Ranking the Best 1-on-1 Matchups for Week 16

The end of the season is near, and the playoff picture has nearly crystallized. But there are still divisions, and wildcard spots up for grabs, and there are some massively impactful games this week. Here’s a look at some of the elite battles between the league’s best players that could decide the winners and losers of Week 16.

Rams @ Seahawks – Puka Nacua vs. Devon Witherspoon

The NFC West is the best division in football, with three 10-win teams. This battle between the current leaders will likely determine who gets to host a playoff game. Week 15 was a massive week in injury news, so perhaps Davante Adams’ hamstring got lost in the shuffle. He apparently hasn’t been ruled out quite yet, but in the event he doesn’t play or isn’t 100%, the Rams’ passing game now rests heavily on Puka Nacua’s shoulders. There aren’t many better shoulders it could rest on. Puka is the #1 graded WR according to PFF and is 2nd in the league in yards (trailing only Seahawk star Jaxon Smith-Njigba). He will be facing off against PFF’s #1 graded cornerback, Devon Witherspoon. Between two teams brimming with stars and epic matchups, this may just be the best one. Can Puka help Matthew Stafford lock down MVP and the Rams lock down the #1 seed, or will Witherspoon and this excellent Seattle defense establish themselves as the top dogs in a stacked NFC?

Eagles @ Commanders – Jalen Hurts vs. Himself

The Eagles have snapped their losing streak, but it was against arguably the worst team in the league, the Las Vegas Raiders. The Commanders aren’t much better, and they specifically struggle on defense. This should be a very manageable game for the Eagles, and if they win it, they lock up the division and a home playoff game. Can Jalen prove the haters wrong and throw the ball al around the yard, or will the questions about the Eagles offense remain as we move into the postseason?

Packers @ Bears – Jordan Love vs. Turnovers

Another huge divisional battle between two teams that are still in contention for the #1 seed takes place this Saturday in Chicago. The Packers are coming off a tough week after losing to the Broncos and losing their best player, Micah Parsons, to an ACL tear. They’ve had tough injury luck in general, losing their top tight end, Tucker Kraft, and DT Devonte Wyatt. They’re still a great team, but many people are already burying their Super Bowl chances. Those chances now rest even more squarely on the shoulders of Jordan Love. It’s Toyotathon, so he should be at the top of his game, but turnovers have historically been a problem for him. The Chicago defense specializes in turnovers, with the most in the league. Can Jordan carry the Packers across the finish line for the NFC North and the playoffs, or will he be stopped short by the surging Chicago Bears?

Chargers @ Cowboys – Derwin James vs. CeeDee Lamb

The Cowboys have just a 1% chance to make the playoffs, so it’s do or die time. Despite them being very uneven this year, they do have a very scary offense led by Dak Prescott playing the best football of his life. They also have a very scary wide receiver duo with both CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens (despite his last two games), capable of playing at a very high level. The Chargers have one of the better pass defenses in the league, and that defense is led by safety Derwin James. Can the Cowboys take the top off the defense and shock the Chargers, or will Derwin James and Jesse Minter corral Dak and stay in the battle for their division and the #1 seed?

Vikings @ Giants – JJ McCarthy vs. Abdul Carter

This is a battle between two young players and two young teams who have definitely underperformed this season. JJ McCarthy has struggled with injury and put some bad tape on film. However, he is on a streak of two good games in a row, having just beaten the Cowboys in Dallas. Abdul Carter has also struggled, but he has a sack in each of his last two games, so perhaps he’s also getting hot. It will be interesting to see in this meaningless game which of these two young players can keep the hot streak going and show why they were drafted so highly.

Bengals @ Dolphins – Joe Burrow vs. Bengals Organization

Joe Burrow is going through a tough time right now, and we all saw the brutally honest press conference where he openly questioned whether he even enjoys doing this. I wouldn’t have fun either if I played for a poverty franchise that can’t even shovel the snow off the stadium seats. Both of these teams are eliminated, and they are all thinking about the future rather than the present. For Joe Burrow, could that future involve being traded to a more hospitable destination? Could that destination even be sunny Miami, Florida, with offensive genius Mike McDaniel?

Buccaneers @ Panthers – Vita Vea vs. Rico Dowdle

Neither of these teams seems to want to win the division, but I guess one of them has to. For the Panthers, the path to victory is simple. Run the football. Rico Dowdle will be a 1000-yard rusher after this game, and he has 3 games over 120 yards, including a 206-yard performance vs. the Dolphins. Unfortunately for Carolina, they are facing off against the biggest, baddest run-stuffer in the NFL in Vita Vea. Can the Panthers get the ground game going against the Samoan defensive tackle, or will Vita stifle Carolina’s hopes of sneaking into the playoffs?

