NFL Playoffs: Every Team's Most Underrated Player Who Will Step Up in Postseason

It’s the playoffs. Every possession counts. Losses are not acceptable. Nothing but the absolute best will do. This is where the men are separated from the boys.

While the league will embrace it’s biggest superstars (and Tim Tebow), any football fan will tell you it’s the role players who don’t necessarily draw attention that make or break teams in the postseason.

Every squad has them and they’ll be need in the upcoming weeks in order to prove victorious and keep the dream of playing on Super Bowl Sunday alive.

The list includes one underrated player from every remaining NFL playoff team.

They’re not the big ticket names and they don’t command national attention, but how these eight men perform Saturday and Sunday will go far in determining how their teams do in the postseason.

Pierre Thomas, Saints RB

It’s no secret the San Francisco 49ers feature the league’s fiercest run defense, allowing just 77 yards a game.

It’s also a known fact that the New Orleans Saints have the league’s best overall offense.

So, what gives Saturday afternoon?

If the Saints can use their top-ranked passing attack to open the running game up, just like they did last Saturday against the Detroit Lions, they will give versatility to their offense.

In this strength vs. strength matchup, how New Orleans’ offensive game-plan can adjust for what the Niners will try to do on defense will determine the outcome of this one.

Most teams use the running attack to open up the passing game via play action. The Saints will have to do the complete opposite.

Carlos Rogers, 49ers CB

Veteran cornerback Carlos Rogers is going to the playoffs in this, his first season with the Niners.

It’s been some time since he’s last been to the playoffs, dating all the way back to his 2005 rookie season with the Washington Redskins.

Rogers and his fellow defensive backs will have their hands full with Drew Brees’ pass-happy offense. If Marques Colston doesn’t cause enough problems, any of the team’s other three receivers and tight end Jimmy Graham will.

If Rogers can somehow shut down at least Colston, it will do wonders to improve the Niners’ chance of winning Saturday.

Eddie Royal, Broncos WR

Following Denver’s 29-23 overtime win against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Broncos head coach John Fox said in his postgame press conference that wide receiver Eric Decker is unlikely to play this weekend against the Patriots after suffering a knee injury.

Cue Eddie Royal.

Royal will likely get the start in replacement of Decker, one of Tim Tebow’s favorite targets as of late. Royal can make up the difference. He did after all have a touchdown reception against the Steelers on an impressive catch.

It’s not like if Tom Brady was to lose Wes Welker. Denver is still a dominant rushing offense, so the loss of Decker won’t complete cripple their style.

Aaron Hernandez, Patriots TE

No, not that top-tier tight end. That other one.

What a luxury the New England Patriots have with two great tight ends.

Bet the mortgage that the Broncos will focus on stopping Wes Welker on the outside and Rob Gronkowski on the interior. That opens things up for Hernandez to get involved.

It won’t be anything different for the Patriots with Tom Brady under center. It will continue to be a pass first, pass second and run third offense.

If Gronk is covered in the seams, Hernandez will be the best option over the middle.

T.J. Yates, Texans QB

What a story the rookie quarterback from North Carolina has been for the Houston Texans.

All seem doomed for the Texans after losing Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart for the season. A team that finally had a clear path to the playoffs looked to have lost any chance of contending without an experienced quarterback.

Yates has proven to be a pleasant surprise and didn’t seem to give into any of the pressure of playing on  Wild Card weekend.

Will his success continue against the mighty Baltimore Ravens? As long as he can maintain possession and not force passes, he should be able to.

A large helping of Arian Foster would help, too.

Vonta Leach, Ravens FB

The Ravens face a stiff defense this week with the Houston Texans.

Since coming in as the team’s defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips has taken the league’s worst defense to a top-five ranking. The offseason addition of corner back Jonathan Joseph has also given a much needed spark to the team’s passing defense which ranked last in 2010.

With that in mind, the key to victory for the Ravens will be the ground game.

In order to keep an effective rushing attack going, Baltimore will need Ray Rice to find holes in the defensive line via fullback Vonta Leach.

Leach is one of the best complimentary backfield pieces, and how well he throws blocks towards a strong Houston Texans front seven could mean the difference between big plays and tackles for loss.

Brandon Jacobs, Giants RB

They may be the statistically worst rushing offense in the NFL, but it’s not because of lack of talent.

New York have two nice, situational running backs. Ahmad Bradshaw is considered to be the home run back while Brandon Jacobs is the short yardage and goal-line back.

Jacobs will be a big key for the Giants against the Green Bay Packers. The defending champs feature a nice defensive front seven that will be hard to penetrate.

It will be on Jacobs to get into the second line of the defense and beyond to pick up long downs.

The best way to beat Aaron Rodgers? Don’t give him the ball. Controlling the clock by moving the football on the ground is the easiest way to do that.

Charlie Peprah, Packers SS

One of the other reasons the Giants are so low in the league rushing is because Eli Manning has taken this offense into a prolific aerial attack with Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks.

If the Giants come into Lambeau Field throwing the ball, strong safety Charlie Peprah will have his hands full over the middle.

Charles Woodson will most likely be lined up at corner against Cruz and Tramon Williams will get the responsibility of covering Nicks.

Peprah, who is second on the team in interceptions with five, will have a chance to step up Sunday and provide additional coverage in the secondary. He’s been quite the ball hog as of late, so his effectiveness could give Green Bay a distinctive advantage.

Brett Lyons is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand or from official interview materials. 

Follow Brett Lyons on Twitter @BrettLyons670.