest since the 2017 season.
Meanwhile, Wirfs has yet again played one of the best tackles in the NFL. In 2025, his 81.3 overall PFF grade is ninth among tackles to play 338 or more snaps. Likewise, over the past two seasons, Wirfs is third among those at his position in pressure rate allowed (3.1%), giving up only one sack in the process.
After scoring a season-high nine pressures against the Chiefs in Week 9, Bosa was shut out vs. Miami last Sunday. The veteran will look to bounce back against one of the league’s preeminent tackles.
Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua vs. Seattle Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon
Included in the myriad of reasons that Seahawks-Rams is a phenomenal matchup is that the two highest-graded wideouts — Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba — will both be on display, posing headaches for the other stout defense. Seattle hopes to slow down the Rams star with its own top cornerback.
Point blank, Nacua has been one of the NFL’s best offensive players over the last two years. His 94.3 overall PFF grade is third behind Jordan Mailata and Penei Sewell in that span, and his 1.03 WAR in that range ties for third among receivers.
Witherspoon has been hampered by injury a bit this year, but he’s been lockdown when on the field. Across four games, the former fifth overall pick has procured an 80.2 overall PFF grade with a 74.6 PFF coverage mark.
Witherspoon had primarily been Seattle’s slot cornerback, but the addition of Nick Emmanwori has seen him assume a role on the perimeter. That dovetails well with Nacua’s 60.3% wide splits this season. Can Witherspoon do what few have over the last two campaigns — actually neutralize Nacua?
Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton vs. Kansas City Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie
The Broncos are 8-2 and atop the AFC West, but their Sunday showdown against the Chiefs will be a litmus test for a number of reasons. One of the most key is Denver’s offense attempting to actually look the part, where this clash will loom large.
Although Bo Nix hasn’t been a world-beater in his second pro campaign, Sutton has still played like a reliable WR1. His 28 first downs are 15th among qualified wideouts, and his 73.5 PFF receiving grade slots 23rd.
The list of cornerbacks better than McDuffie narrows by the season. This year, his 76.6 overall PFF grade is second, posting a 75.2-plus grade in both run defense and coverage. More specifically, his 0.85 WAR since 2024 trails only Pat Surtain II.
The last time these division rivals squared off, Sutton got the best of McDuffie. The veteran was charted as open on 60% of his matchups, catching five of eight targets for 67 yards and a touchdown. The Broncos may need their veteran receiver to muster the same heroics if they want to sustain their winning streak.
New York Giants EDGE Brian Burns vs. Green Bay Packers T Zach Tom
Packers-Giants probably doesn’t hold the same gravity as many other contests in Week 11, yet it’s still a fascinating game. As Green Bay’s maligned offense looks to right the course, the Giants’ ferocious defensive line lurks on the other side.
As has been commonplace, Burns has played like a well-above-average edge defender this season. His 76.9 PFF pass-rushing grade is 17th among qualifiers, although his 9.1% pass-rush win rate is in the 27th percentile.
Tom was sidelined with a back injury, but he’s been a steadying presence when on the field. His 81.4 overall PFF grade is eighth among tackles to play 340 or more snaps, producing a 75.1 grade in both pass- and run-blocking.
The Giants’ edge rotation is deep with Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Tom will bear witness to all three. Yet with Burns leading the team in snaps facing the left tackle (210), that means that two underrated standouts will spar on Sunday.
Pittsburgh Steelers WR D.K. Metcalf vs. Cincinnati Bengals CB D.J. Turner
The hot-and-cold Steelers seek to even things out after falling flat on Sunday night, while the Bengals look to preserve their slim playoff odds by besting Pittsburgh yet again. The second round of this matchup will be appointment viewing.
Pittsburgh’s passing game has been a bit unique with Aaron Rodgers, but Metcalf hasn’t entirely suffered. In his first year in the Steel City, Metcalf slots 28th in PFF receiving grade (72.1) among receivers with 50 or more targets, leading that bunch in yards after the catch per reception (9.0). At the same time, Metcalf’s 8.6% drop rate is the 10th-highest.
Even on a beleaguered Cincinnati defense, Turner has played like one of the better cover corners in the NFL. His 78.1 PFF coverage grade is second among qualifiers, and his 18.3 snaps per reception ranks sixth in that contingent.
Although Pittsburgh’s offense erupted in Week 7 against the Bengals, Turner quieted Metcalf. In that Thursday night game, Metcalf was charted as open on only one of their 14 head-to-head duels. Turner will have to be just as elite if Cincinnati’s defense wants to hang on without Trey Hendrickson.
Carolina Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan vs. Atlanta Falcons WR A.J. Terrell
Although the Buccaneers enter Week 11 with an 89% chance to claim the NFC South yet again, the Panthers and Falcons are still candidates to reach the postseason. Whether Carolina keeps making noise or Atlanta finally gets off the schneid could come down to this matchup.
Even though the Panthers’ run game has been prominent, McMillan has played close to expectations in his rookie season. The Arizona product is 14th among qualified wideouts with a 78.9 PFF receiving grade and 17th with 1.89 yards per route run.
The holdover on an improved defense, Terrell has been sound for Atlanta. His 57.3 PFF coverage grade may not look incredible — it ranks in the 51st percentile — but he’s surrendered a league-low 107 yards in coverage this season while contributing with a 20% forced incompletion rate.
Carolina has taken the last two matchups against Atlanta, including a 30-0 drubbing in Week 3. In that game, Terrell was inactive, with McMillan garnering six targets against Dee Alford and Mike Hughes. The Falcons hope that their No. 1 cornerback can mitigate the promising newcomer in a must-win affair.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Emeka Egbuka vs. Buffalo Bills CB Maxwell Hairston
Any time two first-round rookies can line up, it’s a matchup to savor. That’s particularly true in light of how good both Egbuka and Hairston have been.
Egbuka has been a buoy for Tampa Bay’s injured receiving corps right away, placing 24th among qualifiers with a 73.6 PFF receiving grade alongside 26 first downs. At the same time, the Ohio State product hasn’t been quite as good of late, playing to a 65.6 receiving grade in Weeks 6-10 compared to a 75.8 mark in Weeks 1-5.
Since his activation in Week 8, Hairston has offered a considerable boost to Buffalo’s vulnerable defense. In the last three weeks, his 75.3 PFF coverage grade is 10th among cornerbacks with 100 or more snaps, surrendering just four catches.
Egbuka fared solidly in a dogfight with Christian Gonzalez last week, catching two of eight targets for 35 yards and two first downs. The receiver may not net as many 1-on-1 tries considering Buffalo’s more balanced coverage tendencies, but he should still duel with Hairston plenty.
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