The 8 best NFL player matchups to watch during the 2025 conference championships
- Two of the NFL’s best go at it a third time: Puka Nacua squares off against Devon Witherspoon with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
- Big test for first-round linemen: Will Campbell will be tasked with slowing down Nik Bonitto, while Grey Zabel will see Kobie Turner again.
- 2026 NFL Draft season is here: Try the best-in-class PFF Mock Draft Simulator and learn about 2026’s top prospects while trading and drafting for your favorite NFL team.
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What made NFL divisional round weekend 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 divisional weekend’s top individual wars swayed the arrow of victory in their team’s direction. Consider Garett Bolles limiting Greg Rousseau and Joey Bosa to zero sacks and only two pressures in the Broncos’ win.
Below are eight head-to-head collisions to circle as you follow all of the conference championship action.
Rams-Seahawks is virtually everything football fans could want in a championship game, with the two best teams in the sport competing for a spot in the Super Bowl. That extends to individual player showdowns, too, as one of the best receivers squares off with an elite cornerback.
Nacua has flat out been one of the top players in the NFL all year, pacing everyone with a 95.8 overall PFF grade. He’s been a bit quieter in the postseason with a 75.8 overall mark, but he’s still garnered a 75.3 PFF receiving grade and 2.09 yards per route run across two playoff games.
Witherspoon concluded the regular season as the highest-graded cornerback in football (89.9), including leading the position with an 84.6 PFF coverage grade. Against the 49ers in the divisional round, the All-Pro was at his best, producing a 90.2 overall grade with an 87.0-plus mark in both run defense and coverage.
In the two regular-season matchups between Los Angeles and Seattle, Nacua was covered more by Josh Jobe than Witherspoon. Still, the two forces collided on 10 routes, with Witherspoon holding Nacua to just one catch for 27 yards. If the Seahawks corner gets the upper hand a third time, then Seattle will likely head to Santa Clara.
For a game as outstanding as Rams-Seahawks, it’s only fitting that it occupies the top two slots in this article. This time, the tide turns to when Seattle has the ball against Los Angeles’ standout defense.
Verse wasn’t necessarily quite as fantastic this year as in his rookie campaign, but he still played like a standout defender with an 81.1 PFF pass-rushing grade and 92 total pressures. During the Rams’ wild-card and divisional victories, Verse racked up 12 pressures — the second-most of any player so far this postseason. Additionally, his 13.7% pass-rush win rate is the 12th-highest among qualified edge defenders.
Cross continued where he left off in 2024, performing like one of the better tackles in football. His 74.1 overall PFF grade is 22nd among qualifiers, and his 77.9 PFF pass-blocking grade is 14th. Against San Francisco last week, the left tackle didn’t allow a pressure while playing 36 total snaps.
Verse and Cross saw plenty of each other in Weeks 11, with the battle a relatively even one. Verse was credited with three pressures across 25 pass-rushing matchups in Los Angeles, although none was converted into a sack. Assuming Cross can play again on Sunday despite not practicing so far this week, Verse may have to make a statement against a quality blindside protector.
The AFC Championship Game is slightly less alluring than its NFC counterpart with Jarrett Stidham set to start for the Broncos. Nevertheless, watching Drake Maye and the Patriots square off against the stifling Denver defense will be a treat. In particular, pay attention to this slot showdown.
Diggs played football representative of his mammoth contract in the regular season, producing an 87.5 PFF receiving grade with a 113.9 passer rating when targeted — both of which were top-10 figures among qualified wideouts. However, he’s been held in check in the playoffs, catching only six passes for 56 yards and a 61.6 receiving mark.
McMillian plays on a defense loaded with talent, but he shouldn’t get overshadowed. The corner ranks second among qualified slot cornerbacks in passer rating when targeted (67.3) and snaps per reception (10.6).
McMillian rose to the challenge against the Bills, snagging an (admittedly controversial) interception in overtime to fuel Denver’s thrilling win. If the slot corner contains Diggs, it would definitely enhance the Broncos’ odds of reaching Super Bowl 60.
The Broncos may try to funnel their offense through their run game down Bo Nix, but they’ll have to pass at some point. When trying New England through the air, Stidham’s top target will confront a very tough cover.
Sutton was yet again stellar throughout 2025, accruing a 76.2 PFF receiving grade with 1.62 yards per route run. However, he’s been in a bit of a slump over his last three games — being held to 98 total receiving yards with no receiving grade reaching even 61.0. The veteran struggled to separate against Christian Benford last Saturday, being charted as open on just six of 20 coverage matchups.
