CB · Los Angeles Rams vs Denver Broncos · 70 graded snaps
Solid
McDuffie delivered elite goal-line run support and sticky coverage against Jaylen Waddle, though lapses against Pat Bryant in the red zone kept his grade at a solid 70.0.
McDuffie earned a solid 70.0 grade highlighted by stellar run defense (78 facet grade), headlined by an elite stop on Bo Nix's sweep at the 1-yard line late in the fourth quarter (Q4 00:51). In coverage, he made several splash plays from the slot, diving to break up a third-down pass to Jaylen Waddle (Q2 11:55) and blanketing Courtland Sutton on a goal-line fade (Q4 01:05). However, his coverage mark (68) was dragged down after surrendering a 5-yard touchdown (Q3 07:50) and a two-point conversion (Q3 02:15) to Pat Bryant. A late offside penalty on an extra-point attempt (Q4 00:47) also slightly diminished his overall mark.
Strengths
Perimeter run force and goal-line containment
Click-and-close burst on short routes
Press-man coverage technique
Weaknesses
Red-zone coverage vs Pat Bryant
Crack block shed on perimeter sweeps
Special teams pre-snap discipline
Plays that moved the grade
+2Q4 00:51, 2nd & 2Diagnosed a QB sweep, bypassed the lead blocker, and brought down Bo Nix at the 1-yard line to prevent a touchdown.
+1.5Q2 11:55, 3rd & 3Anticipated the route break and dove across Jaylen Waddle to break up a third-down pass.
-1Q3 07:50, 3rd & 5Gave up outside leverage at the goal line to allow a 5-yard touchdown pass to Pat Bryant.
+1Q1 02:04 · 2 & 10 · Run defenseDiagnoses the handoff instantly, triggers downhill into the box, and makes first contact to halt the running back after a short gain.
+1.5Q2 11:55 · 3 & 3 · CoverageReads Nix's eyes and Waddle's plant foot instantly, explodes downhill, and dives across the receiver's body to knock the pass away on 3rd down.
+1Q2 03:07 · 2 & 8 · CoverageMaintains tight outside leverage, mirrors Waddle's break cleanly, and contests the pass at the sideline to force the incompletion.
+1Q3 14:12 · 3 & 4 · CoverageReads the out route break cleanly, drives downhill from inside leverage, and is draped over Engram at the target point.
+1Q3 09:53 · 2 & 10 · CoverageReads Nix's throwing motion instantly, drives downhill with great burst, and makes the secure tackle at the 20-yard line to limit Waddle to a 1-yard gain.
Triggers quickly downhill from the slot to provide outside containment support on the edge.
-1Q3 07:50 · 3 & 5 · CoverageSurrenders outside leverage at the goal line and cannot break up the pass or prevent the touchdown.
+0.5Q3 04:38 · 2 & 5 · Run defensePursues from the perimeter and makes a solid open-field tackle on Bryant to prevent a bigger return.
-0.5Q3 03:52 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseTakes a tight angle fighting Bryant's crack block and fails to establish an outside barrier against Waddle's speed.
-0.5Q3 02:15 · CoverageAllows inside leverage on the slant and cannot disrupt the catch at the goal line.
+1Q4 01:05 · 2 & 5 · CoverageStayed attached to Sutton's hip on the fade route into the end zone, squeezing the sideline window and forcing an uncatchable throw.
+1Q4 00:56 · 1 & 2 · CoverageStays disciplined against the run fake, mirrors Adkins releasing to the flat, and maintains tight leverage into the pylon to take away the throw.
+2Q4 00:51 · 2 & 2 · Run defenseDiagnoses the sweep immediately, flies up the boundary, avoids the lead block, and stops Nix at the 1-yard line to prevent the go-ahead touchdown.
-1Q4 00:47 · Special teamsMistimes his jump off the right edge and crosses the neutral zone before the snap, drawing a defensive offside penalty.