X-Factors on defense for the AFC, NFC Championships

Conference championship games are played in rarefied (and sometimes thin) air. The stakes are obviously higher, individual plays mean more, and game scripts can swerve in ways that can be decided very quickly in very unpredictable ways.

For the four teams left for the 2024 season, it's also about maximizing the efforts of their most important players on both sides of the ball as they turn their attention to the NFC and AFC Championship Games. Some key players are important players because of their positions, some because of their talent, and the need to play the game of their lives for the team to achieve its goal of a Super Bowl appearance. There are some for specific scenarios.

Given the importance of these X-factors, we expanded the discussion to include one player from each team on both offense and defense. This is the defensive X-factor for each of the four teams that will face off on Sunday to honor their participation in Super Bowl Lix.

Washington Commander of the Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, January 26th, 3pm EST

Philadelphia Eagles: Edge Nolan Smith

It was a bit of a calculated risk when the Eagles selected Georgia edge rusher Nolan Smith with the 31st overall pick in the 2023 draft. Not only because there were questions about the 6'2, 238-pound Smith's ability to sustain the rigors of the NFL at his size, but also because he missed several games last season at Georgia with a torn muscle. But Smith's position as coach for basically the Bulldogs' second straight national championship season; Great scouting combination he had.allayed some of those fears.

Smith was a protector of Philadelphia's loaded edge rotation in his rookie season, totaling two sacks and nine total pressures on 95 pass-rushing snaps. And while he had flashed production in the first four games of the 2024 season (no sacks and three total pressures), the lights went on in Vic Fangio's first season as the team's defensive coordinator. I started. From Week 11 until the divisional playoffs, Smith leads the team in sacks with five and ranks third behind Milton Williams and Jalen Carter with 26. In two games against Jaden Daniels and the Commanders, Smith was able to take care of business with two sacks and some other impressive pressures.

“He's doing a great job and he's constantly improving,” Fangio said this week of Smith's development. “The more you play, the more snaps he's gotten since BG went down, too. The more practice plays, the more gameplay you get, the more you get better. The only way to get better is to practice and play. He was improving even in the first four weeks, and as you noted, it's happening here.”

Smith still has all that speed and athleticism, and he has learned to drop the hammer physically at the NFL level. No worries now.

Washington Commander: LB Frankie Rub

Luvu was one of my favorite defensive players to watch for the Carolina Panthers in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Because there was very little that went wrong with him. The Commanders were also positive about Luvu's potential, as he signed him to a three-year, $31 million contract this offseason. Luvu has done everything possible to accommodate that. This season, he has accumulated eight sacks, 38 total pressures, 73 tackles, and 45 stops, excelling everywhere from the edge to the box to the slot. The Commanders have an outstanding linebacker duo in Luvu and Bobby Wagner, but it's Luvu who makes the defense look versatile.

In two games against the Eagles this season, Luvu was a guided missile all over the place. Two sacks, two tackles for loss, an interception, a tackle, a pressure, and a stop from anywhere.

“This is my first run for the playoffs,” Lube said Tuesday. “And I'm just trying to keep my emotions here and keep it neutral. And I know that every person is the same way.”

Frankie Lube with even more motivation? That can be a scary thought for any opponent.

Kansas City Chiefs Buffalo Bills
Sunday, January 26th, 6:30pm EST

Kansas City Chiefs: LB Drue Tranquill

Most of the time, players are the X-factor of the game because of their positive plays and memorable exploits. For Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill, the story goes a different way. Buffalo Bills '30-21 Week 11 win over the Chiefs Tranquil, usually a very good player and a key cog in Steve Spagnuolo's defense, had a game he would rather forget . Buffalo ran the ball 31 times for 104 yards and three touchdowns.

It was a nightmare for Tranquill. He missed tackles on each of James Cook's two touchdown runs, and Joshua Allen's 26-yard scramble touchdown with 2:27 left in the fourth quarter salted the game.

Overall, Tranquill is enjoying a good season, with three sacks, 18 total pressures, 61 solo tackles, 30 stops, and generally solid coverage. But if Tranquill doesn't square up in these situations against Buffalo's run game this time around, and doesn't make any mistakes, then Buffalo's run game is a very big deal.

Buffalo Bills: Safety Taylor Rap

For years, when the Bills put together their roster, they could count on one thing: the NFL's best safety duo of Jordan Poyer and Mika Hyde. But as with everything in the NFL, things change. For the 2024 season, Buffalo's safety responsibilities will include Damar Hamlin (whose unique story is incredible), 2024 second-round pick Cole Bishop, veteran Cam Lewis, and former Los Angeles Rams defenseman Taylor. Covered by plastic wrap. The 2023 Bills did enough this offseason to deserve a three-year, $10.625 million contract.

Rapp has alternated between the box, slot and free positions this season, most recently for a misunderstanding between Lamar Jackson and receiver Rashod Bateman that sacked the Ravens in the Bills' divisional round win. Recently known. Overall this season, RAPP allowed 14 catches for 236 yards, 95 yards after the catch, 2 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 3 pass breakups, and 22 yards with an opponent rater rating of 90.5 .

Another of Rupp's three interceptions this season came in Buffalo's Week 11 win over the Chiefs, with Rupp timing the right time for Patrick Mahomes' pressure plucking to overturn tight end Noah Gray. You were in the right place.

Rapp has been dealing with HIP and Back issues this week, and right now he's day-to-day (like all of us). If he can't go, it will hit the Bills' secondary, which requires his field awareness and understanding of the game.