Each NFL team has its own story to tell in the NFL playoffs, and the top players in the Divisional Round will be thrilling to watch as their extraordinary talent pops off the screen and dictates the direction each of those stories takes.
We compiled a list of the top players to watch in the NFL Divisional Round, both to track the drama and to get a good understanding of who matters in which games.
Top Players in Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes, Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs
It’s hard to ignore the best quarterback in the game, and it’s worth pointing out that Mahomes has had another historic season. The difference in efficiency between him and the other playoff quarterbacks is extraordinary, and, despite some excellent turnarounds in play, Jacksonville finished the season ranked 17th in defensive EPA against the pass. Expect some fireworks.
Trevor Lawrence, Quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars
A big Mahomes performance would set the stage for a response from Lawrence, and he has the tools to keep pace in a shootout. He’s been good and is getting better. Over the second half of the season, he ranked fifth in EPA per play among quarterbacks and just led a historic comeback against the Los Angeles Chargers. He’ll be fun to watch over the years.
Tyson Campbell, Cornerback, Jacksonville Jaguars
If there’s any hope for Jacksonville to slow down the Chiefs’ offense, it will have to come from their surprising second-year cornerback, Tyson Campbell. While much of the national attention has gone to CBs like Pat Surtain II, Sauce Gardner, Tariq Woolen, and Jaycee Horn, Campbell has played well enough this year to throw his hat into the ring. If he can help limit the Chiefs’ offense, he’ll add to his already impressive resume.
Creed Humphrey, Center, Kansas City Chiefs
The best center in the game, Humphrey is almost as responsible for the revival of the Chiefs’ rushing game as the actual running backs are. He’s been phenomenal in both pass protection and run blocking, and his ability to get through the Jacksonville front seven should afford the Chiefs a modicum of balance — or what passes for balance in the Andy Reid system — when mounting their attack.
Chris Jones, Defensive Tackle, Kansas City Chiefs
This year, there was no better defensive tackle than Chris Jones. The Chiefs enter this game with the top performers at four positions — center, tight end, defensive tackle, and quarterback — and it’s beginning to seem unfair. With the pass protection issues that Jacksonville has, Jones should be able to add to his prodigious pressure total.
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He enters the game having led the league among interior defenders in pressures during the regular season, with 77. He was also party to 15 sacks, whether credited as a “half-sack” or whole sack.
Christian Kirk, Wide Receiver, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars were criticized for the large deal they signed Christian Kirk, but they seem to have gotten their money’s worth with the explosive slot receiver. He’s been the focal point of their passing game, and his understanding of opposing defenses and the receiver position has been a revelation for a quarterback who previously was throwing to Laquon Treadwell and Laviska Shenault.
Josh Allen, Edge Rusher, Jacksonville Jaguars
In a league full of talented edge rushers, players like Josh Allen get lost in the mix. But he’s had an excellent season, finished just behind Matthew Judon in total pressures, and should be considered a top-eight edge defender in the league. Unlike many pressure producers, he’s been a good run defender too. Given his pivotal role in the Jacksonville comeback, he’ll be one to watch. Over his last three games, including the Wild Card Round, he’s racked up 23 pressures.
Travis Kelce, Tight End, Kansas City Chiefs
Jacksonville has given up the fifth-most yards to opposing tight ends this season, and often in the form of big plays. They’ve given up the third-highest yards per reception to tight ends and the highest yards per target. Kelce is the league’s best tight end, and one of his specialties is finding space for big plays. It should be a huge game for him unless Devin Lloyd or Andrew Wingard turn their seasons around.
Top Players in New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
Daniel Jones, Quarterback, New York Giants
In this game, we’ll see two running quarterbacks, with one coming off of one of the most productive games of his career and the other coming off of a near-MVP season. Jones diced the Minnesota Vikings’ defense apart, and if he can do it against a much higher-quality unit, it would provide the Giants with the spark they need to lead another one of their trademark underdog Super Bowl runs.
