NFC X-Factors for the NFL Playoffs Divisional Round

The NFL has advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs, with eight teams and four games remaining in the tournament that will ultimately determine which two teams will face off in Super Bowl LIX on February 9 in New Orleans. As the game becomes more important, so does the performance of all the superstars you know.

But there are also important players who are lesser-known names, and their accomplishments could end up being just as important to the bottom line. They're in every game. These are the “X-Factor” players who are fundamental to a team's success, even though casual fans may not even know who they are.

Below are the potential “X-Factors” for each of the four NFC teams in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions
Saturday, January 18th 8pm ET

Washington Commanders: WR Dyami Brown

It's amazing what Jaden Daniels accomplished in all kinds of ways in his rookie season, and even more amazing considering Daniels did it all with one true No. 1 receiver in Terry McLaurin. is. A group of role players. McLaurin is Daniels' only target, forcing the defense to plan on the fly, but beyond that, Olamide Zachias and Noah Brown can do some cool things from time to time.

Based on his performance in Washington's 23-20 wild-card win over the Buccaneers, Dyami Brown could improve himself at the right time. Brown was selected in the third round of the 2021 draft by North Carolina State, perhaps because the team thought he would work well with Sam Howell, who often threw the ball to Brown in college. But the 6-foot, 195-pound Brown caught 59 passes on 102 targets for 784 yards and four touchdowns in four regular-season years — his most important performance in the NFL. It's just that I chose the Bucks game to play. In that time, he caught five passes on five targets for 89 yards and a touchdown. Brown had three explosive plays (of 21, 24 and 30 yards), evading the Tampa Bay defense with all sorts of crossers and comebacks.

If Brown can repeat that performance against the Lions and allow McLaurin to play a go/post/over/dig repertoire, Daniels and his managers will have a much better passing game.

Detroit Lions: EDGE The Darius Smith

We all know it's harder to list the defensive players the Lions are missing due to injury these days than the ones who are actually on the field, but it's important to note that it's harder to list the defensive players the Lions are missing due to injury these days than the ones actually on the field, but it's important to note that the team will (presumably) keep Aidan Hutchinson for the remainder of the season. Shortly after losing him to a broken tibia and fibula in October, they acquired veteran pass rusher Za'Darius Smith in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. More than anything, it held Detroit's defense together through all the moving parts. In eight games with the Lions this season, Smith had five sacks and 36 total pressures, making him an immediate fit in Aaron Glenn's system.

This game between the Lions and the Commanders is the only divisional round matchup that is not a replay of the regular season, so the Lions will come into this game without first-hand experience. They're smart enough to know that Jaden Daniels is a cyborg at quarterback, especially as a rookie, and the two things the Lions like to do a lot, blitzing and playman coverage, don't bother Daniels at all. I also know that I haven't. . So if the decision is to throw fewer pass rushers to Daniels and put more defenders in coverage to fill in the routes, it's up to the players up front to get through the day without help. .

If that happens, there's a good chance Smith will be in charge. Smith, 32, is a destructive force off the edge, on inside kicks, and in single and double teams.

By the way, if the Lions make it to the Super Bowl and Hutchinson returns to that game as promised since his injury…well, we'll be keeping an eye on that duo.

Los Angeles Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, January 19th, 3pm ET

Los Angeles Rams: EDGE Byron Young

The Rams defeated the Minnesota Vikings 27-9 in the Wild Card, tying the NFL record for sacks in a postseason game with nine. It's a testament to how general manager Les Snead and his staff replaced Aaron Donald. Moneyball style collection. Coby Turner, Jared Verse, and Braden Fisk are the big names on that pesky defense, but Byron Young can't be overlooked either…because that's what the Vikings seem to have done, and they really regret it. . Young had two sacks and eight total pressures in the game, setting up Turner on one of those two sacks.

Young, a 2023 third-round pick out of Tennessee, has always been a man. He had eight sacks and 51 total pressures in his rookie season, and now he's a bookend to Jared Barth and has improved on that with 11 sacks and 52 total pressures this season. Yes, Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson are great offensive tackles, but Young had four pressures against them in Week 12, which was a pain to deal with, especially for Johnson. In fact, the Eagles tended to tip help to Young's side even when Vaas was on the field as well. This should be a highly anticipated matchup in the sequel, and I wouldn't be surprised if Young wins again.

Philadelphia Eagles: DB Cooper DeJean

If there's one thing we know about Sean McVay, it's that this guy loves 11 guys: one running back, one tight end, and three receivers. . The Rams' passing game is pretty diverse in concept, but you pretty much know what you're getting when it comes to personnel. This season, only the Atlanta Falcons (whose offense was designed by former McVay assistant Zach Robinson) had 11 (87%) higher than the Rams' 80%.

So when you play the Rams, you need a very good slot cornerback to deal with the third receiver. Also, that slot defender must also be able to lock down the tight end, as the Rams play 12 (one back, two receivers) against their primary philosophy. Use it as a productive aid.

Fortunately for the Eagles, they were wise to select Iowa State defensive back Cooper DeJean with the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 draft. DeJean didn't become a full-time starter until Week 5 of his rookie season, but when he did, he took on Vic Fangio's defense like the proverbial duck to water. Since then, he has become a key part of the ever-growing team. . He's not the only reason Philadelphia's defense has become dangerous, but with DeJean on the field this season, the Eagles have allowed -0.12 EPA per play, and without him they It's worth mentioning that I was stuck. At -0.02. Dejan was strong in the slot against the run and pass, and while he had some rookie hangups, he often looked like a grizzled veteran.

In the Rams-Eagles matchup in Week 12 (Eagles won 37-20), DeJean was allowed six catches on nine targets for 49 yards, 47 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, no interceptions, and no passes. Two points were deducted. Breakup, opponent passer rating is 80.3. DeJean was great when facing the Rams' slot receivers in man-and-match coverage. He was a little more perplexed when dealing with all of the receiver movement in zone concepts.

We'll see what happens in the rematch, but there's no doubting Dejan's importance to the Eagles' future development.