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Patrick Mahomes, Bijan Robinson take on the NFL’s best defenses in Week 14
Now it’s December, and with just five weeks left on the regular slate of the 2025 NFL season, the league’s biggest stars are gearing up for a strong final push.
Week 14 delivers a handful of heavyweight showdowns, with elite playmakers squaring off in games that could tilt the stretch run.
DAZN News’ Gavin Babbitt breaks down the week’s best NFL matchups below.
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George Pickens (WR, DAL) vs. Rock Ya-Sin (CB, DET)
Rock Ya-Sin will start on Thursday against the Cowboys after Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold was lost for the season on Thanksgiving. Ya-Sin has been good in coverage this year and will face George Pickens, who is second in the NFL in receiving yardage (1,142) with eight touchdowns.
The Lions like man coverage. Ya-Sin will need to be at his best going one-on-one against Pickens, who is averaging more than 18 yards per reception against man.
Dak Prescott must go after Ya-Sin in zone coverage. Pickens is stellar at extending drives in these spots and has five of his touchdowns against zone. Ya-Sin has allowed two scores as the nearest defender in coverage this season.
Pickens has caught all six of his contested targets on intermediate routes this year. Ya-Sin can force incompletions in multiple ways, making the point of the catch the crux of this matchup.
Ya-Sin is allowing receptions at a low rate (48.3%), but Pickens will come out on top. The Dallas wideout has 378 yards in his last three games, and can test Ya-Sin going deep and to the sidelines to contrast his routes over the middle.
Bijan Robinson (RB, ATL) vs. Seahawks defense
Bijan Robinson has one of the NFL’s most dynamic skill sets. In Week 14, he will be tested against the Seahawks’ defense, which allows the second-fewest rushing yards per game this season (88.8).
Robinson has been productive running up the middle. Seahawks Linebacker Ernest Jones and tackles Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy play this area of the box. If Robinson breaks the first level and gets outside, he can draw linebackers Tyrice Knight and Drake Thomas, who do not stop as many plays.
Running to the edges is the better bet for Robinson. This will give him opportunities against safeties Ty Okada and Coby Bryant, who lead Seattle in missed tackles against the run. If Atlanta can isolate Robinson against these players, it will open the door for explosive plays.
The Falcons need Robinson’s production as a receiver to move the ball this week. He has been deadly on screen passes to the middle of the field. Robinson is averaging over 15 yards per catch with two touchdowns on these plays.
Safety Nick Emmanwori and Ernest Jones will be in coverage against the screen. Emmanwori is a great athlete, but he leads the Seahawks in yardage after the catch allowed (233). While Jones has been excellent in coverage this season, Robinson is the most athletic back he has seen all year. The Atlanta offense must win on this play, or points will be hard to come by.
Bijan Robinson is an elite talent, but the Seahawks’ defense will prevail in this game. As a zone-coverage team, Seattle will have help nearby if Robinson finds space, particularly from All-Pro cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
Patrick Mahomes (QB, KC) vs. Texans defense
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have little breathing room in the playoff picture. Mahomes is having one of his least accurate seasons as a pro, and he must play well against an excellent Texans defense this week.
Houston brings consistent pressure without blitzing; an ideal setup against Mahomes. With Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter coming off the edges, Mahomes must step up in the pocket and find shallow to intermediate targets.
The Texans play mostly zone coverage. Unsurprisingly, Mahomes’ best zone beaters are Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice. Mahomes will look for them on shallow crossing routes. Both play from the slot and are targeted five to six yards downfield against this scheme.
If Kelce and Rice succeed in getting to the middle of the field, they will draw Texans linebackers Aziz Al-Shaair and Henry To’o To’o. This will keep them away from Derek Stingley and Kamari Lassiter, who are both great cornerbacks.
Production against the zone will earn Mahomes more man-coverage looks to the outside. Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is his best option trying to take the Texans downfield in this situation.
Mahomes is facing the third-lowest pressure rate (26.9%) in the NFL this year. The Houston pass rush is outstanding, but the Chiefs’ offensive line is capable of slowing it down.
If they succeed, Mahomes can make more intermediate throws over the middle. The future Hall of Famer has thrown seven touchdowns with a passer rating of 154.0 on those passes this season.
Houston does not allow much, but Mahomes will rise to the occasion in this game. Look for him to throw for more than 250 yards with multiple touchdowns on Sunday night.
