NFL

NFL Wild Card X-Factors: 6 Players Who Could Decide The Games This Weekend

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By
Colin Lynch
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Colin Lynch Sports Editor

Colin Lynch covers the NFL, MLB and WNBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the New England Patriots. His sports coverage has been featured on The Sports Daily and Basketball Insiders, as well as FanSided's Chowder & Champions. A New Hampshire native and former D1 baseball player at St. John's University, Colin was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2008 and enjoyed a four-year professional baseball career.

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Published06 Jan 2025

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NFL Wild Card X-Factors: 6 Players Who Could Decide The Games This Weekend

6 Players Who Could Decide The Games This Weekend as NFL X-Factors as the 2024 NFL Playoffs Kickoff on Saturday

Another NFL regular season has concluded, and with it comes the anticipation of the league’s most thrilling stage: the NFL Playoffs. It is a theater where the expected often dissolves into the extraordinary, and the journey to the Lombardi Trophy is anything but predictable.

Logic suggests that higher seeds should advance, their seasons of excellence earning them the edge. But the NFL postseason thrives on defying expectations. It’s a stage where chaos reigns, and new stars emerge. Heroes are forged in moments no one saw coming, and this year’s Wild Card weekend promises to be no different.

As the opening weekend of playoff football approaches, the storylines are set, the stakes are high, and the stage is yours to witness. Let’s dive into the NFL Wildcard X-factors poised to shape this unpredictable chapter of the NFL season.

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6 Players Who Could Decide The Games This Weekend

No. 6 | Quentin Johnston | WR | Los Angeles Chargers

Perhaps no player closed the regular season with more brilliance than Quentin Johnston. In the Chargers’ Week 18 finale against the Raiders, the second-year wide receiver delivered a career-defining performance, hauling in 13 catches for 186 yards. It was a day of milestones, setting personal bests in receptions and yards while showcasing his dynamic playmaking ability.

Johnston’s journey has been one of resilience and growth. After a challenging rookie season, his second year has been a testament to his perseverance. On Sunday, every catch seemed more electric than the last, punctuated by a 39-yard grab in the fourth quarter that ignited the Chargers’ sideline.

Finishing 2024 with 55 receptions, 711 yards, and eight touchdowns—a team-leading mark—Johnston has not only found his rhythm but firmly established himself as a cornerstone of the Chargers’ offense. He has become one of Justin Herbert’s top targets and could be a game-breaker and Wildcard X-factor against the Texans in round one.

No. 5 | Zay Flowers | WR | Baltimore Ravens

This is more about Zay Flowers’s ability to suit up in round one against the hated Pittsburgh Steelers.

In Saturday’s gripping showdown against the Browns, Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers showcased his immense talent before an unexpected hurdle emerged—a knee injury that sent him for an MRI. Head coach John Harbaugh remained tight-lipped immediately after the game, promising more clarity once the scans were reviewed.

Come Monday, Harbaugh provided a cautious update, assuring fans that Flowers isn’t being ruled out for the wild card clash against the Steelers. Scheduled to host the Steelers on Saturday night, the Ravens await Tuesday’s injury reports for final confirmation on Flowers’ status. Selected as the No. 22 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Flowers has swiftly become Baltimore’s premier receiver, amassing 74 receptions for 1,059 yards and four touchdowns this season. His remarkable performance made him the Ravens’ first 1,000-yard wideout since Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and earned him a Pro Bowl nod—the first for a Ravens receiver outside of return duties.

Should Flowers miss the pivotal game, the Ravens need to lean on their deep arsenal of talent to compensate for their leading pass-catcher’s absence. While Baltimore boasts a formidable lineup, Flowers’ presence has been a cornerstone of their offensive strategy, and his potential sidelining will undoubtedly challenge the team’s offensive dynamic.

