• Can the Chargers maintain off a Houston stampede?: Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt vs. Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. is a top-tier tackle-edge battle.
• Josh Allen has a tall activity in opposition to Denver’s Cowl 3: The Broncos have been one of many NFL’s greatest defenses when turning to the look, as they typically do.
• 2025 NFL Draft season is right here: Attempt PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and study 2025’s high prospects whereas buying and selling and drafting on your favourite NFL staff.
Estimated Studying Time: 8 minutes
Whereas the result of each soccer recreation is influenced by the 22 gamers on every staff’s aspect, the area of interest, micro-level battles add an additional layer of nuance. That features gamers or models battling head-to-head and even defensive coaches making an attempt to outscheme the opposing quarterback.
Week 18’s emphasis on the Jets’ outside-zone speeding recreation (seven carries for 41 yards and a 42.9% success fee) and Spencer Rattler throwing previous the sticks (7-for-20, two turnover-worthy performs, 44.2 PFF passing grade) helped decide who received within the final week of the common season. Now, the stakes are even greater as the primary week of the postseason will get underway.
Whether or not power in opposition to power, weak point in opposition to weak point or just a person battle of nice consequence, right here is one matchup to pay shut consideration to in all six wild-card battles.
Chargers pass-blocking vs. Texans edge rushers
If you wish to see iron sharpening iron, look no additional than the trenches when the Chargers have the ball. The primary wild-card recreation pits an elite sort out duo in opposition to arguably the NFL’s greatest edge-rushing tandem.
Jim Harbaugh’s emphasis on defending Justin Herbert has already paid off in Yr 1. This 12 months, Chargers tackles mixed to generate an 87.7 PFF pass-blocking grade, the very best within the NFL. Starters Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt mixed to surrender solely 9 sacks and 42 pressures on 1,149 pass-blocking snaps.
On the opposite aspect of the road of scrimmage can be a duo trying to dominate the sport in Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. The 2 led Houston’s edge rushers to rank second in pass-rush win fee (29.6%), fifth in whole pressures generated (162) and sixth in PFF pass-rush grade (75.1).
Los Angeles’ capacity to guard Herbert can be key in a recreation that includes two very sturdy defenses. If Hunter and Anderson can have an effect on Herbert, that might favor Houston — but when not, it may very well be a protracted day for the Texans.
Derrick Henry vs. Steelers’ heavy containers
With out Zay Flowers, the Ravens offense will possible look to lean on its run recreation in opposition to the Steelers. However when Pittsburgh could wish to assume twice about loading the field in opposition to Derrick Henry.
When these two bitter rivals final met in Week 16, Pittsburgh put eight or extra defenders within the field on 16 snaps, however Henry carried the ball 9 instances for 42 yards, a 78.7 PFF speeding grade and two explosive runs. Granted, unhealthy tackling by the Steelers didn’t assist, however it’s clear that defensive coordinator Teryl Austin’s makes an attempt to load up in opposition to Henry weren’t efficient.
Nevertheless, Henry carried out a lot worse in opposition to heavy containers of their first duel in Week 11, gaining solely 3 yards on six carries whereas securing a 64.5 PFF speeding grade. The truth that Henry even acquired to three yards is fairly unbelievable, contemplating that he gained 11 yards after contact.
Pittsburgh didn’t load the field typically in opposition to the Ravens, doing so 25.8% of the time in Week 16 and 31.5% in Week 11 — though these figures have been greater than the staff’s season-long 21.9% heavy field fee. If the Steelers put eight or extra defenders within the field, they’ll want to ensure they will truly stuff Henry, or else they’re in for a protracted night.
Highest-Graded Working Backs vs. 8-Plus Field Defenders (Min. 25 Snaps)
Josh Allen vs. Broncos’ Cowl 3
It’s exhausting to ask for way more as a soccer fan than an MVP candidate dealing with off in opposition to one of many league’s stingiest defenses. That’s precisely what we’ll be handled to when Allen takes on Denver to start out Sunday’s motion, with Cowl 3 the main target.
The Broncos have run Cowl 3 25.1% of the time this 12 months, and it’s labored nicely. On these seems to be, Denver is first in success fee allowed, fifth in EPA allowed per play and first in yards per play allowed.
In the meantime, Allen has been sturdy with three deep defenders. His 80.0 PFF passing grade ranks eighth amongst qualifying quarterbacks, though his 95.8 passer ranking is 16th. It’s additionally pertinent to say that Allen’s 92.3 PFF speeding grade in opposition to Cowl 3 is the very best within the NFL, no matter place.
Allen has a number of technique of defeating an elite Broncos protection, together with beating the blitz with fast throws and scrambling. If Denver needs to knock off one of many AFC’s greatest groups, it should keep away from gap photographs and restrict Allen’s effectiveness in opposition to Cowl 3.
