- Nico Collins duels with Trent McDuffie on Sunday night: One of the league's best wideouts puts his skills to the test against an elite cover corner in a must-win game.
- Lots to watch in Colts–Jaguars: Josh Hines-Allen vs. Bernhard Raimann and Jakobi Meyers vs. Charvarius Ward are two matchups that could decide the AFC South.
- Get PFF+ for 30% off: Use promo code HOLIDAY30 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 13 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 13’s top individual wars swayed the arrow of victory in their team’s direction. Consider Devon Witherspoon holding Justin Jefferson to zero catches on 11 matchups.
Below are 10 head-to-head collisions to circle as you determine which games to prioritize watching and/or following this weekend.
Houston Texans WR Nico Collins vs. Kansas City Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie
Although three games in the Week 14 slate will decide current division leaders, maybe no showdown is bigger than Texans-Chiefs in primetime. As both perennial playoff teams look to stay alive, two greats will clash on the outside.
Collins hasn’t been quite as elite as he was in 2023-24, but he’s still turning in a fantastic season. His 82.4 PFF receiving grade and 2.21 yards per route run are ninth among qualified wideouts. Moreover, Collins has dropped just one of his 92 targets.
McDuffie has remained in the upper crust of cornerbacks this season. His 76.7 overall PFF grade and 76.1 PFF coverage grade are both in the top six among qualifiers at the position.
In rare fashion, McDuffie struggled in Dallas on Thanksgiving, surrendering 47 yards into his coverage — including three catches permitted to CeeDee Lamb and three penalties committed. The stalwart will have his hands full yet again in the big-bodied Collins.
Pittsburgh Steelers Dl Cameron Heyward vs. Baltimore Ravens C Tyler Linderbaum
Although the Steelers and Ravens each sport a 6-6 record, few rivalries in the NFL are more intense — especially when both are tied in first place of the AFC North. When Baltimore is on offense, pay close attention to the interior of the line of scrimmage.
While Pittsburgh’s entire defense fell flat against the Bills, Heyward was a lone bright spot — as has been true for most of the season. Indeed, the 36-year-old has registered a 90.1 overall PFF grade for the second consecutive season. On top of that, his 0.20 Wins Above Replacement are the second-most at his position.
Baltimore’s offensive line ranks 13th in overall PFF grade, but Linderbaum has been a consistent superstar. His 76.4 overall PFF grade is the seventh-highest among qualified centers, powered by an 80.3 PFF run-blocking mark. More specifically, Linderbaum has reached a 74.6 overall grade in all of his first four pro seasons.
Last year, Heyward and Linderbaum met in three games, with the two matching up 42 total times. Across 29 pass-blocking duels, Heyward was held to only two pressures and zero sacks. If Linderbaum can keep Lamar Jackson protected from the vet yet again, the Ravens should have a path to winning another division title.
Green Bay Packers WR Christian Watson vs. Chicago Bears CB Jaylon Johnson
Bears-Packers should offer lots of clarity about both teams, with each owning at least a 76% chance to reach the postseason. While Ben Johnson’s offense against Jeff Hafley’s defense will be the foremost chess match, don’t discount Watson vs. Johnson either.
In typical seasonal fashion, Jordan Love has turned things up a notch in the last few weeks — but Watson’s return has also been instrumental. Over the last three games, Watson sports a 90.0 PFF receiving grade with 2.40 yards per route run and a 124.1 passer rating when targeted.
Chicago’s elite running game stole the show on Black Friday, overshadowing the return of Johnson at cornerback. Over the last three campaigns, Johnson’s 88.7 overall PFF grade is the third-best among qualifiers, and his 90.9 PFF coverage grade is second.
While this battle will be fantastic in every department, it’ll be especially entertaining down the field. In 2025, Watson owns a 98.3 PFF receiving grade on deep (20-plus-yard) attempts, while Johnson’s 73.3 deep PFF coverage grade is fifth among qualifiers since 2023.
Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice vs. Houston Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr.
Texans-Chiefs is such a big game that Collins vs. McDuffie isn’t the only terrific receiver-corner matchup to monitor on Sunday night.
Since returning from suspension in Week 7, Rice has been one of the more effective wideouts in football. His 81.4 PFF receiving grade ranks 13th among receivers with 30 or more targets in that span, and his 116.9 passer rating when targeted is tied for seventh.
Stingley’s PFF coverage grade has dipped a bit this year, but he’s still among the league’s stingiest cornerbacks. His 66.3 passer rating when targeted sits sixth among qualified corners, and his 15.0 snaps per reception are tied for 12th.
If the Texans stick to their dominant zone approach, that’s another fascinating wrinkle in this battle. Rice owns an 83.4 PFF receiving grade against zone compared to a 62.3 mark against man, while Stingley’s PFF coverage grade is 76.1 in zone vs. 44.4 in man.
Los Angeles Chargers WR Ladd McConkey vs. Philadelphia Eagles CB Cooper DeJean
It may not hold the gravity of some other showdowns in Week 14, but Eagles-Chargers is quietly a critical game for both playoff contenders. When Los Angeles’ offense matches up against Philadelphia’s defense, key in on the slot.
Since his debut in 2024, McConkey has solidified himself as one of the better slot receivers in football. Over the last two years, his 1,213 yards from the slot are the second-most, and his 75.1 PFF receiving grade ranks 13th among qualified wideouts.
