NFL Wild Card weekend: Players with the extra edge

It’s almost unfair that the NFL regular season is over. However, it means NFL games that actually matter are on the horizon.

A Super Bowl is the ultimate goal, but the road to Houston starts in the wild card round. Even though there have only been six Super Bowl Champions that ran the table from the wild card position, there is always a chance that another team could catch fire to be crowned with a championship at the end of the year.

While parts of the regular season get intense with some marquee matchups, there is something special about the win-or-go-home death matches where everything is on the line for these players who have literally bleed for the opportunity to play for a championship.

There are players on each team that can make or break a team’s chances to advance in the playoffs. Whether it is a set of particular skills or experience, these ballers give their respective teams the edge they need to bring them one step closer to immortality.

Here are the players that can give their teams the advantage in any matchup.

AFC

Khalil Mack, LB – Oakland Raiders

The untimely injury to Derek Carr may have sunk the Raiders chance for a Super Bowl, but Khalil Mack could at least make sure that Oakland goes down swinging. The outside linebacker is top-10 in the league with 11.0 sacks, forced five fumbles and recovered three.

The pass rush specialist is facing a Houston Texan team with two green quarterbacks that combined to throw 3,176 yards to finish 29th in the league. If the Raiders have any hope to advance past the first round of the playoffs with potentially a third-string quarterback in Connor Cook after backup QB Matt McGloin suffered a shoulder injury, they will need their defensive star to impose his will on the game.

Reggie Nelson, S – Oakland Raiders

Backing up Kahlil Mack in the Raiders secondary is safety Reggie Nelson. He is tied for fifth in the league with five interceptions and two fumble recoveries at the defensive back position. He has a nose for a ball, which will come in handy against a Texans team that has thrown 16 interceptions for the year. Nelson may have a big game against Houston and either of its two inexperienced quarterbacks.

Lamar Miller, RB – Houston Texans

As good as the Raiders have been defending the pass, their rushing defense has left a lot to be desired. Not that Texans running back Lamar Miller has any issues with that. Even though he has missed the last two games with a bum ankle, the 1,000-yard rusher should be good to go against a Raiders defense that has give up an average of 117.6 rushing yards per game. With the passing game in questionable hands, the Texans’ success lies on the broad shoulders of Lamar Miller.

Le’Veon Bell, RB – Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers have some studs on offense, but no one may have a bigger impact in the wildcard round than the Michigan State product. Bell has only played in 12 games this year, but has gained 1,884 yards from scrimmage. His dynamic skill set should wreck havoc on a Miami Dolphins defense that has given up 140.4 yards per game.

Cameron Wake, DE – Miami Dolphins

The former Penn State defensive player didn’t take the traditional route to the NFL, but his long journey to the playoffs has finally reached its end. After being cut by the New York Giants in 2005 and playing for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League from 2007-2008, Wake is playing in his first playoff game ever.

The 34-year-old isn’t just a body on the field either; he is one of the best defensive players on the Miami roster. Wake tallied 11.5 sacks this year and has been on a roll lately with three sacks in four games with an interception. The Dolphins will need his talent to stop Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and then talented Steeler offense.

NFC

Aaron Rodgers, QB – Green Bay Packers

The Packers have won their last six games and big reason is the equally hot Aaron Rodgers.  The Green Bay quarterback has thrown 11 touchdowns during the winning streak and hasn’t thrown an interception since Week 10. He also finished the year with 40 touchdowns – the second time he has hit that mark in his career.

He will be facing a Giants team that is in the bottom-10 of the NFL in terms of pass defense, giving up 251.1 yards per game. Rodgers has been a flamethrower the past couple weeks and can burn the Giants badly if they aren’t careful.

Odell Beckham Jr., WR – New York Giants

Speaking of burning, OBJ has a chance to really catch fire against the Green Bay Packers pass defense. Despite having talented pass rushers, the Packers still rank near the bottom of the league in passing yards allowed per game (269.2) and passing touchdowns allowed (32).

Beckham may not have consistently dominant games, but he can definitely explode for huge yards, like the 222-yard effort he had against Baltimore on Week 6. With the Giants going into hostile territory at Lambeau Field, New York will need Beckham to be spectacular if they want a chance to win the game.

Matt Ryan, QB – Atlanta Falcons

We mentioned Aaron Rodgers coming into the playoffs with the hot hand, but Matt Ryan is arguably even hotter. Matty Ice has 11 touchdowns in the last four games, and finished the year throwing for nearly 5,000 yards and 38 scores against seven interceptions.

The Detroit Lions have had trouble keeping receivers out of the end zone this year, giving up 33 touchdowns in the passing game (31st in the league). Ryan could do a lot of damage with all of his weapons clicking on all cylinders at the right time.

The Georgia Dome – Atlanta Falcons

No, the Falcons aren’t exactly the perfect home team this year, but starting your playoff run at home can be a big boost, especially for a team that can outscore opponents like the Falcons can.

Atlanta is only 5-3 at home, but the visiting Detroit Lions are 3-5 on the road. The Lions definitely don’t look as comfortable on the road as some teams in the NFL, and the loud Atlanta crowd can make things difficult for them to find their rhythm – especially with the Lions on a three-game losing streak.

Matt Stafford, QB – Detroit Lions

Honestly, it was very difficult picking a player that would give Detroit an edge, especially with the team losing three games in a row. However, Stafford does have a pretty juicy matchup that may allow him to find his groove again.

The Falcons are near the bottom of the league in passing defense, giving up a fourth-worst 266.7 passing yards per game and a fifth-worst 31 passing touchdowns. Stafford may not be a little cold coming in with just two touchdowns in three games, but his league-leading eight game-winning drives this year proves that he can turn it on when his team needs it the most. If anyone can pull out a magical win when the game is on the line this year, it will be Stafford.