NFL Week 18 Highlights: Notable grades from the weekend's games

• Nico Collins shreds the Colts as Texans clinch a playoff berth: He forced three missed tackles and nearly reached 200 receiving yards on only nine catches.

• Xavier McKinney shows off his stellar coverage ability: McKinney earned a 95.5 coverage grade in Week 18, by far the highest among all defensive backs.

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Every Monday, we’ll bring you five key storylines borne out by PFF's grades and data. Here’s what stood out in Week 18.

QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

PFF Grade: 83.1

Allen was solid as a passer, making four big-time throws and three turnover-worthy plays, in the Bills’ win over the Dolphins, but his valuable rushing ability was the main attraction. He carried the ball 15 times, with eight of those runs resulting in a first down. Forty-nine of his yards came after contact, and he forced five missed tackles, more than any other quarterback this week.

WR Nico Collins, Houston Texans

PFF Grade: 92.4

Collins was a force of nature in the Texans’ Week 18 win, which ultimately earned the team the AFC South crown. On the field for just 27 receiving snaps, Collins averaged 7.22 yards per route run after recording 195 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions. He forced three missed tackles on those nine grabs, and four of them went for 15-plus yards.

OT Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

PFF Grade: 96.4

The Buccaneers made a mess of putting away the Carolina Panthers on their quest to win the NFC South crown, but left tackle Tristan Wirfs was tremendous. He finished the victory with zero total pressures allowed from 38 pass-blocking snaps, also earning a 96.2 PFF run-blocking grade.

S Xavier McKinney, New York Giants

PFF Grade: 95.3

McKinney capped off a career year, ending his fourth season with the Giants with arguably his best performance in an NFL jersey. He allowed just one reception for four yards on plays where he was the primary coverage defender, recorded a pass breakup and notched a pair of interceptions. The first of those was one of the best picks all season, with McKinney tapping his toes in after showing impressive range to find the football at the sideline.

CB Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks

PFF Grade: 83.2

The Seahawks not making the playoffs is a huge disappointment, but the team will be delighted with rookie first-round cornerback Devon Witherspoon’s campaign. Against the Cardinals, he allowed four receptions for 16 yards from 29 coverage snaps and finished the game with five tackles resulting in a defensive stop.