Gonzalez battled injury throughout this season but was generally solid when healthy. The third-year cornerback has tallied a 72.6 PFF coverage grade with only a 61.3 passer rating when targeted. Against Houston, Gonzalez shined with a 73.0 coverage grade, allowing half of his 16 (yes, really) targets to be caught while forcing two incompletions.
The Patriots have slightly dipped their man coverage rate in late January, using the look 2.2% less frequently than in the regular season. But against a Broncos offense that seems even more vulnerable, Gonzalez could see even more 1-on-1 chances against Sutton.
In order for Denver to upset New England on Sunday afternoon, the Broncos will need their great defensive line to throttle the Patriots’ offensive line. In particular, Bonitto must go to work against the rookie Campbell.
Bonitto enjoyed the best campaign of his career after inking a lucrative extension, recording an 86.7 PFF pass-rushing grade with 80 total pressures. The Defensive Player of the Year finalist was terrific against Buffalo, posting four pressures and a sack on a 14.3% pass-rush win rate. Impressively, all of those came against Pro Bowler Dion Dawkins.
Campbell was solid during the regular season, permitting just four sacks and 26 pressures across 13 games. However, he’s struggled mightily in the playoffs, yielding three sacks and nine pressures through two games. Indeed, Campbell’s 33.4 postseason PFF pass-blocking grade is the lowest of any tackle to play 100 or more pass-blocking snaps.
If Bonitto can get pressure on Maye, then the Broncos’ path to victory is much clearer. The MVP candidate owns only a 23.6 PFF passing grade when pressured this postseason, a far cry from his regular-season work.
The Patriots’ ability to block the Broncos’ stout front is critical, but so too is how well Denver’s offensive line plays against New England’s red-hot defense.
Barmore sports just a 53.5 overall PFF grade, but he’s made his heyday as a pass-rusher. This season, he’s posted a 68.3 PFF pass-rush grade alongside 56 pressures. Moreover, his 13.3% pass-rush win rate is the eighth-best among qualified interior defenders.
Meinerz was named to his second straight first team All-Pro team, and for good reason. His 90.3 overall PFF grade tops all qualified guards this season, ranking top 15 in both PFF pass- and run-blocking marks.
New England’s defensive line has been a large reason for its playoff success. The Patriots’ front four is second in pressure rate generated (44.8%) and fourth in pass-rush grade (70.3), with Barmore an integral part of that. If Meinerz neutralizes him, it would definitely allow Stidham to feel more comfortable.
If Verse vs. Cross was any indication, the Rams’ defensive line poses a huge test for the Seahawks’ burgeoning offensive line. In particular, the left side of the interior could be a huge tilt in weighing the outcome.
Turner’s third season was potentially his best yet, turning in an 83.6 PFF pass-rushing grade with 66 pressures. The third-year interior defender has amassed 11 pressures over the Rams’ first two playoff games, tied for the most at the position — although his pass-rush win rate has dwindled to 66.3.
Zabel didn’t find his footing initially in Seattle, but he’s looked terrific in recent weeks. Since Week 17, his 90.2 overall PFF grade is the second-best at the position, and he’s allowed only one pressure in that span.
Although the Rams downed the Bears in the divisional round, Turner didn’t flourish against backup left guard Jordan McFadden — securing just one pressure on 23 tries. The standout defender will look to regain form against a first-round pick that’s maturing.
While the Seahawks possess a preeminent cornerback to guard Nacua, the Rams own a more motley crew of corners to slow down Seattle’s star. At the same time, the formula has worked for Los Angeles this season.
The odds-on favorite for Offensive Player of the Year tore up defenders in 2025, securing a 92.8 overall PFF grade, a 93.1 PFF receiving grade and 3.54 yards per route run. Even though Smith-Njigba was held to a season-low 19 receiving yards in the divisional round, he still put forth a 69.2 receiving grade.
Forbes has continued to underwhelm in his new home, playing to a 56.5 PFF coverage grade this season. His woes were highlighted last weekend, recording a 24.7 overall PFF grade while allowing both of his targets to be hauled in against Chicago.
However, Forbes has done an admirable job against Smith-Njigba this season. Across 32 head-to-head matchups, the receiver has gotten open only five times, catching three passes for 30 yards in the process. If Forbes can play through a shoulder injury, he should get the call against the All-Pro a third time — and the results loom enormously for whoever wins the NFC.
