NFL Playoffs 2012: Isaac Redman and Wild-Card Weekend's Biggest X-Factors

Prior to the playoffs every team has a plan for how they will succeed in the postseason. While some teams are able to accomplish the plan successfully, others have to change and adapt due to things going awry. The latter figures to be the case for many squads that will be competing in the Wild Card Round this weekend.

Injuries will play a big role in what many playoff teams do, whether it be replacing players who were recently hurt or reintegrating returning players. Whatever the case, some unexpected players are sure to make a big impact. Here are the three-biggest x-factors for this weekend's slate of games.

T.J. Yates - Houston Texans

Although he left the season's final regular season game, it looks as if Houston Texans rookie quarterback T.J. Yates will be OK to play in the team's first ever playoff game. The plans were for Matt Schaub to have the honor, but he was lost for the season a couple months ago due to a Lisfranc injury. Once backup Matt Leinart was injured as well and Yates was thrust into action.

While Yates hasn't been Schaub by any means, he has certainly been efficient. Luckily for the fifth-round pick, the Texans can hang their hats on a strong defense and an excellent running game led by Arian Foster. Those will be the main things that decide whether the Texans can beat the Cincinnati Bengals. If Yates can make some big throws, though, it will make Houston's chances of winning infinitely better.

Osi Umenyiora - New York Giants

New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora played his first game since Nov. 28 on Sunday, but based on his production you wouldn't have known it. Umenyiora was a huge factor as he sacked Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo twice and helped the Giants beat the Cowboys in a winner-take-all clash for the NFC East crown.

Umenyiora may not seem as important with pass rushers like Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka already in the fold, but one of the reasons the Giants were able to win the Super Bowl a few years ago was their never-ending wave of relentless pass rushers. If Umenyiora can stay healthy and play like he did Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons and quarterback Matt Ryan will be in for a rough day.

Isaac Redman - Pittsburgh Steelers

There is nothing worse for a team than to have a star player injured in what is essentially a meaningless game. That is precisely what happened to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday as running back Rashard Mendenhall suffered an ACL tear and will be out for the playoffs. The Steelers were playing to win the AFC North title, but since the Baltimore Ravens held serve, Pittsburgh's win over the Cleveland Browns meant nothing.

That means that the Steelers will have to turn to backup Isaac Redman. While Redman has been effective in limited carries, it remains to be seen whether he can carry the full workload. The Steelers are first and foremost a passing team and much of the responsibility will rest on the shoulders of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but if Redman can have some success against the Denver Broncos on the ground it will open things up that much more.