If the Packers are going to upset the 49ers this weekend, they'll need to overcome Fred Warner and the rest of their linebackers, who excel in pass coverage in the middle of the field.

The Texans' best hopes of securing an upset in Kansas City this weekend lies with their pass defense. Thanks in large part to breakout safety Justin Reid, the Texans have been one of the best teams in the league at taking away the long bomb.

The Vikings love to use play-action to hit shot plays downfield -- but the Saints have a tremendous secondary that excels at taking those plays away. Derrik Klassen looks at the punches and counterpunches the two teams will exchange in this weekend's wild-card game.

The secret to Baltimore's championship-caliber second-half defensive surge? The league's most aggressive, chaotic blitz schemes, paired with smothering coverage from the secondary.

The Buffalo Bills are 10-4 and have already clinched a playoff berth. Does that mean the Bills have found their franchise quarterback? Not necessarily. Derrik Klassen breaks down the flaws in the young passer's game.

With stars such as T.J. Watt up front and Minkah Fitzpatrick roaming the backfield, the Pittsburgh Steelers are loaded with defensive talent -- but it's the way those versatile talents are put to use that makes them so dominant.

What has Ryan Tannehill done to suddenly become one of the hottest passers in the league? As it turns out, Tannehill is succeeding largely by virtue of not being Marcus Mariota.

The Rams have lots of problems, from injuries to poor performances to scheme failures. At the heart of it all, however, they have a quarterback who is failing to adjust to the changes going on around him.

You know about Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara, and Michael Thomas, but defensive backs such as Marshon Lattimore, Marcus Williams, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson deserve credit for New Orleans' success as well.

Forget the running, and forget the highlight-reel deep balls. It's the subtle elements of what Baltimore's quarterback does in the short passing game that keeps the Ravens offense on track.