- The Colts‘ offensive line battles the Steelers‘ defensive line: Cameron Heyward and Alex Highsmith look to get Pittsburgh back on track against Quenton Nelson and Bernhard Raimann.
- Brian Burns takes on Trent Williams: One of the NFL's best edge rushers in the last few years squares off against the Hall-of-Fame tackle in Week 9.
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Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes
What made NFL Week 8 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 8’s top individual wars swayed the arrow of victory in their team’s direction. Consider Danielle Hunter’s two pressures and a sack against Trent Williams.
Below are 10 head-to-head collisions to circle as you determine which games to prioritize watching and/or following this weekend.
Pittsburgh Steelers Dl Cameron Heyward vs. Indianapolis Colts G Quenton Nelson
Colts-Steelers is a significant game in the AFC playoff race, pitting two division leaders against one another. As Pittsburgh’s defense looks to right the ship, it’ll need one of its stars to beat arguably the game’s best guard.
Heyward has assembled another ho-hum elite year, this time at age 36. His 90.2 overall PFF grade is the third-best among all defensive players to play 350 or more snaps, trailing only Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett. Likewise, Heyward is top five in both PFF run-defense and pass-rushing grades among qualified interior defenders.
Meanwhile, Nelson is yet again the league’s highest-graded guard at an 88.2 overall mark. His 91.6 PFF run-blocking grade is the second-best among any offensive lineman, and his 0.29 Wins Above Replacement are third at the position. At the same time, Nelson hasn’t been quite as effective in pass protection, recording only a 60.3 PFF pass-blocking grade.
Heyward bested Nelson when these two hosses squared off in Week 4 of last year, racking up four pressures and a sack in addition to a run-game tackle when lined up against Nelson. With Pittsburgh’s defensive back against the wall facing the league’s most efficient offense, Heyward will have to be disruptive — although that’s a tall task vs. Nelson.
Houston Texans EDGE Danielle Hunter vs. Denver Broncos T Garett Bolles
Broncos-Texans is another paramount showdown in the broader AFC scope, especially with two of the sport’s most feared defenses going toe-to-toe. When Houston’s defense is on the field, key in on the left side of the offensive line.
Hunter has become a regular on these matchup lists, and for good reason. His 89.9 PFF pass-rushing grade is the ninth-best among qualified edge defenders, and his 24.5% pass-rush win rate ranks fifth. On true pass sets, that latter mark climbs to a prodigious 34.3%.
On the other side lurks Bolles, who’s been one of the best offensive linemen in football this year. His 90.8 PFF pass-blocking grade is the best among any lineman, having surrendered a laughable five pressures through eight games.
Hunter and Trent Williams battled on 20 instances last Sunday, representative of the Texans star primarily aligning over the offense’s left tackle. If Hunter can finally crack a blindside wall, then Houston could score a second straight win — but if Bolles is his usually impenetrable self, that should give the Broncos an edge.
New York Giants EDGE Brian Burns vs. San Francisco 49ers T Trent Williams
Both the 49ers and Giants are wounded entering their Week 9 contest. The good news is that these two studs should not only be available, but also should clash regularly.
Burns has unquestionably played like one of the better edge rushers in football. Since 2023, Burns slots 16th in overall PFF grade (82.0) among the 42 edge defenders to play 1,500 or more snaps. This year, he’s remained stout with a 73.7 PFF pass-rushing grade, which ties for 25th among qualifiers at the position.
Williams hasn’t displayed any signs of decline at age 37 and on the heels of a season-ending ankle problem. Since Week 6, his 79.2 PFF pass-blocking grade sits ninth among tackles to play 100 or more snaps.
The Giants do rotate their three terrific edge rushers, which means that Williams will have his hands full all afternoon with Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Considering Burns’ lengthy resume, it will be most fascinating to examine his chess matches with the future Hall of Famer.
Atlanta Falcons WR Drake London vs. New England Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez
The Patriots seek their sixth straight win against a rollercoaster Falcons team on Sunday. When Atlanta’s bipolar offense has the ball, this individual contest is about as good as it gets.
Among receivers with 40 or more targets this season, London slots sixth in PFF receiving grade (82.7) and T-10th in yards per route run (2.24). He’s also one of eight wideouts in that group to not yet drop a pass.
Gonzalez was sidelined to begin the season due to a hamstring injury, but he’s been lockdown since returning. His 73.0 PFF receiving grade ties for 12th among corners to play 250 or more snaps, having only surrendered 123 total yards into his coverage so far this season.
The Patriots rank 10th in team man coverage rate in 2025, which follows given their two shutdown corners in Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III. Strangely enough, London has only garnered nine targets when facing man this season to the tune of a 58.5 PFF receiving mark. New England may rely more heavily on man considering London’s elite 90.9 receiving grade vs. zone.
Minnesota Vikings EDGE Jonathan Greenard vs. Detroit Lions T Taylor Decker
Although this year’s iterations of Vikings-Lions don’t have as much at stake as last season’s, they still project as compelling matchups. Sunday should grant us the first duel between Greenard and Decker along the edge.
Greenard hasn’t been quite as elite in 2025 as he was a season ago, but he’s still assembling a very respectable season. He’s garnered a 72.0 PFF pass-rushing grade, and his 30 pressures are tied for 14th among edge rushers. Similarly, his 16.6% pass-rush win rate is tied for 21st in that contingent.
