Everyone out of the 14 teams in the NFL playoffs has an “X-factor.”
Bucky Brooks is a former NFL player as well as a scout who knows a lot about the game and writes that in his notebook. Today, he talks about 14 players who could change the outcome of the race for the Lombardi Trophy…
It’s almost time for the NFL playoffs! Over three days, Super Wild Card Weekend offers an exciting six-game pack.
But before we start this single-elimination game, I’d like to draw your attention to a few players whose play in the playoffs could be more important than you think.
Football’s largest stage is made for the sport’s biggest stars, yet the playoffs also give less well-known players a chance to make big statements.
People always talk about the big names, but overlooked playmakers always play huge parts in choosing which team wins the Lombardi Trophy on Super Bowl Sunday.
We just finished the longest NFL regular season ever, and it had one of the craziest endings anyone will ever remember. The Los Angeles Chargers dropped an exciting extra game by beating the Las Vegas Raiders 22–35.
The playoffs have begun, and the first round already has some great games. The playoffs look as open as they have in a long time for the initial time in a while.
That’s why we’ll look at one “X-factor” for each of the 14 teams in this event. With a few exceptions, these aren’t star players or even starts. Instead, they’re guys who might make a difference in a specific position or situation.
Last week, David Bakhtiari came back at left tackle, and Jaire Alexander and Za’Darius Smith are two defensive stars who are sure to come back at some point.
I thought about what this team might be missing in some way. Aaron Rodgers is a top candidate for NFL MVP. He is great at passing, but the team will require greater assistance in other areas.
There is one of the best two receivers in football on their team, and a lot of guys have stepped up on defense. The guy they picked in the third round of the 2020 draft, Josiah Deguara, I think could be used more.
He was mostly used as an H-back at the University of Cincinnati, slipping across the field during play action or helping with the running game. That’s why I thought he was a better choice as a fullback.
He could be like 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk for Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. This season, he has gone from having one catch to having 25 catches, while his snap share is only up by 13%.
Although Marcedes Lewis is an older player who is still useful, I think that Deguara will play a bigger role for them now that Robert Tonyan is out for the season.
He could use his skills as an on-the-move blocker, kick out the end-man upon split zone runs, or slip into the flats.