No. 4 | Bo Nix | QB | Denver Broncos

The stage is set for a high-stakes showdown in Buffalo, where the spotlight falls squarely on rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Tasked with leading the Denver Broncos into one of the NFL’s toughest environments, Nix faces not only a ferocious Bills defense but also the challenge of keeping pace with potential MVP Josh Allen. This matchup will be a test of nerves, preparation, and resilience for the first-year signal-caller.

Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott has a proven track record against rookie quarterbacks. During his tenure, McDermott has crafted defenses that have forced 17 interceptions while allowing just seven touchdowns against rookies, compiling a 9-4 regular-season record. In the playoffs, McDermott’s defenses are a flawless 2-0, with dominant performances against Mac Jones in 2021 and Skylar Thompson in 2022. Yet, Nix brings a dynamic presence unlike his predecessors—showcasing poise and potential throughout 2024.

If Denver hopes to pull off the unthinkable and upset the No. 2 seed Bills, it begins and ends with Nix’s ability to rise above the noise and deliver a fearless performance. The rookie could be the Wildcard X-factor in a game where all the odds point against him.

No. 3 | Jalen Hurts | QB | Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles now know their path begins with a familiar foe. On Sunday, Jan. 12, the Eagles will welcome the Green Bay Packers to Lincoln Financial Field for a Wild Card Round showdown—a rematch of their Week 1 clash. Philadelphia enters with a sterling 14-3 record, earning the NFC’s No. 2 seed and carrying the weight of high expectations. The question looming largest, however, centers on Jalen Hurts.

The star quarterback, sidelined since a Week 15 concussion, remains in the NFL’s protocol. Head coach Nick Sirianni offered cautious optimism after Sunday’s win over the Giants, noting Hurts’ presence at Saturday’s walkthrough while stopping short of calling it a definitive step forward. For now, the focus shifts to whether Hurts can clear to practice this week—a critical milestone for his return.

If Hurts suits up, Philadelphia’s chances soar. Without him, their stellar season faces a daunting test against a Green Bay team that’s surged late, which could alter the state of the NFC Playoffs.

No. 2 | Bucky Irving| RB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In the same place where their journey began, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the Washington Commanders once more to kick off their playoff quest. For the fifth consecutive season, the Bucs have earned a postseason berth, capped by a thrilling Week 18 victory over the New Orleans Saints that secured their fourth straight NFC South title and the third seed in the NFC, their highest since the playoffs expanded.

Tampa Bay enters the postseason on a surge, winning six of their last seven games, though against a slate of mostly non-playoff teams. A key factor has been their potent two-headed rushing attack, led by Bucky Irving and Rachaad White, combining for over 1,700 yards and 11 touchdowns.

But it is Irving who has truly emerged, rushing for 1,122 yards and 8 touchdowns while setting a Buccaneers record with a 5.4 yards-per-carry average. Irving could be the Wildcard X-factor that puts the Bucs over the top and drives them to a home playoff win over the Commanders. If Dan Quinn’s stingy defense can limit Irving, the Commanders may pull off the road upset.

No. 1 | Kyren Williams | RB | Los Angeles Rams

The Rams, seeded fourth with a 10-7 record, will host the fifth-seeded Vikings (14-3) next Monday, a rematch of their Week 8 encounter. In that game, the Rams triumphed 30-20, as Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp returned from injury, combining for 12 catches and 157 yards.

But it’s running back Kyren Williams who may be the true X-factor in Round 1. Through Week 12, the Vikings’ defense had been nearly impenetrable against the run, ranking first in rush EPA. But since Week 13, they’ve shown vulnerability, ranking 17th in that category and allowing six games of 100 or more rushing yards, including a 139-yard, three-touchdown performance from Jahmyr Gibbs last Sunday.

In that Week 8 win, Williams rushed for 97 yards on 23 carries against the Vikings. While he and Gibbs are different backs, Rams coach Sean McVay can feel confident that his workhorse will find success against Minnesota’s now-exposed run defense. If Williams gets going, it could spell early trouble and a long day for this suddenly slouching Vikings defense.