Jalen Hurts, Quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles
If Hurts’ shoulder is healed up, this game might not be close. He’s produced at an extraordinary level this season, and his ability to run or pass exceeds Jones’ capacity in both respects by a significant margin. But the last time these two teams last played, Hurts wasn’t healthy, and the Eagles struggled to overcome a group full of Giants backups. When they both played with both quarterbacks at full health, the Eagles won 48-22. A lot is riding on Hurts.
Philadelphia Eagles Receiving Corps
Both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are having phenomenal seasons, with Brown earning his place as a top-five receiver and Smith legitimately earning consideration as a potential top-ten receiver. They have been a critical part of an Eagles offense that has ranked seventh in passing efficiency. Both are great route-runners that know how to get open, and Brown layers his physicality on top of that.
Philadelphia Eagles Secondary
Darius Slay and C.J. Gardner-Johnson were already a great set of players to have, but then the Giants generously made James Bradberry available back in May. The Eagles were more than happy to snap him up and now field the best passing defense in the NFL by expected points, just ahead of the San Francisco 49ers.
Slay has been excellent at following receivers, and Gardner-Johnson has been a turnover machine. The Giants’ receiving corps may be overmatched.
Saquon Barkley, Running Back, New York Giants
There’s been a problem with consistency in blocking on the Giants’ offensive line, but when it’s there, Saquon Barkley can take off. The Eagles’ linebacker corps has been very good this year, and Philly has fielded a variety of run-stuffing linemen. But Barkley, at times, can overcome that. The Eagles have struggled against the run, though they’ve improved recently. That could just be variance, and, if so, Barkley could be critical to creating much-needed explosives against Philadelphia.
Adoree Jackson, Cornerback, New York Giants
The return of Adoree Jackson to the Giants lineup has been enormous for the defense. With him on the field, along with schematic changes and the return of safety Xavier McKinney, New York held All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson to 47 yards, almost all of it coming on the first drive of the game. Without Jackson, Jefferson earned 133 yards through the air in Week 16. Jackson was also injured when the Eagles put up 48 points against the Giants.
Jordan Davis, Defensive Tackle, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles’ run defense has improved as they’ve returned Jordan Davis from injury and have increased his role. The team has had issues stopping the run, but Davis has been the key to resolving that weakness. His strength and speed at nose tackle are nearly unmatched across the league, and he should have a big impact on the game, especially given the weakness the Giants have along the interior.
Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge Rusher, New York Giants
Lane Johnson was a full participant in Thursday’s practice, and there’s a good chance he plays. But if he’s at all limited, he’ll have his hands full with Thibodeaux, who ranks ninth in total pressures since Week 12 — just behind Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa, Micah Parsons, and Maxx Crosby. It should be a titanic battle between the two that may determine much of the matchup.
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Top Players in Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen, Quarterback, Buffalo Bills
Outside of a brief moment where an elbow injury limited his effectiveness, Josh Allen has performed at an extremely high level. When excluding games where he was on the injury report for the elbow, he generated 0.265 expected points per dropback. That would move him up from fifth to second behind just Mahomes.
And he’s played like it, too. While his Wild Card showing against the Miami Dolphins was a bit lackluster, most of the year has showcased an incredible quarterback with the kind of power, accuracy, and creativity needed to be one of the best in the NFL.
Joe Burrow, Quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals
After the Bengals restructured their offense to accommodate their offensive line issues, the team’s execution and production skyrocketed. After switching to a more shotgun-heavy approach and changing the pass protection plan, the Bengals ranked second in expected points per play. Before that, they ranked 20th.
Burrow’s ability to navigate the pocket, find deep targets, and understand opposing defenses was a big part of it. It’s been fun watching this offense at its most explosive, and Burrow has been able to produce even when Ja’Marr Chase has had to miss time.
Stefon Diggs, Wide Receiver, Buffalo Bills
One of the five best duos in the NFL, the Diggs-Allen pairing has been phenomenal over the past three years — only Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson have been more productive together. Diggs combines nuanced route-running with explosive athleticism and great ball tracking, and when the two are in rhythm, they’re almost unstoppable. He should explode against a good Bengals defense.
