- The Steelers‘ defensive line battles the Bears‘ offensive line: T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward look to maintain their disruptiveness against Darnell Wright and Joe Thuney.
- Two impressive receivers against good corners in Kansas City: Rashee Rice takes on Sauce Gardner, while Alec Pierce goes toe-to-toe with Trent McDuffie.
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Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes
What made NFL Week 11 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 11’s top individual wars swayed the arrow of victory in their team’s direction. Consider Cooper DeJean limiting Amon-Ra St. Brown to zero catches on eight matchups.
Below are 10 head-to-head collisions to circle as you determine which games to prioritize watching and/or following this weekend.
Los Angeles Rams EDGE Jared Verse vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers T Tristan Wirfs
Buccaneers-Rams is an enticing showdown for many reasons, placing two NFC division leaders against one another. When the Rams’ elite offense has the ball, stay posted to the left side of the offensive line.
Verse has undeniably been one of the NFL’s best defensive players since his debut. In the last two seasons, he ranks seventh in overall PFF grade (90.2), first in total pressures generated (138), 10th in PFF pass-rush grade (86.7) and seventh in pass-rush win rate (18.9%).
At left tackle lurks Wirfs, who’s also one of the league’s best all-around players. He’s secured an 82.5 overall PFF grade or better in each of his first six seasons. While he’s outstanding in all realms, Wirfs is especially good as a pass protector, allowing only 29 pressures and one sack over the last two years.
Verse had another high-level battle with Charles Cross last week, which included three pressures on 25 pass-blocking matchups. It doesn’t get much better than Verse against Wirfs at any positional level.
Dallas Cowboys WR George Pickens vs. Philadelphia Eagles CB Quinyon Mitchell
The Eagles’ defense against the Cowboys’ offense is one of the better unit wars in Week 11. More specifically, key in on this receiver-cornerback showdown.
Pickens’ first season in Dallas has found a way to elevate a budding talent. This year, he leads all qualified receivers in passer rating when targeted (133.8) while also placing fourth in PFF receiving grade (88.8) and yards per route run (2.44).
Meanwhile, Mitchell has built off his tremendous rookie campaign. His 71.7 PFF coverage grade ranks 11th among qualified cornerbacks, with his 43.3% reception rate the second-best. Indeed, Mitchell hasn’t surrendered more than 86 yards in a game as an Eagle so far.
When these two rivals squared off in Week 1, Mitchell got the upper hand on Pickens. The cornerback gave up only two catches for 15 yards across 17 matchups with the former Steeler, although Pickens was charted as open on six of those tries.
Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt vs. Chicago Bears T Darnell Wright
Steelers-Bears is a unique matchup between two division leaders and playoff hopefuls. The game will almost certainly come down to whether the Bears’ upstart offensive line can hold up against the Steelers’ dominant defensive line, starting with Watt vs. Wright on the outside.
Watt has been overshadowed a bit by other edge defenders this season, but he’s still a terrific player. His 77.8 PFF pass-rush grade is 18th among qualifiers at the position, including a 12.9% pass-rush win rate. The four-time All-Pro has also added a 73.3 PFF run-defense grade.
Wright has played like one of the breakout stars of the year, emerging as one of the better tackles in the league. His 77.4 overall PFF grade is tied for 14th among qualified tackles, and his 3% pressure rate is the third-lowest among tackles with 200 or more pass-blocking snaps.
Given that Watt and Wright are both top-notch talents in both the pass and run game, this battle will be thoroughly entertaining for 60 minutes on Sunday.
New York Giants EDGE Brian Burns vs. Detroit Lions T Penei Sewell
The Lions look to get back on track against the depleted Giants in Week 12. Although much of the game seems lopsided on paper, the Giants’ defensive line — led by Burns — against Sewell and the Lions’ offensive line should be compelling.
Among qualified edge rushers this season, Burns ranks 19th in overall PFF grade (77.4), 20th in PFF pass-rush grade (75.9) and tied for 17th in pressures (37). Moreover, Burns’ 98 pressures over the last two seasons are 16th at the position.
With a 94.9 mark, Sewell is still the highest-graded player in the NFL, regardless of position. While he’s slightly better on the ground, he’s still strong in pass pro with a 75.7 PFF pass-blocking grade and only 11 pressures given up.
After recording only a 63.1 overall grade against the Eagles in Week 11 — his second-worst since the start of 2024 — Sewell seeks to rebound against another premier NFC East talent.
Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins vs. New England Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez
The 9-2 Patriots look to extend their win streak against the sinking Bengals on Sunday. As Cincy awaits further clarity on Joe Burrow’s potential return, it will need Higgins to win against one of the league’s stingiest corners.
After inking a four-year, $115 million contract this offseason, Higgins has had a quieter season by counting stats with only 544 receiving yards. Still, the underlying numbers reflect his efficiency, highlighted by a 76.9 PFF receiving grade and a 113.0 passer rating when targeted.
Since he made his debut in 2023, Gonzalez has taken the league by storm. In that window, his 85.9 PFF coverage grade is 10th among qualified corners, and his 66.4 passer rating when tried is the third-best.
With Ja’Marr Chase suspended for his incidents last Sunday, Higgins will be tasked with shouldering the Bengals’ passing attack. That should mean heavy doses of Gonzalez in a showdown between two phenomenal players.
Pittsburgh Steelers Dl Cameron Heyward vs. Chicago Bears G Joe Thuney
As it turns out, the trench warfare between the Steelers and Bears will also occur on the inside when these two veteran greats square off.
