The Playoffs are here and there are now 14 teams remaining. There are always players who do consistently good, but also players that have the ability to sway the game one way or the other. The player that can sway the game is who I call the X-Factor. Here is every team's X-Factor for the playoffs.
Miami Dolphins: WR Jaylen Waddle
For the Dolphins, I have Jaylen Waddle. When they get him and Tyreek going, the Dolphins offense is unstoppable. For the Dolphins to have any shot at winning this playoff game, they need to get Jaylen Waddle going.
Seattle Seahawks: QB Geno Smith
For the Seahawks, I have Geno Smith. When Geno is locked in, he is one of the best Quarterbacks in the game. The 49ers have held the Seahawks to under 20 points in both their meetings, and if the Seahawks want a shot at winning, Geno Smith and the offense need to do very good.
Baltimore Ravens: TE Isaiah Likely
For the Baltimore Ravens, I have Isaiah Likely. If the Raves get this man going, the Ravens offense has a chance to put up a good amount of points. If they do, they might have a shot at beating the Bengals.
New York Giants: DE Kayvon Thibodeaux
For the Giants, I have Kayvon Thibodeaux. When Thibodeaux gets pressure on the Quarterback, the Giants have one of the most elite defenses. In the second game against the Commanders, Thibodeaux played very well. When he did, the Giants defense absolutely shut down the Commanders. If Thibodeaux does this in the playoffs, the Giants have a shot at a playoff run.
Los Angeles Chargers: WR Joshua Palmer
For the Chargers, I have Joshua Palmer. Joshua Palmer has been a dangerous deep threat this season for Justin Herbert. If he can get some long touchdowns in the playoffs, the Chargers have the potential to make a deep run.
Dallas Cowboys: RB Tony Pollard
For the Cowboys to beat the Bucs and make a playoff run, they need to get the running game going. When Tony Pollard gets snaps, he makes an immediate impact. If the Cowboys can get him the ball, they have a chance to make a deep playoff run.
Jacksonville Jaguars: OLB Travon Walker
For the Jags, I have rookie Travon Walker. When looking at stats, Walker doesn't immediately look like a player who is a huge difference maker. But, if you watch the games, you will see how good he really is. For the Jags to beat a talented Chargers team and make a playoff run, they are going to need Travon Walker to get a ton of pressures on Justin Herbert.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Tom Brady
I never thought I would be saying that Tom Brady is the Buccaneers X-Factor for the playoffs. But, he has been playing very inconsistently and for the Buccaneers to go deep in the playoffs, they need Tom Brady to be the Tom Brady we all know.
Cincinatti Bengals: WR Tee Higgins
For the Bengals, I have WR Tee Higgins. Ja'Maar Chase will play like he always does, and he will make some amazing plays. But, if the Bengals want to make a deep playoff run, and even win the Super Bowl, they need to get the ball to Tee Higgins. The more they get the ball to Tee Higgins, the more open Ja'Maar Chase will be. This will open up the whole Bengals offense. Getting the ball to Tee Higgins will be an important part to their playoff run.
Minnesota Vikings: TE TJ Hockenson
For the Vikings, I have TJ Hockenson. This one is pretty simple. When Hockenson gets the ball, the Vikings do well. In the regular season win over the Giants 27-24, Hockenson had 2 touchdowns. For the Vikings to go deep in the playoffs, they need to feed the ball to TJ Hockenson.
Buffalo Bills: RB James Cook
The Bills are the best team in the NFL when they can get both their running and passing game going. But, getting the running game going has been a problem in some games. James Cook can be the difference maker, they just need to feed him the ball more.
San Francisco 49ers: CB Charvarius Ward
The 49ers secondary has been a problem the last couple weeks. If the 49ers want to make a Super Bowl run, they need to shut down elite wide receivers and allow very little deep passing plays. A key to this happening is CB Charvarius Ward. If the 49ers can do this, they have a good shot at a playoff run.
Kansas City Chiefs: RB Jerrick McKinnon
Jerrick McKinnon has been huge for the Chiefs during the last stretch of the regular season. If he can keep up his touchdown production, the Chiefs will put up a lot of points. Getting the ball to McKinnon could be a big part of Kansas City's success.
Philadelphia Eagles: WR Devonta Smith
A.J. Brown is the clear WR1 in Philly, but when Devonta Smith gets going, the Eagles have one of the best passing offenses in the league. For the Eagles to get their passing game going, they will need Devonta Smith to make big plays down the field. If he can do that, the Eagles will have a lot of success in making their playoff run.
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