Jets @ Saints – Aaron Glenn vs. Kellen Moore

Two rookie head coaches, both with very little success in their first year. Neither has a very good roster nor a quarterback they’re 100% sure about. Winning this meaningless game could be hugely important for these coaches in order to hold onto their jobs. Aaron Glenn is supposed to be a defensive guru, while Kellen Moore is an offensive wunderkind. If they can’t even get their side of the ball going against a fairly bad opposing roster, it could spell trouble for their futures as head coaches.

Bills @ Browns – Myles Garrett vs. Dion Dawkins

The quest for the sack record continues, and Myles is just a sack and a half away. It would be pretty legendary to lock up that record against Superman Josh Allen, and I’m sure Myles is planning to do just that. Standing in his way is All-Pro Dion Dawkins, and watching these two guys go at it will be an absolute joy. Can the Browns spoil the Bills’ quest to take back the lead in the AFC East? Will Myles make history by sacking a fellow future Hall of Famer? It will be a snowy day in Cleveland and a perfect environment to watch two all-time greats battle.

Chiefs @ Titans – Creed Humphrey vs. Jeffrey Simmons

It’s been a year from hell for both these teams, and the Chiefs’ season ended alongside a devastating knee injury to Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs are usually resting their starters because they’ve locked in their playoff seeding, but this game is meaningless for a much sadder reason. That being said, the Chiefs still want to win, and backup quarterback Gardner Minshew will need help to do so. Creed Humphrey will be his best resource when it comes to calling protections and stopping the wrecking ball that is Jeffrey Simmons.

Jaguars @ Broncos – Brian Thomas Jr. vs. Patrick Surtain II

Not many people would have picked Jags Broncos as a matchup for the #1 seed in the AFC, but here we are. Both teams are absolutely red hot. The Broncos have racked up 11 straight wins, and Trevor Lawrence has been one of the best QBs in the NFL over the past month, with an average passer rating of 128.3 over the past 3 games. But the Jets, Colts, and Titans are a different animal than this elite Broncos defense. Not only will they get after Trevor, but Brian Thomas Jr. will be covered by the reigning DPOY, Pat Surtain II. Watching them go at it will determine the course of this high-stakes AFC battle for the top seed.

Falcons @ Cardinals – Bijan Robinson vs. Walter Nolen

Another game between two dead teams, but that won’t stop us from watching the best players and thinking about the future. Bijan Robinson needs no introduction, and he’s been excellent all year. Walter Nolen has also made a big impact on the Cards’ defense when healthy. Can he stuff one of the best running backs in the league and get Arizona a surprise win? Or will Bijan continue to roll across the field and win people their fantasy playoffs?

Raiders @ Texans – Maxx Crosby vs. Bad O-Linemen

The Raiders continue to have a dreadful year, suffering a 31-point loss to the Eagles in an embarrassing shutout. The Texans, meanwhile, are surging and poised to compete for their division and yet another playoff run. Their previously struggling offense has been playing well, and CJ has put together a few good games in a row. The struggle we knew they would have going into the year is protection, and Maxx Crosby presents a huge challenge on that front. Can Maxx wreck the game and throw a wrench in the Texans’ playoff race?

Steelers @ Lions – Aaron Rodgers vs. Aidan Hutchinson

The Steelers are suddenly in pull position in their division, and now face a tough away game against the Lions. Their offense put together a great performance against the Dolphins, and looked solid against the Ravens. If anyone can take advantage of the Lions injured secondary, it would be Aaron Rodgers. But one guy who isn’t diminished whatsoever is Aidan Hutchinson. If he can get to Rodgers, he can shut down the Steelers before they get out of the gate.

Patriots @ Ravens – Drake Maye vs. Kyle Hamilton

Drake Maye has been putting together an MVP candidacy, and there’s no better platform for that than primetime Sunday night football. The Pats are coming off a tough loss against the Bills, in which they held a 21-point lead. They’re playing in a tough environment against a team we all think is better than their record. He’s also facing a very smart defensive team and one of the best chess pieces in the league, Kyle Hamilton. Can Hamilton and the Ravens D confuse and contain Drake Maye, or will he continue his MVP-level play and once again show his stuff in a primetime window.

49ers @ Colts – Robert Saleh vs. Shane Steichen

These two guys were hired as head coaches in back-to-back years, and obviously, it has gone better for Steichen than Saleh. However, even as a defensive coordinator, Saleh has proved his worth as he keeps a 9ers defense that’s heavily injured as one of the best in the league. However, if anyone can scheme up a plan to beat them, it’s Steichen. Saleh probably thinks he can keep Phillip Rivers down, but if Steichen provides a blueprint to beating the 9ers, it could spell disaster for them when it comes to the postseason.