- Appointment viewing on Thanksgiving Day: George Pickens clashes with Trent McDuffie in the afternoon window, as long as the wideout is healthy.
- Danielle Hunter battles Bernhard Raimann: One of the league's best edge rushers should go toe-to-toe with a terrific pass-blocking tackle in Indianapolis.
- Get PFF+ for 40% off: Use promo code BLACKFRIDAY to unlock the PFF Player Prop Tool, Premium Stats, fantasy dashboards, the PFF Mock Draft Simulator, industry-leading fantasy rankings and much more — everything you need to win your season.
Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes
What made NFL Week 12 so exciting is true of every fresh slate of action: Watching individual player 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 George Pickens catching all three targets for 40 yards when aligned across from Quinyon Mitchell.
Below are 10 head-to-head collisions to circle as you determine which games to prioritize watching and/or following this weekend — with an extra helping of star-studded Thanksgiving action.
Cleveland Browns EDGE Myles Garrett vs. San Francisco 49ers T Trent Williams
Although much of the spotlight will be on the quarterback position in Cleveland on Sunday — from Shedeur Sanders making his second career start to Brock Purdy seeking to rebound — most of the focus should gravitate toward this unreal battle in the trenches.
Even though Garrett has now been arguably the NFL’s best defensive player for multiple consecutive years, it’s hard to adequately sing his praises in 2025. He’s first among qualified defenders in overall PFF grade (93.3), pass-rush grade (93.5), pass-rush win rate (27.9%) and PFF Wins Above Replacement (0.43).
Meanwhile, Williams is still one of the foremost tackles in the league. Since 2022, Williams ranks fifth among qualified tackles in PFF pass-blocking grade (89.4) and ties for eighth in pressure rate given up (4.5%).
Garrett has secured at least four pressures in seven of the Browns’ contests, while Williams has yielded four or more pressures only four times this season with three sacks credited to him. It doesn’t get much better than two future Hall of Famers going to war for 60 minutes.
Dallas Cowboys WR George Pickens vs. Kansas City Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie
The 2025 Thanksgiving slate is one of the more loaded plates in recent memory, with Chiefs-Cowboys a prove-it game for both sides. The showdown also features one of the NFL’s best receivers against an elite cornerback.
Pickens’ inaugural season in Dallas has exceeded even Jerry Jones’ wildest dreams. Among qualified wideouts, Pickens sits fourth in PFF receiving grade (90.4), fourth in yards per route run (2.60), sixth in contested catch rate (64.3%) and first in passer rating when targeted (139.4).
On the other side lurks McDuffie, who’s still an underrated star. His 77.4 overall PFF grade is the highest for cornerbacks to play 400 or more snaps this season, and his 76.4 PFF coverage grade slots fourth. McDuffie has yet to secure below a 74.0 overall PFF grade in each of his first four pro seasons.
Pickens dominated against the Eagles, catching all five targets for 92 yards against a top duo in Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. The Chiefs hope that McDuffie — who has given up only 249 yards in coverage this season — can prove to be more of a stopper. In Kansas City’s zone-heavy defense, Pickens could also see opportunities against Jaylen Watson, who’s another budding talent.
Houston Texans WR Nico Collins vs. Indianapolis Colts CB Sauce Gardner
The once down-and-out Texans are suddenly back in both the playoff and AFC South race after inching to 6-5. That sets up an anticipated duel between Houston and Indianapolis on Sunday, especially when the Texans have possession.
Collins has been overshadowed a bit this season by players like Pickens, but make no mistake: He’s still a phenomenal wideout. His 80.5 PFF receiving grade and 2.12 yards per route run are both 11th among qualifiers, which is even more impressive considering he’s played three games without C.J. Stroud.
It’s only a two-game sample size, but the Colts’ trade for Gardner looks like a sound one so far. The All-Pro has accumulated a 76.1 PFF coverage grade in speed blue, with only five of his 10 targets being completed for a meager 38 yards.
Gardner more than held his own against Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy in Week 12, letting up zero targets and two targets across 21 total matchups. He’ll look to repeat those efforts against even better competition in Collins.
Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE Nick Herbig vs. Buffalo Bills T Dion Dawkins
Both the Bills and Steelers look to get back in the win column after difficult defeats in Week 12. When Buffalo’s vaunted offense is on the field, key in on the left side of the offensive line.
Herbig may not have name recognition, but he’s undoubtedly one of the better pure pass-rushers in the NFL. His 85.9 PFF pass-rushing grade slots seventh among qualified edge rushers, and his 16.4% pass-rush win rate is 16th. On true pass sets, those numbers climb to a staggering 90.1 and 20.8%, respectively.
Dawkins is as steady as they come at left tackle, particularly as a pass blocker. His 84.4 PFF pass-blocking grade is 11th among qualified tackles over the last four years, although he has surrendered five sacks in 2025.
This matchup should be theater all game, but especially so on late downs. On third down, Dawkins holds a fabulous 75.7 pass-blocking mark, while Herbig has racked up 15 pressures.
Denver Broncos EDGE Nik Bonitto vs. Washington Commanders T Laremy Tunsil
Broncos-Commanders may not appear to be an outright compelling game on Sunday night, especially as a leftover to a heaping serving on Thursday. Still, Bonitto vs. Tunsil should live up to the hype.
Bonitto has developed into one of the better edge defenders in the NFL. In the last two years, his 81.0 PFF pass-rushing grade is 15th among qualifiers at the position, and his 112 pressures are 10th.
