• George Karlaftis and Joey Bosa are dominant late: Both rank among the five highest-graded players in the fourth quarter as well as 2-minute drills.

• The Steelers get stronger in the red zone: Nick Herbig, Alex Highsmith and Cameron Heyward help put the clamps on opposing offenses inside Pittsburgh’s 20-yard line.

• 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: 8 minutes

The term “clutch” has long been a nebulous definition in sports. The very phenomenon of rising to the occasion late in games continues to be contested, and attempting to quantify something so meta is another daunting feat.

Although there’s no signature metric for “clutchness,” PFF stats can help ascertain which players have been the best when the lights are the brightest. Below are the five highest-graded players by overall PFF grade in four crucial situations: the fourth quarter, overtime, a 2-minute drill and the red zone.

Fourth Quarter (min. 50 snaps)

Garrett has been the NFL’s best defensive player this season, and he can also add Football’s Best Fourth-Quarter Player to his resume. Garrett’s 93.9 PFF pass-rushing grade is tops among defensive players in the final 15 minutes of a game, powered by an unreal 34.3% pass-rush win rate. Good luck blocking No. 95 if you’re trying to make a comeback and/or take the lead.

Bosa has been a major boost to the Bills’ defense in his first season, particularly to close out contests. His 92.3 PFF pass-rushing grade in the fourth quarter is the third-best among any player, with his 26.5% pressure rate the second-highest.

Hutchinson is virtually always unblockable, but especially so in a game’s last frame. His 30 total pressures are easily the most in the NFL in the fourth quarter, and his 5.0 sacks are second. The Michigan product has done so efficiently, amassing a 29.3% pass-rush win rate.

The Browns’ defense is one of the stingiest in the league, and it’s not only because of Garrett. Although Hickman has been solid this season, he elevates his play dramatically inside of 15 minutes remaining. Hickman has posted an 88.5 PFF run-defense grade as well as an 89.3 PFF coverage grade in the fourth, up from his respective 55.5 and 62.8 marks in the prior three windows.

Karlaftis has played at a career-best level following his lucrative extension this offseason, and that includes becoming a closer for the Chiefs’ defense. His pass-rush win rate climbs from 14.5% in Quarters 1-3 to an astonishing 27.0% in the fourth quarter.

Overtime (min. five snaps)

Admittedly, the sample size for overtime isn’t overly big — the maximum number of snaps that any player has experienced on either side of the ball is just 22. Still, Tremble made his impact felt during the Panthers’ overtime win over the Falcons in Week 11. Across five snaps, Tremble recorded a perfect PFF grade, fueled by a 94.7 PFF receiving mark by catching a 54-yard pass — with 50 of those yards coming after contact.

Washington’s snap share in overtime is a bit larger, having accrued 14 such plays across the Jaguars’ two overtime wins. The Penn State product stepped up in a big way in OT against the Cardinals in Week 12, snagging a 25-yard catch to help put kicker Cam Little in field goal range. Indeed, his 38 receiving yards in overtime are tied for the fourth-most in pro football.

Turner has been a standout as part of the Rams’ vaunted defense, and that extends to the extra period, too. During Los Angeles’ overtime loss to the 49ers in Week 5, Turner registered a 90.8 PFF pass-rushing grade, generating an impressive two pressures on only five pass-rushing opportunities.

Worthy’s sophomore campaign hasn’t featured the precise leap some anticipated, but he’s still been a key component to the Chiefs’ offense. That tenet held true in Week 12 against the Colts, as Worthy caught a 31-yard reception across six total overtime snaps to help Kansas City march closer to field goal territory.

Pickens has blossomed into one of the NFL’s best all-around receivers in 2025, and he’s been just as dominant after 60 minutes of regulation. Playing two overtime contests against the Giants and Packers, the Georgia product has a league-high four catches for 72 yards in the extra period this season, good for a 90.4 PFF receiving grade. Pickens has also added 5.0 yards after the catch per reception, helping the Cowboys win one of those matchups and tie in the other.

2-Minute Drill (min. 50 snaps)

Huff has been a major boost for a 49ers defense in need of pass rush, especially after incurring injuries to Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. At the end of the second and fourth quarters, he’s been particularly prolific. His 91.7 PFF pass-rush grade trails only Garrett in such situations, tallying nine pressures, four hurries and three quarterback hits.

2.  EDGE George Karlaftis, Kansas City Chiefs (90.8)

Karlaftis features on this list again, giving him an argument as the NFL’s most clutch player. His 26.7% pressure rate in 2-minute drills is tied for fourth among qualified defensive players, and his 12 pressures place third.

Although James has made his heyday more as a box defender and run stopper than in coverage, he’s been lockdown when teams try to air the ball out at the end of quarters. His 91.6 PFF coverage grade in those circumstances is the highest among any player with 40 or more 2-minute-drill snaps. James has been targeted nine times but permitted only three catches for 11 yards, also grabbing an interception.

4.  EDGE Joey Bosa, Buffalo Bills (90.4)

Like Karlaftis, Bosa has also been elite in 2-minute drill operations. His 15 pressures are the most in the NFL in that time frame, catalyzed by a 91.1 PFF pass-rush grade. Blocking Bosa when the clock isn’t in a team’s favor doesn’t seem to be an easy task.

The Saints have endured another trying season, but McKinstry has flashed at points. The second-year cornerback has been at his best in 2-minute contexts, posting a 90.1 PFF coverage grade. McKinstry has surrendered only two catches on six targets across 46 such snaps this year, securing a pick while also notching a pass breakup.

Red Zone (min. 50 snaps)

Sewell is the league’s highest-graded player regardless of position (95.9), and he’s similarly outstanding inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. In the red zone, Sewell boasts a gaudy 96.8 PFF run-blocking grade while permitting pressure on only 2.0% of pass-blocking snaps.

2. EDGE Nick Herbig, Pittsburgh Steelers (93.2)

Herbig has remained one of the NFL’s most underappreciated stars on either side, and he’s been especially great when it matters most for a defense. His 91.8 PFF pass-rushing grade is the best when backed into his own red zone, ranking second with nine pressures across just 41 pass-rushing opportunities.

3. EDGE Alex Highsmith, Pittsburgh Steelers (92.3)

Even when Herbig is off the field, the Steelers don’t lose much at all when they start Highsmith — who’s been nearly as dominant inside the red zone. Highsmith’s 92.6 PFF pass-rush grade is even higher when teams creep inside the Steelers’ 20, generating an unreal 41.7% pass-rush win rate. However, Highsmith has played only 24 pass-rushing snaps in the red zone compared to Herbig’s 41.

There’s a reason the Steelers are sixth in defensive EPA per play in the red zone after all. Heyward has been terrific against both the pass and run when pinned against his end zone, compiling an 88.3 PFF run-defense grade with an 83.2 PFF pass-rushing mark.

Wirfs grades as one of the league’s premier tackles nearly every year, and he turns it up a notch when the Buccaneers are in prime position to score. His 94.4 PFF run-blocking grade trails just Sewell, and his 38.5% impact block rate is the best among any qualified lineman. Similarly, Wirfs has yielded just two pressures across 41 red-zone pass-blocking attempts.