Meanwhile, there aren’t many better cornerbacks — let alone in the slot — than DeJean. Since his rookie season, DeJean ties for fourth in PFF WAR at the position and is third in overall PFF grade (84.5).
It’s not often that two sophomore stars line up against one another, especially two who should see each other as much in a single game of this import.
Seattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. Atlanta Falcons CB A.J. Terrell
On paper, Seahawks-Falcons feels like a game in which Seattle will continue to look like a juggernaut against a diminished Atlanta squad. Still, there’s a great battle to be found beneath the layers.
Through 13 weeks, Smith-Njigba looks like the 2025 Offensive Player of the Year. His 93.5 overall and 93.7 PFF receiving grades both lead skill-position players. On top of that, his 4.11 yards per route run would be the highest in a single season in PFF history.
Terrell boasts only a 62.6 PFF coverage grade, both other advanced numbers demonstrate his aptitude in coverage in 2025. The Falcons stud has surrendered the fifth-fewest yards (195) among corners to play 264 or more snaps, and his 23% forced incompletion rate is also the fifth-highest.
Smith-Njigba produced his quietest game of the year against the Vikings in Week 13, recording only two catches for 23 yards on a 61.8 PFF receiving grade. Slowing him down in two straight weeks seems like a near-impossible task, but perhaps one fit for Terrell.
Jacksonville Jaguars EDGE Josh Hines-Allen vs. Indianapolis Colts T Bernhard Raimann
After it seemed as though the Colts would run away with the AFC South, the division is now in a three-horse race going into Week 14. Much of what could help sway the title’s odds is who prevails between Hines-Allen and Raimann.
Hines-Allen, as usual, has been great all year with an 81.1 PFF pass-rushing grade and 67 pressures. However, he’s been especially prolific of late. Since Week 7, Hines-Allen’s 41 pressures are the most among edge defenders, and his 20.6% pass-rush win rate is fourth.
Raimann is in the midst of another very solid year. The former third-round pick boasts a 77.3-plus PFF grade as both a pass- and run-blocker. At the same time, his seven sacks are tied for the fourth-most allowed by a tackle — though he’s yielded just 22 pressures.
The road for Raimann won’t get much easier after permitting two pressures on a combined 13 pass-rushing matchups against Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter last week. If Indianapolis wants to keep its division hopes alive, it will probably need its left tackle to perform better.
Los Angeles Rams EDGE Jared Verse vs. Arizona Cardinals T Paris Johnson Jr.
The powerhouse Rams look to right the ship against the much-maligned Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. Although Los Angeles holds an apparent edge in most facets, generating pressure may be more of a challenge — at least along the left side.
Verse has enjoyed a strong sophomore season, earning a 79.1 PFF pass-rushing grade with a 17.2% pass-rush win rate — both of which are top-12 marks among qualified edge defenders. Yet Verse hasn’t been quite as prolific of late, with his pass-rush grade falling to 58.5 since Week 7. In that span, he’s still generated 26 pressures, though.
Although not much has gone right for Arizona in 2025, Johnson continues to look like an anchor at left tackle. Since 2024, Johnson’s 81.2 PFF pass-blocking grade is the 16th-highest among qualified tackles, and his 5.5% pressure rate allowed is 27th.
Across two divisional games last year, Verse and Johnson only aligned on 10 pass-rushing matchups — in which Johnson held Verse to only one pressure, yet a 30% loss rate. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year will certainly be looking to cause more havoc against a worthy opponent.
Jacksonville Jaguars WR Jakobi Meyers vs. Indianapolis Colts CB Charvarius Ward
Hines-Allen vs. Raimann may pit two of the better players at their positions against one another, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only individual battle to watch in EverBank Stadium.
Meyers has contributed virtually everything the Jaguars could have hoped since acquiring him prior to the trade deadline. In four games with Jacksonville, the veteran owns an 83.3 PFF receiving grade with 2.50 yards per route run. Crucially, he’s dropped zero of his 21 targets, which was a longstanding plague for Trevor Lawrence.
The Colts’ trade for Sauce Gardner put Ward in the back seat, but he’s had a phenomenal first season in Indianapolis. The former Pro Bowler has rebounded with a 71.8 PFF coverage grade and a 16% forced incompletion rate, although he’s only played 397 total snaps.
Since Gardner landed in Indy, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has deployed man coverage at the second-highest rate. It remains to be seen if Anarumo will sustain that with Gardner presumably out against Jacksonville — but if it sticks, that means Meyers and Ward should tangle often on Sunday.
Minnesota Vikings EDGE Jonathan Greenard vs. Washington Commanders T Laremy Tunsil
Both the Commanders and Vikings have regressed in 2025, due mostly to inferior play under center. Even with minimal stakes in this showdown, we should still be treated to a strong showdown in the trenches.
Since joining the Vikings, Greenard has been a seamless fit. Over the last two seasons, his 81.1 PFF pass-rushing grade is the 12th-best among edge defenders, and his 16.1% pressure rate is ninth among those with at least 100 pass-rushing snaps.
Tunsil’s play is a huge reason why Washington’s offense has stayed viable despite Jayden Daniels being sidelined for chunks of 2025. The former Texan has been elite in his new abode, ranking second among qualified tackles with an 87.8 PFF pass-blocking grade.
Not only should this be a fun duel between two veterans near the top of their game, but it also realizes a matchup that (likely) occurred regularly on the practice field. After all, the two played in Houston together for four campaigns.
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