Since the start of 2024, Heyward has defied Father Time, playing as one of the better defensive players in the league. His 91.2 overall PFF grade is the eighth-best among defenders with 500 or more snaps in the last two seasons. Heyward’s well-rounded greatness is exemplified by a 90.0 PFF pass-rushing grade and an 83.2 PFF run-defense mark.
The Bears executed a surprise acquisition for Thuney this offseason in an effort to remodel their offensive line, and it sure looks like a shrewd move by general manager Ryan Poles. Thuney has been one of the NFL’s most valuable non-quarterbacks in 2025, surrendering a microscopic eight pressures at left guard.
Will Heyward remain stout and get pressure against Thuney, or will the latter keep Caleb Williams protected? Likewise, who will prevail on the ground, where Thuney holds only a 63.0 PFF run-blocking mark? This interior defender-guard matchup is a tremendous one.
Jacksonville Jaguars EDGE Josh Hines-Allen vs. Arizona Cardinals T Paris Johnson Jr.
Now 6-4, the Jaguars seek to establish consistency in the win column against the slumping Cardinals. In what might be an otherwise unsuspecting contest, this battle will feature two underrated yet great players.
Hines-Allen has maintained his superb performance, securing a 78.5 overall PFF grade or better in his fifth straight campaign. More specifically, his 49 pressures are tied for the sixth-most among qualified edge defenders, and his 78.5 PFF pass-rushing mark slots 17th among that contingent.
Johnson has quietly rounded into one of the premier all-around tackles in football. Since the start of the 2024 season, the Ohio State product ranks 12th in overall PFF grade (84.4) among tackles to play 1,000 or more snaps, with top-13 grades in both pass protection and run-blocking.
Considering that 308 of Hines-Allen’s 496 snaps (62.1%) have come aligned in front of the left tackle, that means he and Johnson should be engaged for nearly the entire game.
Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice vs. Indianapolis Colts CB Sauce Gardner
The 8-2 Colts face another litmus test when they venture to Arrowhead Stadium to encounter the 5-5 Chiefs, who are now suddenly fighting for their playoff lives. Kansas City’s offense will look to bounce back against a revamped Indianapolis defense, which includes this matchup out wide.
Since returning from suspension in Week 7, Rice has proven to be a solid addition to Patrick Mahomes’ arsenal. In that span, he’s produced a 73.9 PFF receiving grade with 2.13 yards per route run and 14 first downs gained. Rice also places in the 67th percentile in separation rate, although drops have been a qualm with a 10.3% rate.
Gardner’s Week 10 debut with the Colts went solidly. Playing in Berlin on short notice — and opposing star Drake London for much of the day — Gardner produced a 64.9 PFF coverage grade, including permitting only two catches for 29 yards to London.
In 2025, Rice has been deployed out wide on 54.9% of his snaps, which is a career-high figure. As the Chiefs’ top receiver, expect Gardner to shadow him for much of the afternoon. After all, Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo wasn’t afraid to play him in the slot in Week 10, as Gardner witnessed a season-high nine snaps inside.
Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson vs. Green Bay Packers CB Carrington Valentine
The 4-6 Vikings hope to get back in the contested NFC North race when they travel to face the Packers for the first time this season. When Minnesota’s beleaguered offense has the ball, this is a primetime matchup.
Jefferson’s frustration with J.J. McCarthy’s poor play has been documented over the last few weeks, but he’s still playing like a top-tier wideout. His 77.3 PFF receiving grade is 16th among qualifiers, and his 2.06 yards per route run are tied for 13th. The four-time Pro Bowler has also tacked on 5.3 yards after the catch per reception in 2025, which is a career high so far.
Green Bay’s defense has yet again been effective this year, slotting sixth in success rate. While the trade for Micah Parsons has been a primary catalyst, Valentine has also shored up the team’s cornerback room. Indeed, Valentine’s 78.9 PFF coverage grade is the third-best among qualified corners, having permitted only 192 yards in coverage this year.
Jefferson has yet to reach the 100-yard threshold since Week 5, which seems more the fault of his quarterback’s accuracy. Can he finally return to that number against one of the NFL’s toughest cover corners this year?
Indianapolis Colts WR Alec Pierce vs. Kansas City Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie
While the Chiefs’ offense against the Colts’ defense will be worthwhile, the Colts’ offense — which is the NFL’s best by most measures — versus the Chiefs’ stingy defense will be the main attraction from Arrowhead. In particular, this could be a heavyweight fight along the perimeter.
While Jonathan Taylor and Tyler Warren have garnered the most praise among Colts skill-position players, Pierce has operated as the team’s WR1 in 2025. His 79.9 PFF receiving grade is not only a career and team high, but also 14th among receivers with 50 or more targets. Once regarded as almost exclusively a deep threat, Pierce has maintained that aspect of his game (20.4-yard average depth of target) while implementing more route-running nuance.
McDuffie may not be the outright best cornerback in pro football, but he’s unquestionably in the top five. His 76.0 overall PFF grade is the third-highest this season, featuring 74.9-plus grades in both run defense and coverage. Similarly, over the last two seasons, his 0.89 Wins Above Replacement are the most at the position.
McDuffie played an outstanding game in Denver in Week 11, limiting Courtland Sutton to zero open targets across 10 matchups. The Chiefs will need him to also clamp Pierce if they want to move to above .500.
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