Josh Jacobs on runs between the tackles vs. Eagles
Packers-Eagles is a extremely satisfying matchup for a number of causes, particularly watching Matt LaFleur try to navigate one of many NFL’s elite defenses. How nicely Jacobs can get going between the A and B gaps can be extraordinarily telling.
Inexperienced Bay has utilized a various run recreation all 12 months, however LaFleur’s intentions of hitting opponents up the center and usually downhill have remained the main target. That is sensible given Jacobs’ profile: his 90.5 PFF speeding grade on runs between the tackles is second amongst qualifiers. Jacobs can also be high seven in yards after contact per try (3.5), explosive runs (21) and missed tackles compelled (35).
However the center of Philadelphia’s protection has been sturdy for a lot of the 12 months. Towards these precise run varieties, the Eagles are sixth in EPA allowed per play, 15th in success fee allowed, T-13th in yards allowed per carry and T-13th in first downs allowed. Extra particularly, Cooper DeJean is the NFL’s second-highest-graded run defender (91.6) in opposition to runs between the tackles, whereas Nakobe Dean (86.5) can also be high 20.
When these groups performed all the best way again in Week 1, Jacobs ran the ball 9 instances for 50 yards between the tackles, accumulating a 74.5 PFF speeding grade to associate with two first downs and an explosive run. Granted, that was possible a worse model of Philly’s protection, one which didn’t play DeJean on the time. Will Jacobs discover related success to assist offset the lack of Christian Watson, or will the Packers must attempt to beat a stingy Eagles protection by the air?
Baker Mayfield vs. Commanders’ Cowl 1
A lot of the highlight on this Week 1 rematch can be if Jayden Daniels performs higher in opposition to the Buccaneers and their common blitzes. However how nicely Mayfield performs in opposition to a frequent Commanders protection may make a huge effect.
Mayfield has loved one other sturdy season, rating seventh amongst qualifiers with an 82.4 PFF passing grade and tied for sixth with a 78.7% adjusted completion proportion. Nevertheless, he’s had points in opposition to Cowl 1, the place his 65.9 PFF passing grade slots 28th out of 45 qualifiers. Solely 54.1% of Mayfield’s Cowl 1 makes an attempt have been charted as correct (25th), whereas 22% have been catchable inaccurate (14th).
It might not bode nice that the Commanders have utilized Cowl 1 on 20% of their snaps, their second-highest fee of protection behind Cowl 3. When commerce deadline pickup Marshon Lattimore was wholesome in Weeks 15-16, the frequency of Cowl 1 stayed about the identical, however the protection was a lot better. In these two weeks, Washington recorded an 81.2 PFF protection grade when working Cowl 1, with a kind of video games coming in opposition to the vaunted Eagles. Examine that to a season-long 59.2 PFF protection grade when deploying the person look.
On paper, Tampa Bay’s offense ought to have a significant benefit on this recreation in opposition to a Commanders protection that’s struggled for a lot of the 12 months. But when Quinn isolates Lattimore on Mike Evans — a real classic, hate-filled receiver-corner rivalry — then he may discover methods to decelerate Mayfield & Co.
Matthew Stafford below strain vs. Vikings
When the Rams pulled off a shocking upset over the Vikings in Week 8, Stafford was a major motive why, and L.A. will want an encore to do it once more.
Even when not as elite because the 12 months earlier than, Stafford has been stable throughout his age-36 season, incomes a 72.4 PFF passing grade. But, a caveat is that the Tremendous Bowl champion has been anemic below strain. Stafford’s 29.4 general and 29.6 PFF passing grades are the bottom within the league amongst qualifiers below strain. In the meantime, when stored clear, Stafford is high -six in each general (92.0) and passing (92.8) grades.
Whereas the Vikings blitz greater than any protection within the league, their strain numbers haven’t been as improbable as anticipated. Minnesota sits 11th in staff strain fee, 17th in quarterback hurry proportion and 32nd in throwaway fee. The one beginning Vikings defensive lineman with an 11.0% pass-rush win fee or higher is Jonathan Greenard (15.3%).
Throughout their Thursday Evening Soccer conflict, Stafford was pressured on solely 23.5% of makes an attempt, finishing 6-of-8 passes for 47 yards, one big-time throw, one turnover-worthy play and a 62.3 general PFF grade. If the Rams can shield Stafford that nicely but once more, they will undoubtedly discover themselves ready to win. But when Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel — who solely mustered one strain on 19 pass-rushing snaps earlier in opposition to the Rams — can wreak havoc, it’s going to possible be robust sledding for LA’s potent offense.
