Conference championship X factors: Who will help team to Super Bowl LIX?

The stars will be out for this weekend’s AFC and NFC conference championship matchups, but these lesser-known players could play pivotal roles in each game. 

Buffalo Bills | Greg Rousseau | DE

The Bills had a +3 turnover margin in Sunday’s 27-25 victory over the Ravens and led the league with a +24 turnover differential in the regular season. They used a pair of interceptions to beat Kansas City in Week 11, but Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes hasn’t thrown an interception since. He does have three fumbles, including one against the Texans last week.

Rousseau led Buffalo with eight sacks and 16 tackles for a loss in the regular season but also led the team with a career-high three forced fumbles. He’s had a sack in his last two playoff games and recorded his first career interception against Mahomes as a rookie in 2021.

When asked about Rousseau’s recent play, head coach Sean McDermott said, “Our best players have to play their best every week… I think Greg is starting to understand how important that is.”

It appears so and another big game from Rousseau could earn Buffalo its first Super Bowl appearance since 1994.

Kansas City Chiefs | Xavier Worthy | WR

Most know Worthy as the guy who ran a record-setting 40-yard dash (4.21) at last year’s scouting combine, but few realize he was the only Chief’s wide receiver to catch a pass in last week’s 23-14 victory over the Texans.

Hollywood Brown, DeAndre Hopkins and JuJu Smith-Schuster saw a combined four targets on Saturday but had no receptions as tight end Travis Kelce carried the team’s passing game with seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown.

Worthy didn’t score but had five catches for 45 yards and had one touchdown in each of his last two regular season starts. The 21-year-old rookie didn’t post the gaudy numbers many expected when the Chiefs took him with the 28th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft but with his speed, Worthy is always a threat to make a big play

Washington Commanders | Frankie Luvu | LB

Luvu had 99 tackles and a career-high eight sacks in his first year as a Commander, but his big-hit ability should have Philadelphia concerned. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts missed the team’s last two regular season games after suffering a concussion on this hit by Luvu in Week 16.

Some considered it a dirty play, but it didn’t look nearly as bad as this hit on Detroit quarterback Jared Goff in last week’s 45-31 victory over the Lions.