Bengals Receiving Corp
The top two Bengals receivers are different in character from Diggs. Both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are incredible contested-catch receivers that like to out-physical defensive backs at the catch point. They also both feature the athleticism necessary to be consistent deep threats or after-catch headaches for opposing teams.
With Tyler Boyd in the mix, Cinci has a variety of ways to attack opposing defenses, and they’ll want to put on a light show against Buffalo.
Tre’Davious White, Cornerback, Buffalo Bills
Helping stop the incredible receiving corps will be Tre’Davious White. The entire Bills secondary is talented, and they have two rookies in Christian Benford and Kaiir Elam that can operate as depth in addition to Dane Jackson, Jordan Poyer, and Taron Johnson. But White is the centerpiece, and if they’re going to slow down the Bengals’ offense, he’ll need to play at a high level.
Gregory Rousseau, Edge Rusher, Buffalo Bills
With La’el Collins out for the Bengals, it’s going to be difficult to block edge rushers coming off of the right side of the offensive line. That’s where Bills second-year player Gregory Rousseau comes in. He’s been on a tear over the last several games and has accumulated 25 pressures over his last five contests, including three sacks. He could be a game-changer for Buffalo.
Matt Milano, Linebacker, Buffalo Bills
One of the best linebackers in the NFL, Milano has the ability to hurt opposing offenses as a run-stopper, blitzer, or as a coverage player. If the Bills do find a way to consistently generate pressure against an injured Bengals offensive line, throws over the middle will be how Burrow attempts to respond.
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Milano will be key to making sure that Joe Mixon and Hayden Hurst don’t make hay when the deep shot isn’t there for Burrow, and the veteran linebacker has been excellent at that task all year.
Germaine Pratt, Linebacker, Cincinnati Bengals
While Milano is finally earning recognition for his play, Germaine Pratt is still a year or two away from people recognizing his high level of performance. He’s been excellent for a good defense, and if the Bills want to lean on their revived running game, they’ll have to run through Pratt to do it. If the Bengals do find a way to close off options to Diggs, then it’ll be up to Pratt — like Milano — to prevent outlet options from becoming deadly threats.
Jessie Bates III, Safety, Cincinnati Bengals
One of the better free safeties across the NFL, Bates is a big reason why the Bengals ranked seventh in expected points against the pass. His range has allowed the Bengals to prevent deep throws and punish teams with slight miscues in their passing game. That’s why they rank fifth in adjusted yards per attempt on deep throws. He’s mostly played high, but he can play in the slot or in the box, giving them much-needed flexibility when they bamboozle opposing offenses.
Mike Hilton, Cornerback, Cincinnati Bengals
One of the best slot corners in the league, Hilton initially made waves for his blitzing ability in Pittsburgh. He’s grown as a coverage player, and now with the Bengals, he’s an all-around slot that provides value in the run game, extraordinary coverage ability, and a fantastic capacity to pressure the passer. Without a plan for Hilton, the Bills won’t get off the ground.
Top Players in Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy, Quarterback, San Francisco 49ers
There’s been some movement, mostly from San Francisco 49ers fans, to make Brock Purdy the Offensive Rookie of the Year. While the number of games he’s played makes that difficult, there’s a point to be made about his entrance onto the scene.
He would rank fourth in adjusted net yards per attempt and second in raw yards per attempt if he could qualify for leaderboards and is undefeated as a starting quarterback. But a lot of his production has come after the catch. If Dallas can do an effective job with tackling and closing down short routes, we might see if Purdy has a complete game in him.
Dak Prescott, Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
One of the most efficient quarterbacks in the NFL over the past few years, it’s been a struggle for Prescott to establish himself among the league’s best passers. After the game he had against Tampa Bay, however, he might be on his way to getting there.
He’s a remarkably accurate quarterback with generally great decision-making that makes the occasional mistake. The fact that he has running ability on top of that makes him an ideal quarterback to take on the 49ers — so long as he limits his miscues.