Tunsil has gone about his business despite a turbulent year in Washington. The former Texans standout paces qualified tackles in PFF pass-blocking grade (89.3), giving up only 13 pressures and one sack in 11 games.
Although Denver will occasionally deploy Bonitto all over the field, he’s played 65.1% of his defensive snaps in the defense’s left C gap or farther. That means that he and Tunsil should be acquainted with one another — a defining matchup in a game that, on the surface, doesn’t boast tons of appeal.
Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson vs. Seattle Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon
The slumping Vikings look to right the ship against an NFC powerhouse in the Seahawks in Week 12. While Minnesota’s languid offense might have a tall task against a great Seattle defense, the Vikings still have a superstar — who will probably encounter another great player.
J.J. McCarthy’s ineffectiveness has been well-documented, but the flip side of that — Justin Jefferson’s continued greatness — isn’t discussed enough. The fact that his 77.9 PFF receiving grade — which is 15th among qualified receivers — is a career low speaks volumes about his NFL career thus far.
Witherspoon has played only 380 snaps this season, but he’s made them count. His 83.4 overall PFF grade is the second-best among cornerbacks, including a 79.6 PFF coverage mark.
Since his return in Week 9, Witherspoon has played more snaps at outside corner (153) than in the slot (56). That trend very well may continue in an effort to stop one of the league’s best weapons.
Green Bay Packers EDGE Micah Parsons vs. Detroit Lions T Taylor Decker
The Thanksgiving slate gets underway when the Packers take on the Lions in Ford Field. If Detroit wants to split the season series against Green Bay, the team will need Decker to stand tall against one of the sport’s elite defensive players.
Parsons would likely be the Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner if not for Garrett. His 91.8 overall PFF grade is second among all defenders, as is his 92.9 PFF pass-rushing grade. Likewise, Parsons’ 0.24 WAR ranks fourth for that side of the ball.
Penei Sewell is the most decorated Lions tackle, but Decker shouldn’t be neglected, either. The veteran has churned out an 81.1 PFF pass-blocking grade since 2022, which is 16th among qualified tackles. In 2025, Decker has allowed just one sack and 16 pressures on 313 opportunities.
Decker only matched up against Parsons three times in his Packer debut but didn’t permit a pressure. Considering that the All-Pro edge rusher has played more snaps aligned in front of the left tackle than right, Parsons should likely see more of Decker than Sewell.
Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase vs. Baltimore Ravens CB Chidobe Awuzie
Although the Bengals are 3-8 with a 1% chance to reach the playoffs, Joe Burrow’s return from a turf toe injury is must-see TV. Cincinnati also gets Ja’Marr Chase back from a one-game suspension, where he’ll be greeted by one of the NFL’s better corners in 2025.
Chase is indisputably one of the NFL’s preeminent wideouts. He’s procured an 84.2 PFF receiving grade or better in all six of his seasons with the Bengals with at least 1.97 yards per route run. The fact that he’s seventh in receiving grade this year despite Burrow’s lengthy absence is a testament to his individual dominance.
Baltimore was in desperate need of corner help this offseason, and it received it in the form of Awuzie. The former Bengal has been terrific with a 78.6 PFF coverage grade — fourth among qualifiers — with a 24.2% forced incompletion rate, which is in the 96th percentile.
The Ravens have run the sixth-highest rate of man coverage this season. With Tee Higgins out due to a concussion, that should leave many tries between Chase and Awuzie to cap off a football cornucopia.
Houston Texans EDGE Danielle Hunter vs. Indianapolis Colts T Bernhard Raimann
Although the Texans’ offense against the Colts’ defense was already featured in this piece, the showstopper of this game is Indy’s prolific offense against Houston’s unbelievable defense. In particular, the Texans’ defensive line against the Colts’ offensive line will be defining.
Hunter has played like one of the best edge rushers in the NFL in his two seasons with the Texans. Indeed, since 2024, Hunter’s 89.6 PFF pass-rushing grade is ninth among qualified edge defenders, and his 131 total pressures generated are third.
On the flip side lies Raimann, who’s a phenomenal all-around tackle. In the last two years, Raimann is eighth in overall PFF grade (87.8) and 11th in PFF pass-blocking grade (84.3).
Hunter has produced no fewer than two pressures in a game this year, including a whopping 10 his last time out against the Bills. But Raimann has only given up more than three pressures in two games in 2025. Something has to give in his heavyweight fight.
Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt vs. Buffalo Bills T Spencer Brown
Speaking of the Bills’ offensive line, the unit will need to improve after relinquishing 19 pressures and six sacks against the Texans last Thursday. Dawkins was already discussed, but Spencer Brown also has a tall task against T.J. Watt.
Brown had gotten on a roll in the middle of the season, posting a 78.7 PFF pass-blocking grade from Weeks 6-11. In that span, the 27-year-old let up zero sacks and only five pressures. Then, things came to a crashing halt against Will Anderson Jr. and the Texans: Brown was responsible for seven pressures and two sacks alone in that one game.
Watt’s pass-rushing productivity has declined a bit this season, as evidenced by his 75.9 PFF pass-rushing grade and 12.0% pass-rush win rate. At the same time, he’s still collected 37 pressures with 11 quarterback hits and is one of the most chipped players in the league. Left on an island, the All-Pro can still very much wreck a game.
Watt also underwhelmed in Week 12, netting zero pressures in 22 pass-blocking matchups against Darnell Wright. That means that both Watt and Brown will aim to return to form in this showdown with playoff implications.
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