The divisional round of the NFL playoffs is here this weekend. Eight teams playing for spots in the conference championship games. There are those players who can go out and be anonymous and do their jobs without too much spotlight. Then there are those who will be the focus of many.
32. A.J. Brown
Not the least important, but the bottom of our list is rookie A.J. Brown from Ole Miss. Ryan Tannehill needs to make sure the ground game goes first but he needs more production out of Brown than he got in the wild-card win over New England. Brown had a lone catch for four yards against the Patriots. He doesn’t have to do what D.K. Metcalf, his former teammate in Oxford, did against the Eagles but it certainly would help if he contributed more than four yards.
31. Mark Andrews
The Ravens love to find their tight end when opening up the passing game. If you can stop Mark Andrews, you add significant pressure to Lamar Jackson. He had 64 catches in the regular season and 10 went for touchdowns. Andrews is listed as questionable on the team’s final injury report, but he’s expected to suit up vs. Tennessee.
30. Matt Judon
This name might surprise some of you but Judon was a key cog in the Baltimore defense. With C.J. Mosely off to the Jets, Judon had 9.5 sacks and four picks and 14 tackles for loss. He can create problems for Tennessee in many ways.
29. Jimmy Graham
Aaron Rodgers knows how to find his wide receivers and incorporate Aaron Jones into the Packers’ attack. It would be a huge help if Jimmy Graham came up with a big game rather than one where he is basically invisible. Graham had 38 catches on 60 targets for the entire 2019 season. That’s not great. Would be wonderful for GB if he stepped it up against a former team.
28. Carlos Hyde
The Texans can’t rely only on Deshaun Watson for offense and Hyde certainly would like to stick it to Kansas City, a team that dispatched him without any ceremony. He should buckle up and get try and make the Chiefs pay for their decision.
27. Russell Wilson
You could make him No. 1 on this list if you wanted, but what fun is that. Wilson is going to come up big, per usual, so don’t be stunned when he gets into an elite chess match with Aaron Rodgers. If Seattle fails to advance, it won’t be because their quarterback plays poorly. The question is whether Wilson will be dazzling or brilliant?
26. Greg Joseph
The Titans go against one of the best kickers in NFL history in Justin Tucker. They bring Greg Joseph as their placekicker. Joseph has yet to kick a field goal for Tennessee, which is on its fourth kicker of the season. Who would you rather have on the field with the game on the line, Joseph or Tucker? Thought so…
25. Harrison Butker
Love the way Harrison Butker delivers over and over for the Chiefs. He’s not quite Justin Tucker but give the former Georgia Tech kicker time. Andy Reid can be confident when he sends his placekicker on the field, whether trying for a field goal or hoping for touchbacks on kickoffs.
24. Tyrann Mathieu
The Chiefs have found spark and great defensive play in former Houston Texan Tyrann Mathieu. He’s given a mega-boost to a team that was sorely suffering on the defense. Look for Mathieu to have added incentive as he meets his former Houston mates for the second time this season.
23. Davante Adams
The turf toe is no longer sidelining Aaron Rodgers’ top target. He can be found by the quarterback on a variety of routes. Try and stop him from going long and he will take the cushion. He will go over the middle. He will go deep. And he will be found in the end zone. Elite.
22. Logan Ryan
Logan Ryan has had a great year for Tennessee. He has forced four fumbles, intercepted four passes, picked up 4.5 sacks and been in on 73 tackles. That is considered an exceptional defender.
21. Justin Tucker
The ultimate weapon in the kicking game. John Harbaugh has to love being able to send out Justin Tucker for field goals. The former Texas star with the opera voice makes sweet music almost every time he goes out to deliver three points.
20. Mark Ingram
Lamar Jackson will have his job made much easier if Mark Ingram continues his regular-season rushing pace. The free-agent signee from the New Orleans Saint was the perfect addition for Baltimore, which always seemed to have an inconsistent running game. Ingram gets in gear and everything else falls into place nicely for the Ravens.
19. Adam Thielen
The Vikings’ offense needs Adam Thielen. He provides the target that makes everyone else more available to Kirk Cousins. One gets the feeling this might not be his year, though. First it was the right hamstring and now he has suffered a cut on an ankle that required stitches. Without Thielen close to 100 percent it makes Stefon Diggs less of a threat and target.
18. DK Metcalf
DK Metcalf lasted longer than college teammate A.J. Brown in the NFL Draft. The former Ole Miss star has delivered in a huge way for Pete Carroll. His performance in the Wild-Card win over the Eagles was classic, especially for a rookie. Russell Wilson loves to target Metcalf and the Packers need to find a way not to be burned by the rookie wideout.
17. Ryan Tannehill
Ryan Tannehill has the benefit of the Titans being a huge underdog against the Ravens. That means the QB can go out and play his game and without a ton of pressure and expectation. He’s been nothing short of exceptional since taking over for Marcus Mariota and will need to continue his strong play at Baltimore.