Decker returned from a two-game absence and was dominant in Week 7 against the Buccaneers, posting an 87.0 PFF pass-blocking grade. All told, he’s allowed 11 pressures and only one sack across 163 opportunities in 2025. Extending back to the start of 2023, his 80.7 pass-blocking grade ranks 16th among qualified tackles.
Greenard certainly bested Decker last season, accruing eight pressures and two sacks during their 27 pass-rushing matchups — yet Detroit still prevailed on both occasions. Minnesota will need its touted edge rusher to play at a similar caliber if it wants to pull off the upset.
Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton vs. Houston Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr.
Denver’s offense against Houston’s defense is such an intriguing showdown that multiple layers show up on this list.
Sutton has quietly compiled another good season, sitting 19th among qualified receivers in PFF receiving grade (76.5). He’s been key in helping Bo Nix and the Broncos sustain possessions, as evidenced by his 26 first downs picked up. Sutton has also snagged 60% of the contested targets thrown his way.
Despite his pedigree, Stingley has underwhelmed so far this season. His PFF coverage grade has dropped almost 30 full points, and his passer rating when targeted has also increased by over 30 points. Still, it’s hard to forget how magnificent he was last season with an 80.4 overall PFF grade.
Sutton has been especially effective on throws down the field, securing a 91.2 receiving grade. Meanwhile, Stingley’s coverage grade on such attempts sits at only 39.7 this season. That may bode in Sutton’s favor in this heavyweight tilt.
New Orleans Saints EDGE Chase Young vs. Los Angeles Rams T Alaric Jackson
Saints-Rams profiles as one of the more lopsided contests this week, although there is intrigue with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough making his first career start. Even though New Orleans’ defense remains lackluster, Young vs. Jackson is a strong battle.
Young has come flying out of the game since returning in Week 6. Over the last three weeks, his 91.2 PFF pass-rushing grade is the best among any edge defender with 10 or more pass-rushing attempts. The former No. 2 pick has notched at least three pressures in each of those games, with three being converted into sacks.
Jackson received a nice payday to stick in Los Angeles this offseason, and he’s proliferated his protection of Matthew Stafford. His 72.6 PFF pass-blocking grade is tied for 18th among qualified guards, having permitted only two sacks through seven games.
Buccaneers All-Pro Tristan Wirfs slowed down Young, yielding only one pressure across 14 head-to-head pass-rushing matchups. Jackson will hope to do the same against one of the league’s more underrated defensive players.
New England Patriots Dl Milton Williams vs. Atlanta Falcons G Chris Lindstrom
If this compilation is any indication, the Falcons’ offense against the Patriots’ defense might be better than expected. These two players have each struggled a bit in 2025, but their careers have separated themselves.
Williams started his first season in New England hastily with nine pressures over the first two games, but he’s generated only 16 over his last six showings. Still, his season-long 12.2% pass-rush win rate sits 20th among qualified interior defenders.
Similarly, Lindstrom hasn’t quite matched the excellent standard at which he’s accustomed to playing. His overall PFF grade has dipped exactly 20 grading points, although his pass protection hasn’t waned greatly. This season, he’s still posted a 66.6 PFF pass-blocking grade.
Week 9 will present both Williams and Lindstrom with an outstanding opportunity to play as their names reflect. After all, it’s rare for two players each making over $20 million annually to duel.
Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE Alex Highsmith vs. Indianapolis Colts T Bernhard Raimann
Even though Pittsburgh’s defense is reeling, it’s not often that one of the NFL’s premier offensive lines butts heads with one of its better defensive lines. In particular, Highsmith vs. Raimann will be a war for 60 minutes.
Highsmith’s play hasn’t been quite as terrific this season, having accumulated only 11 pressures so far. But, his 73.8 PFF pass-rushing grade is in the 78th percentile. On top of that, his 11.0% run stop rate sits in the 94th percentile in 2025.
Raimann has been great in both the pass and run game. In fact, he’s one of two qualified tackles with a 75.0-plus PFF pass- and run-blocking grade this year, joining Bolles in that elite company. Moreover, Raimann’s 7.5% negatively-blocked run play rate is in the 96th percentile.
Whether the Colts pass the ball with Daniel Jones or run with Offensive Player of the Year candidate Jonathan Taylor, Highsmith and Raimann are two capable players who can dominate in either situation.
Las Vegas Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars CB Jourdan Lewis
Jaguars-Raiders puts two offenses looking to establish consistent rhythm against one another. That task seems tougher for a Las Vegas team facing a stingy Jacksonville defense, especially in the slot.
Meyers has hauled in only 29 catches for 329 yards this year, but his advanced metrics are a bit better. His 69.3 PFF receiving grade is 29th out of 39 receivers with 40 or more targets, but his average of 5.0 yards after the catch per reception ties for ninth. Meyers’ 1.62 yards per route run in the slot is also 27th, and his eight first downs are tied for 14th.
Lewis has fit in seamlessly in Jacksonville, posting a 70.4 PFF coverage grade so far. Among the 19 corners to play 100 or more snaps inside, Lewis sits second in passer rating allowed (62.3), eighth in snaps per reception (8.6) and T-9th in yards per snap (1.06).
Considering that Meyers has run 61.9% of his routes in the slot this year — and that Lewis has played 56.9% of his defensive snaps there — these two veterans should battle plenty. Additionally, this could very well be Lewis’ final game in silver and black, offering him one last chance to assert himself against top-tier competition.
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