The NFC playoffs are one of the best field in the conference in years. The Minnesota Vikings are a wild-card team with 14 wins and the Green Bay Packers are a No. 7 seed with 11 wins, showing the depth of the conference. The NFC is also at the top of the list with the Detroit Lions (15-2) and Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) among the top two seeds in the conference, each having a great opportunity to go to the Super Bowl.
With the NFC playoff field being so strong, which teams will make the difference and contribute to a deep playoff run. Can these teams win playoff games if these players don’t perform at a high level? Let’s take a look at the five most important non-quarterbacks in the NFC and the impact these players have had on their teams.
These players are essential to their teams and the unit on that side of the ball. How these players perform will determine the impact of the game they play and their team’s chances of advancing in the playoffs.
Note: There were many players being considered, including some of the game’s greatest playmakers (i.e. Justin Jefferson, AJ Brown, Penei Sewell, Kobie Turner, Zack Baun).
Joseph has emerged as one of the best safeties in football this year and should be considered for an All-Pro selection. Joseph led the NFL with nine interceptions as a turnover machine on the Lions defense. Opposing quarterbacks targeting Joseph had a passer rating of 44.4 against him, only throwing two touchdowns.
Joseph also had 83 tackles and 12 passes defensed in the 17 games. Of all the injuries to the Lions defense, Joseph was the mainstay. He demonstrated his impact late in the season, being targeted only once as a primary defender and allowing 8 yards.
The Lions defense has a chance with Joseph on the field, even with all of this unit’s injuries.
The Rams have one of the young superstar receivers in the NFL in Nacua, and one of the best route runners in the playoffs. Nacua backed up his record-breaking rookie year with a strong sophomore campaign, with 79 catches for 990 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games, averaging 90.3 receiving yards per game.
Nacua averages 88.4 receiving yards per game in his career, the second highest of any player of the year. NFL history. Those first two seasons included 12 games with over 100 receiving yards, the most by any player in league history. Nacua also proved he could make the playoffs, hauling in nine catches for 181 yards in his playoff debut – the most yards by a rookie in a game in league history.
Matthew Stafford’s top target is Nacua, who is essential for the Rams to score points in the playoffs. The Rams offense is effective because of Nacua’s route running and ability to get open.
There are plenty of stars on the Vikings who are difference makers, but their defense consistently doesn’t get to the quarterback without Van Ginkel. Having had the opportunity to use his skills in Brian Flores’ defense, Van Ginkel finished with 11.5 sacks on the year (tied for eighth in the league) and 18 tackles for loss (tied for fourth with his teammate Jonathan Greenard).
Van Ginkel had 49 pressures and 19 quarterback hits, but was a dual-threat linebacker in coverage. Opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of 71.6, targeting Van Ginkel as the primary defender, as he returned two interceptions for touchdowns – the only player in the league to accomplish this feat this season.
The Vikings went from 18th in points allowed per possession (1.91) to fourth (1.72), thanks in large part to the presence of Van Ginkel. He is the player that can be a game changer on that side of the ball for Minnesota.
The Lions have so many impactful players on offense that any of their point guards could be mentioned. St. Brown is the unit’s constant threat, as he is coming off his third straight 100-catch, 1,000-yard season in Detroit. Jared Goff’s most reliable target resulted in a career-high 81.6% catch rate en route to 115 catches for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns.
St. Brown doesn’t have the game-breaking speed of Jahmyr Gibbs or the big-play touchdown ability of Jameson Williams, but he’s who Goff is looking for at third and fourth to move the chains. He is arguably the best slot receiver in football and always finds a way to get open. If the Lions need a play, St. Brown is there to make one.
Goff had a passer rating of 136.8 targeting St. Brown this season, showing how important he is to the Lions offense. If Detroit succeeds Super BowlSt. Brown will play a huge role in getting the Lions there.
Barkley had an MVP-caliber season in his first year in Philadelphia, throwing for 2,005 yards and averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He also totaled 2,283 yards from scrimmage, which also led the league.
Barkley’s impact came in the second half of games, as he rushed for the most second-half yards by a running back since the start of the play-by-play era in 1991 (1,245). Barkley averaged 6.7 yards per carry in the second half, along with eight touchdowns, including four for 60-plus yards.
There is a reason why the Eagles outscored their opponents 252-152 in the second half of games. They were also fourth in the league in offensive points per game (14.7) and second in rushing yards per game (105.6) after halftime. The Eagles closed out games because of Barkley.
If the Eagles have a late lead, they are very difficult to beat with Barkley finishing games.
