NFL playoff bold predictions: Who will turn heads in divisional round?

Eight teams remain in contention for Super Bowl 60. This elite group features some of the best coaches and players of the 2025 NFL season.

The divisional round of the NFL playoffs is typically one of the best of the year. Fans get to enjoy four games - two on Saturday, two on Sunday - and in a year full of surprises, there's a chance more players make the most of this opportunity.

NFL fans are familiar with plenty of the players in action this divisional weekend. Quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford, C.J. Stroud, Sam Darnold and Brock Purdy are no strangers to the national spotlight. Other stars like running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receivers Davante Adams and Puka Nacua are common names most fans will recognize.

There's a chance other players will shine as well. Houston, Denver and Seattle have fearsome defenses full of top talent. Chicago's rise to NFC North champion came thanks to a potent rushing offense. New England's turnaround came thanks to a breakout campaign from Drake Maye and a well-schemed defense.

This should be an exciting weekend of football. Here are five players who could cut through the noise to turn heads in the divisional round:

Houston Texans' edge Danielle Hunter sacks Drake Maye three times

New England's win over the Los Angeles Chargers last week marked the franchise's first playoff victory since winning Super Bowl 53. They handled a well-schemed defense under Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, but Houston is a different kind of challenge.

Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. are the top edge-rushing duo in the NFL. Those two, plus a talented secondary led by standout cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., were the best defense in the league by expected points added (EPA) per pass at minus-0.26.

New England has only faced one defense this season that's top-10 in EPA per pass: Cleveland in Week 8. The Patriots got the 32-13 win but Maye was sacked six times. This Texans defensive line can get after him enough to match that total. Anderson should demand more attention, which will open things up for Hunter to capitalize.

The Denver Broncos hold Buffalo to fewer than 75 rushing yards

Buffalo beat Jacksonville in the wild-card round because the Bills made enough key plays. For the top rushing offense in the league during the regular season, Buffalo didn't find much room against the Jaguars at about three yards per carry.

Denver's one of the best run defenses in the NFL. The Broncos were second in overall rushing yards allowed during the regular season and tied for seventh (with Jacksonville, coincidentally) in EPA per rush on defense.

Buffalo may want to lean on the run game on the road but that won't end up paying off once again this week. Led by first-team All-Pro Zach Allen, Denver will slow them down better than Jacksonville did.

Seattle Seahawks CB Riq Woolen intercepts Brock Purdy

All eyes are on San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall's injury status. With George Kittle out with a ruptured Achilles, the 49ers' passing offense needs another weapon beyond McCaffrey to stand a chance against the Seahawks' defense. Woolen could end up playing a big role in coverage.

Woolen can run hot or cold week-to-week or even in games. He's one of the longest and most athletic cornerbacks in the league who can stick in man coverage well on one play or miss a tackle the next.

The Seahawks and 49ers played in Week 18 and Woolen had one of his best games of the season. He gave up just three catches for 15 yards on five targets, per Pro Football Focus (PFF) data. He's also crucially a free agent this upcoming offseason and is playing for a contract. Teams remember what you did most recently, especially in the playoffs. Woolen makes a splash play that'll lead to a nice payout this offseason.

Chicago Bears' RB D'Andre Swift goes off for 125-plus scrimmage yards and a touchdown

The strength of the Los Angeles Rams' defense is in its front with standouts Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner and Byron Young. As a unit, the defense thrives against teams often playing from behind thanks to the Rams' high-powered offense.

They're less effective against the run, though. Los Angeles ranks tied for ninth in EPA per pass but 14th in EPA per rush on defense, per NFL Next Gen Stats.

Chicago's offense may be uniquely set up to give them problems. The Bears ranked fourth in the league in EPA per rush on on offense and first in success rate (rushing attempts that ended in a positive result for the offense) at 48.5%.

Swift's strengths running outside and receiving out of the backfield should come in handy against the Rams' defense. He'll be in for a big day in the biggest Bears playoff game in 15 years.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL playoff predictions: Who will turn heads in divisional round?