The 8 best NFL player matchups to watch during the 2025 divisional round

• The biggest test yet for Will Campbell: The No. 4 overall pick will have to contain Danielle Hunter against the Texans.

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What made NFL wild-card 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 wild-card weekend’s top individual wars swayed the arrow of victory in their team’s direction. Consider Dion Dawkins limiting Josh Hines-Allen to two pressures across 19 pass-rushing matchups in the Bills’ victory.

Below are eight head-to-head collisions to circle as you follow all of the divisional round action.

Los Angeles Rams EDGE Byron Young vs. Chicago Bears T Darnell Wright

Rams-Bears should be an entertaining way to close out this four-game slate, especially watching Chicago’s potent offense against Los Angeles’ stingy defense. In particular, the foremost action should occur between Young and Wright.

Not enough NFL fans know just how good Young has been this season. Among qualified edge defenders, he ranks ninth in overall PFF grade (85.6), tied for 11th in PFF pass-rush grade (83.8) and seventh in PFF run-defense grade (78.3). All told, Young is tied for 10th at the position in PFF Wins Above Replacement.

The Bears’ offensive line was one of the best in the league this year, and Wright’s breakout was a major catalyst. The third-year tackle ties for 12th among qualified tackles in overall PFF grade (81.7), and his 3.2% pressure rate trails only Garett Bolles.

Will Young be able to get pressure on Caleb Williams, whose 35.1% pressure rate is the seventh-lowest among starters? Alternatively, will Wright give Williams ample time to make plays, where he’s especially lethal? This war in the trenches pits two great young players against each other.

New England Patriots WR Stefon Diggs vs. Houston Texans S Jalen Pitre

Even though Texans-Patriots is on Sunday afternoon, the game could be the most exciting of any divisional round showdown. It’s rare to see an ascending offense take on the league’s best defense. Naturally, that produces some great 1-on-1 battles, including Diggs vs. Pitre.

Diggs had a quiet wild-card game against the Chargers, but don’t be fooled: He’s been a major asset for Drake Maye this year. Diggs is tied for ninth among qualified receivers in PFF receiving grade (85.1), and his 112.3 passer rating when targeted is eighth. Impressively, Diggs also sits in the 91st percentile in separation rate vs. single coverage.

Pitre was all over the field on Monday night against the Steelers, as he’s been wont to do this year. The Texans slot defender is second among safeties in overall (86.4) and PFF coverage (86.6) grades. On the interior, Pitre has also been among the league’s best, with his 65.1 passer rating when targeted the second-lowest among qualifiers.

Diggs only faced off with star Chargers safety Derwin James three times in the wild-card round, being held to no catches. He’ll have another ferocious slot corner on Sunday in Foxborough.

BuffaloBills EDGE Joey Bosa vs. DenverBroncos T Garett Bolles

Josh Allen and the high-flying Bills bring their sizzling offense to Denver to take on Pat Surtain II and the great Denver defense. While that matchup is the main attraction, what’s also critical is how well the Broncos’ mediocre offense moves the ball on Buffalo’s defense. In particular, the Bills’ pass rush against Denver’s outstanding offensive line is key.

Bosa has delivered in his first year in Buffalo, especially as a pass-rusher. His 88.7 PFF pass-rushing grade is the sixth-best among qualified edge defenders, and his 15.9% pass-rush win rate is 15th in that group.

Few offensive linemen were better than Bolles this year, which culminated in his first career All-Pro nod. The Broncos stud led all tackles in PFF pass-blocking grade (90.8) and didn’t surrender a sack across 714 pass-blocking snaps.

Bosa and teammate Greg Rousseau do rotate sides a bit, but the former played slightly more against the right than left tackle in the wild-card round. When Bosa and Bolles square off — as they did for eight years in the AFC West — it’ll be must-see television.

Houston Texans EDGE Danielle Hunter vs. New England Patriots T Will Campbell

New England’s good receiving corps against Houston’s tremendous secondary is one matchup, but another is the Patriots’ pass-blocking against the Texans’ unrelenting pass rush. More specifically, all eyes will be on Campbell in maybe his biggest test to date.

As has been true all year, Hunter wrecked the Steelers in the wild-card round, generating six pressures on a 91.4 PFF pass-rushing grade. This season, Hunter is fifth in both pass-rush grade (90.7) and pass-rush win rate (20.8%) at the position.