CeeDee Lamb, Wide Receiver, Dallas Cowboys
If Prescott is going to succeed against the 49ers, he’ll need CeeDee Lamb to be at the top of his game. Lamb is a great slot receiver that has a fluid route-running style, a good eye for the ball, and great athleticism. Like Prescott, he can be prone to the occasional big mistake, and that can limit his overall impact in a big way.
Christian McCaffrey, Running Back, San Francisco 49ers
The mid-season trade for a running back always feels like a panic move more than a genuine attempt to improve a team — but McCaffrey has been electric for the 49ers and a critical part of the offensive push they’ve made on their third quarterback.
Purdy has been impressive, but McCaffrey has been phenomenal. His ability to find small holes in the running game and turn them into big runs is great, but layering that with some of the best receiving ability at his position means the world. The Dallas defense is good, but their performance against running backs lags behind their capability against other positions. This could be the key for the 49ers.
San Francisco 49ers Wide Receivers
Both Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are at the top of the league in after-catch capability, and their ability to break tackles or find open space has been critical to Purdy’s success as a passer. The fact that either of them can also play running back is truly terrifying for any defense hoping to hone in on what might happen from play to play.
Though it does shorten the field, the fact that both receivers, as well as complementary pieces Danny Gray and Ray-Ray McCloud, can run deep forces opposing defenses to be honest and take defenders out of the box. It’s a diverse passing game with a devastating trump card.
Zack Martin, Guard, Dallas Cowboys
Sometimes, it’s satisfying to see the best offensive linemen in the game get their chance to win in the postseason. Martin has been one of the top guards — and, when tasked, tackles — in the NFL for quite some time. He might have to moonlight at tackle if the injuries continue to pile up for Dallas, and he’ll succeed there as well.
For now, he’s scheduled to have a fantastic battle against Arik Armstead that should help define how effective the Dallas running game will be. He’ll likely come out ahead.
Nick Bosa, Edge Rusher, San Francisco 49ers
Bosa is in the running for Defensive Player of the Year, and his impact on the 49ers warrants that discussion. Bosa is tied for first with the most pressures in the NFL — along with his opponent this week, Micah Parsons — and he’s been an excellent run defender on top of it. His sack total and hit total are higher than Parsons, and the fact that the Cowboys don’t have a completely healthy offensive line might mean the are opportunities there.
Fred Warner, Linebacker, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have some of the best players at their respective positions on defense, and Fred Warner is one of them. The top linebacker in the league, Warner has done an incredible job patrolling the shallow middle in coverage and blowing up runs in the backfield.
It’s hard to trick Warner, and he does a better job sifting through misdirection than even the opposing offenses trying to trick him. His quick trigger and smart play make him difficult to scheme around or ignore.
Talanoa Hufanga, Safety, San Francisco 49ers
Hufanga splashed onto the scene as a second-year player and quickly established himself as one of the top safeties in the NFL. While He’s has done a great job laying hits in the running game or deterring deep passes, he’s best known for his ability to create turnovers. If Dallas continues to have a turnover problem, it’s likely that Hufanga will be a big part of it.
Micah Parsons, Edge Rusher, Dallas Cowboys
Perhaps the best edge rusher in the league, we might soon forget that Parsons was originally drafted to play off-ball linebacker. He has remarkable speed, surprising strength, and an array of pass-rush moves that can stymie even the best tackles. Interestingly, the 49ers have some of the best tackles in the NFL. How Parsons, Dorance Armstrong Jr., Sam Williams, and Dante Fowler solve that problem will be fascinating to see.
Dallas Cowboys Secondary
Trevon Diggs has drawn most of the attention in the secondary for his high level of play, but Dallas has seen a lot of excellent play out of the other members, including rookie DaRon Bland — who had to replace Anthony Brown partway through the season and has seemingly outplayed him.
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On top of that, they’ve gotten great play out of Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson at safety, and, though they may suffer for the loss of Jayron Kearse in three-safety sets (if Kearse can’t go), they overall have an excellent group in the back end that should limit what the 49ers can do through the air.