Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Jayden Daniels and Jalen hurts They are the headliners of conference championship games in the NFL. They touch the ball more than anyone else on the field and will have a huge impact on who wins and who loses on Sunday.
But what about their supporting actors?
We take a closer look at potential X-factors, players who aren’t as popular but might be in a position to make some crucial plays that could send their teams to the Super Bowl.
T.E Dallas Goedert
One of the key storylines heading into Sunday’s NFC Championship game is whether Jalen Hurts can hold up in Philadelphia’s passing game, especially after the No. 1 receiver. A.G. Brown He had just two receptions for 14 yards on seven targets in last week’s win over Los Angeles Rams.
For Hurts to roll through the air, Hurts must lean on Goedert, a safety blanket at the tight end position. The team’s leading receiver in the postseason with eight receptions for 103 yards and a score, Goedert has proven to be a reliable target in critical situations for Hurts.
Washington was weak in pass coverage in the middle of the field. According to Next Gen Stats, opposing teams completed 67.6% of their passes 10 to 19 yards deep in the middle third of the field, for a total of 408 yards and four touchdowns, with no interceptions. Opposing quarterbacks posted a passer rating of 147.7 on those throws, No. 2 in the league.
Goedert had five catches for 61 yards against Washington in Week 11.
db Cooper Degen
Rising from yeah He was selected to the Pro Football Writers Association’s All-Rookie Team as a starter. DeJean played 63% of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps, finishing with 51 combined tackles – including three tackles for loss – six pass breakups, a forced fumble and half a sack.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio played nickel defense on 80.5% of the unit’s snaps, No. 3 in the NFL. So, DeJean, Philadelphia’s slot corner, will be on the field most of the game defensively. His play, both in coverage and as a blitzer, will be important in slowing down Jayden Daniels.
Specifically, when the Eagles are in zone coverage and Daniels decides to leave, DeJean is one of the most athletic players on the field and a surefire tackler. He will be crucial in making sure Daniels doesn’t constantly move the chains with his feet.
Since DeJean took over the nickel corner job in Philadelphia, the Eagles have allowed a league-low 4.2 yards per game when using five defensive backs. DeJean also has a chance to make a big play as a returner.
[Related: NFC Championship preview: Commanders vs. Eagles breakdown, game prediction]
pound Bobby Wagner
Saquon Barkley He has been an unstoppable force this season, and like most defences, the Chiefs have struggled to stop him. In two games against Washington, Barkley had 296 rushing yards and averaged 5.4 yards per carry.
The Leaders allowed 137 yards a contest during the regular season, 30th in the NFL. They have also allowed the second-highest explosive run rate (13.2%) and most yards before contact per carry (1.9) to running backs, according to Next Gen Stats. In two games, the Chiefs have given up 197 yards before connecting with Barkley (3.6 YBC per carry), including six explosive carries.
In his prime with Seattle Seahawksveteran linebacker Bobby Wagner was one of the best defenders in the Legion of Boom. His strengths have always been using his intelligence to get his defense into the right play before the snap, then playing with anticipation and getting runners to the ground inside the tackle zone.
the Utah The product led the leaders during the regular season with 132 combined tackles. According to Next Gen Stats, Wagner has racked up 55 run stops (tackles for negative EPA) this season, tied for 10th-most in the NFL.
Washington needs Wagner to help the front seven slow down Barkley, which puts the onus on Hurts to move the ball.
Can the Chiefs contain Saquon Barkley in the NFC title game?
lord Austin Eckler
Eagles linebacker Zach Bowen He’s been an amazing story this year, earning All-Pro honors in his first year as an inside linebacker after transitioning from edge rusher during his time with the team. New Orleans Saints.
While Baun has been solid in coverage, he is still learning the intricacies of the position, which could create an opportunity for one of the best third-down backs in the league. A free agent picked up by the Commanders during the offseason, Ekeler finished with eight catches for 89 yards on nine targets in the first matchup between these two teams.
Baun allowed seven receptions on eight targets for 82 yards and a touchdown in that game. One way Daniels and the Commanders can attack Philadelphia’s defense, especially on third down, is to create favorable matchups where Baun has to cover Ekeler or the veteran tight end. Zach Ertz In space.
Brown missed most of the season due to a shoulder injury suffered during preseason play. Now that he’s back, he combines Brown with the up-and-coming speedster Xavier deserves it It allows the Chiefs to play the way they intended when this team was put together – two vertical threats to widen the field for intermediate goals Travis Kelsey and DeAndre Hopkins.
Brown totaled nine receptions for 91 yards on 15 targets during the regular season. Chiefs coach Andy Reid is a master at getting the most out of players at the receiver position, so don’t be surprised if Brown makes a big play against the Bills.
Is Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes officially ready to triple-peat?
pound Nick Bolton
The Chiefs must figure out how to contain 6-foot-5, 240-pound Josh Allen, one of the most physical and dynamic runners in the league. And that starts with one of the most underrated midfielders in the league.
Bolton has been the leading tackler in the middle of Kansas City’s defense this season, and is great at getting ball carriers down the stretch. However, he doesn’t just have to be good near the line of scrimmage against a diverse running game led by Allen and James Cookbut Bolton must also handle his zone coverage work against pass catchers Dalton Kincaid, Khalil Shaker and Curtis Samuel.
In their Week 11 loss to Buffalo, the Chiefs allowed the Bills to convert 9 of 15 third downs, giving up 30 points for the first time since Kansas City won the Super Bowl after the 2022 regular season.
Bolton finished with seven combined tackles in the first game against Buffalo this season. He allowed just three receptions for 13 yards on 33 coverage snaps, according to Next Gen Stats.
[Related: AFC Championship preview: Bills vs. Chiefs breakdown, game prediction]
with Stefon Diggs and Gaby Davis After being traded last season, Shakir took over the role of Buffalo’s preferred receiver. He led Buffalo during the regular season with 76 receptions for 821 yards and four touchdowns. Shakir played well in Buffalo’s win over the Chiefs earlier this season, finishing with eight receptions for 70 yards on 12 targets, including a 56-yarder after the catch.
The Chiefs allowed 2,123 yards after the catch during the regular season, ninth-most in the NFL. So there will be opportunities for Cakir to create some explosive plays down the field against Kansas City’s defense.
Is this the Bills’ best chance at beating the Chiefs?
Miller is one of the best players to ever close out the postseason during his 13-year NFL career. His 10.5 sacks in the playoffs are tied for 11th all-time and second most Frank Clark Among active leaders. Clearly, Miller still has a knack for making big plays in big games. On Sunday night, A Lamar Jackson He fumbled and returned it 39 yards, leading to a Buffalo touchdown in its 27-25 win over Crows.
The 35-year-old edge rusher still has some gas in the tank. According to Next Gen Stats, Miller has generated 19 pressures on 79 pass rushes since Week 12, which is good for a league-high 24.1% pressure rate during that span (minimum 50 pass rushes). Miller’s 0.60 second rushing average per touchdown was the fastest in the NFL during that span.
Eric D. Williams has covered the NFL for more than a decade Los Angeles Rams For Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers For ESPN and Seattle Seahawks For the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.
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