Campbell has developed nicely over the course of his rookie campaign, earning a 75.1 PFF pass-blocking grade. However, his six sacks are tied for the 12th-most at the position, and his 6.3% pressure rate permitted is tied for 30th among 52 qualified tackles.

Hunter lined up mostly against the right tackle on Monday night, but he’s typically slotted against left tackles for the bulk of this season. Whether or not the Texans revert to their usual alignment, Campbell will be thrown directly into the blaze.

Los Angeles Rams Dl Kobie Turner vs. Chicago Bears G Joe Thuney

Any time that two top-five units in overall PFF grade line up against each other, it’s sure to be a treat. Rams-Bears delivers another great individual showdown, this time in Turner vs. Thuney.

Like Young, Turner has turned up his play a notch in 2025. He’s recorded an 84.3 PFF pass-rushing grade with a 13.6% pass-rush win rate, both of which slot seventh at his position. Likewise, Turner’s 61 pressures are the fourth-most.

Thuney received his third straight first-team All-Pro nod for how terrific he’s been with Chicago. The former Chief paces all guards in PFF pass-blocking grade (87.6) and didn’t allow a sack in the process. Additionally, Thuney is the most valuable guard by PFF WAR.

Turner showed off his excellence against another skilled guard in Damien Lewis last weekend, totaling two pressures in only 10 pass-rushing matchups. If the Rams defender has an encore, it could be a long night for Williams and Chicago.

Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton vs. Buffalo Bills CB Tre’Davious White

Unfortunately, the Bills don’t have a high-caliber perimeter receiver to test the aforementioned Surtain. But watching two veterans in Sutton and White will still be good theater.

Sutton extended his dynamic play in 2025, securing his third straight season with a 75.2-plus PFF receiving grade and at least 1.62 yards per route run. Moreover, Sutton’s 6.3% drop rate was his lowest since 2021.

White got off to a shaky beginning in his return to Buffalo, but he’s been spectacular of late. Since Week 15, White leads qualified cornerbacks in PFF coverage grade (90.7) with a gaudy 46% forced incompletion rate.

White answered the call against the Jaguars, holding Jakobi Meyers and Brian Thomas Jr. to just two catches on 18 coverage matchups. His ability to do the same to Sutton directly correlates with Buffalo’s chances of victory.

San Francisco49ers WR Ricky Pearsall vs. SeattleSeahawks CB Devon Witherspoon

The 49ers and Seahawks clash for the second time in three weeks, with San Francisco looking to avenge its overpowering 13-3 defeat in Week 18. In order for the 49ers to prevail, they’ll need Pearsall to step up in a big way.

The second-year receiver has been limited to just 480 total snaps this year, but he’s been efficient when healthy. Pearsall has notched a 75.3 PFF receiving grade with 1.85 yards per route run and 27 first downs gained. The good news for San Francisco is that Pearsall is trending to play for the first time since Week 17.

Witherspoon was celebrated with his first career All-Pro nod, which is only logical for the league’s highest-graded corner. The third-year star is second in both PFF run-defense (86.7) and coverage (84.6) grades while yielding just 406 yards in coverage.

Pearsall and Witherspoon aligned just three times in Week 1, with the receiver not getting open on any of those tries. With no George Kittle, San Francisco’s offense will need some sparks from the wideout against premier competition.

Chicago Bears EDGE Montez Sweat vs. Los Angeles Rams T Warren McClendon Jr.

While the Rams’ defensive line certainly wants to affect Chicago’s passing game, the Bears’ pass rush faces even more urgency to get after Matthew Stafford. Sweat presents Chicago’s best opportunity to do so, but he’ll go up against a rising tackle.

Sweat sports a 71.1 PFF pass-rush grade this season, but he’s been hot since Week 14. In that span, Sweat has won 19.0% of his pass-rush reps and produced 24 pressures, including racking up seven against the Packers last weekend.

McClendon didn’t even play until Week 5, being thrown into the lineup because of Rob Havenstein’s injury. But the backup has flashed in his own right, posting an 81.7 overall PFF grade on 743 snaps. Not only does the third-year tackle own an 85.6 PFF run-blocking grade, but he’s yielded just 17 pressures and one sack as well.

Stafford struggled when pressured last week against Carolina, going 5-for-13 with a 31.5 overall PFF grade. The Bears’ best chances of winning are forcing mistakes from the MVP favorite, which makes getting pressure incumbent upon Sweat.