16. Dee Ford
The Niners’ defense is better with Dee Ford and Kwon Alexander on the field. Per ESPN Stats & Information, the Niners had 24 sacks on 164 snaps with end Nick Bosa and Ford on the field together this season. They had 24 sacks on 801 snaps on all other plays as Ford missed considerable time with a hamstring problem. “Having him out there with all of us really, really affects blocking schemes,” defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said. “It’s just another really good pass-rusher out there. … Having him and Nick out there, even having Nick on the edge, they can’t really slide one way or another, they have to pick and choose.”
15. Jadeveon Clowney
The Seahawks need to pressure Aaron Rodgers or risk being picked apart by the Packers’ great quarterback. Clowney is where it starts and finishes for Seattle. He knocked out Carson Wentz from the Wild-Card game. No one wants a repeat of that questionable play, but Seattle would love to see Clowney harass Rodgers on the Frosen Tundra.
14. Patrick Mahomes
How great would it be to see Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson battling for a spot in the Super Bowl? It isn’t too shabby, either, to see the Chiefs’ superstar going up against Deshaun Watson with a spot in the AFC Championship Game on the line.
13. Kwon Alexander
The Niners’ defense gave up more than 100 yards per game on average without Kwon Alexander than with him after he went out on Halloween. It is great to have him back to put an added jolt into the defense. Will his return be successful or is he being rushed back from the torn pec?
12. Aaron Rodgers
Shifting from Mike McCarthy to Matt LaFleur has paid off for Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay. Let’s remember, though, LaFleur is still a rookie coach and he will need a big game and lots of leadership from his quarterback to oust Russell Wilson and Seattle.
11. Brett Kern
One may wonder how a punter can be just outside the Top 10. Well, the Titans are going to have to keep Lamar Jackson off the field and when he is on it they don’t want him to have any sort of field position. That brings us to Brett Kern, the best punter in the league. Kern averaged 47.1 yards per boot with only two touchbacks. He pinned opponents inside the 20 a stunning 37 times. If Kern can make the Ravens see long fields all game, it dramatically increases Tennessee’s chance to win.
10. Jimmy Garoppolo
Jimmy Garoppolo and the Niners are the top seed. That comes with home field and a ton of pressure, especially for team without a ton of playoff experience. Now is the time for Garoppolo to show he is a postseason winner as well as having strong numbers in the regular season. Will be intriguing to see if the Vikings can scramble the Niners’ quarterback’s thinking.
9. J.J. Watt
J.J. Watt provided inspiration and fire for the Texans on their sidelines and defense against Buffalo. Will having a game under his belt mean less rust and more of a pass rush against Patrick Mahomes? It would be a major plus for the Texans if Watt can inspire by his play as well as his motivational skills.
8. Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins had a big game against the Saints and the pressure was relieved. It can return as quickly if he comes up empty against San Francisco and its ferocious defense. Remember, people are as happy to jump off bandwagons as they are to look for a seat on them.
7. Deshaun Watson
Which Deshaun Watson will show up against Kansas City? The one that lights up opposing defenses and has games that makes fantasy football players thrilled or the one that delivers less than average performances? Remember, as great as Watson was in the second half against Buffalo, he was equally as mediocre as the Texans fell behind 16-0. Fall behind the Chiefs by double digits and don’t expect to come back.
6. Danielle Hunter
The Vikings have a force on their defensive line and are going to need it against San Francisco. Danielle Hunter has 54.5 sacks in his five years in the NFL, 29 coming in the last two seasons. If he can get to Jimmy Garoppolo, then the Vikings have a chance to put the Niners in uncomfortable offensive positions. He’s quietly a superstar.
5. George Kittle
If there is pressure and spotlight on Jimmy Garoppolo, then the best way to take it off the quarterback is for George Kittle to deliver a few of his remarkable plays at tight end. He’s more than a handful and if Minnesota can’t contain Kittle, it opens everything else up for Garoppolo and will make his job considerably easier.
4. Za’Darius Smith
Za’Darius Smith has proven to be quite the free-agent signing for Green Bay. He has delivered in many ways and now finds himself up against Russell Wilson and the Seahawks. Stopping the Seahawks’ great is quite the challenge. He can beat you with his legs or with his arm. Smith has to be a force in containing Wilson or the home-field advantage won’t mean much.
3. Dalvin Cook
The chances for Minnesota are similar to those for Baltimore. The more time it has the ball, the better the opportunity for victory. Not exactly breaking news that you want Dalvin Cook to have a big game. Still, the former Florida State star has had a shoulder problem and now is the time to overcome it and carry the load. He needs to gain 100 yards and find the end zone at least once to help out Mike Zimmer, Gary Kubiak and Kirk Cousins.
2. Lamar Jackson
The surefire MVP of the regular season heads into the playoffs off a lot of rest. He did not play in Week 17 and the Ravens had a bye. So, will Lamar Jackson be able to come out winging and running or will he need some time to find his game? These are the playoffs and a far different game than the regular season. All eyes are on the Ravens’ star. Will he deliver at home?
1. Derrick Henry
It may seem to be stating the obvious, but: The Tennessee Titans need to keep the ball away from Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. The best — safest — way to do this is to put it in the hands of Derrick Henry and hope the running back is able to gain chunks of yardage. If the Heisman winner from Alabama does not reach 100 yards, look for Tennessee to exit.
