1 Player Each NFL Team Is Counting On as the Season Winds Down

With Week 13 upon us, it’s time to look ahead at the remaining schedule and single out certain players whose performances could have the biggest impact.

Each team’s roster will be examined, and while some are vying for the playoffs, others are simply trying to build positives for next season. A lot of the players on this list are under 25 years old and therefore have major potential to truly break out in 2016.

For this list, we’ll look at key opponents, team needs and player potential. What kind of core talent can the struggling teams build their organizations' future around? Which underrated player can help a team with playoff aspirations achieve its goals?

The list will go division by division, starting with the AFC East.

Buffalo Bills

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For the struggling Buffalo Bills, their guy on defense has been Stephon Gilmore. He’s been a presence in the middle of that secondary all year and leads the team in interceptions with three.

If the team hopes to get back to .500 this week in a tough matchup with the surging Houston Texans, Gilmore will have to be one of the stars of the game.

Can the Bills defense match that of the Texans? That’s the question here, as Gilmore has a tough assignment in dynamic wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Miami Dolphins

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Wide receiver Jarvis Landry is enjoying another solid season for the Miami Dolphins.

The second-year, 23-year-old sensation already has 816 yards receiving on the year and figures to be a big part of the Dolphins’ attack next season.

What makes Landry so important to Miami is the fact that the team can use him in a number of ways—on punt returns, as a wideout or in Statue of Liberty plays.

New England Patriots

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Corner back Logan Ryan is near the top of the league in interceptions this year, and as Doug Kyed of NESN.com wrote, is enjoying a breakout season. He has an exceptional ability to read the quarterback and will be a big part of the Patriots' playoff run.

An interesting matchup coming up for Ryan and Co. is Week 14 versus the Texans, which could be a preview of a later playoff game. As the Texans are improving behind the play of J.J. Watt, look for Ryan to be fired up.

Can he learn more about Houston’s routes and store that information for later? The 10-1 Patriots are counting on him.

New York Jets

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One of the unsung heroes of the New York Jets’ surprising season has been Marcus Williams. Exceeding all expectations with five interceptions on the year, Williams also has 1.5 sacks.

While he is currently listed as day-to-day, according to CBS New York, he figures to play a big role for the banged-up Jets the rest of December because of the concussion Darrelle Revis suffered.

Teams with offensive weapons, such as the Patriots and New York Giants, remain on their schedule, so the Jets secondary will be key for the team's playoff push.

Baltimore Ravens

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Drafted out of the University of Southern California, running back Javorius Allen has shown a lot of promise the last two weeks for the Baltimore Ravens.

In his best game as a pro, he ran for 67 yards versus the St. Louis Rams in Week 11. He followed that up by rushing for 55 off 12 carries last time out against the Cleveland Browns.

The Ravens are hoping to see increased improvement from Allen in each of the remaining games, as No. 1 RB Justin Forsett is out with a broken arm. This offseason will be interesting, and the Ravens are counting on Allen to show them how capable he is as he continues to look for the first touchdown of his career.

Cincinnati Bengals

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Reggie Nelson has impressed so far this season with 52 combined tackles and a career-best six interceptions for the Cincinnati Bengals.

The veteran has shown a knack for getting picks versus good teams, with trusted quarterbacks, and had an interception in each of the last two weeks.

With the playoffs fast approaching, the Bengals need Nelson to keep up that pace in order to balance their lethal offense.

Cleveland Browns

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The Cleveland Browns have issues at quarterback and are hoping newly appointed starter Austin Davis can show them some life down the stretch.

After almost leading his team to a comeback win over the Ravens last week, replacing Josh McCown in the fourth quarter, Davis has some momentum heading into Sunday’s game against the Bengals. With the struggles of Johnny Manziel, Davis could be very important for the Browns as they get ready for the offseason and draft.

Pittsburgh Steelers

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With Le’Veon Bell out for the rest of the season with the knee injury he suffered in early November, DeAngelo Williams has quickly become one of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ most important players.

As Dave Bryan of Steelers Depot opined, Williams brings an all-around game every week. While his legs have carried him to six touchdowns, he can also hurt you by receiving and had 88 yards off seven catches last week, as Bryan detailed.

Williams, 32, is still dangerous and should provide a huge lift throughout December.

Houston Texans

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The Houston Texans are hoping for a healthy December from Jadeveon Clowney.

Just his presence on the field will give them a huge boost. The No. 1 overall pick from last year’s draft has missed more than 10 games since then with knee and lower back issues, as Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle wrote.

Despite missing so much time, Clowney still has 1.5 sacks on the year. He could be a big difference-maker for them as they battle it out with the 6-5 Indianapolis Colts in the standings.

Indianapolis Colts

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Speaking of the Colts, young wide receiver Donte Moncrief has emerged as a valuable target for Andrew Luck this season.

Serving as an excellent tandem with T.Y. Hilton (both receivers have five TDs on the year), Moncrief is coming off a 114-yard performance versus Tampa Bay in Week 12.

Still only 22 years old, the second-year player needs to keep up the pace as the Colts continue to fight to get over their poor start. Pivotal games include Week 13 versus Pittsburgh and Week 15 against Houston.

Jacksonville Jaguars

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A bright spot for the Jacksonville Jaguars this year has been the play of tight end Julius Thomas, who caught for 116 yards and a touchdown last time out against the San Diego Chargers.

A strong finish the rest of the way by Thomas would take some pressure off some of the Jaguars’ younger players and improve the development of wide receiver Allen Robinson. His veteran presence means a lot to this team, and it's something Jacksonville is counting on for next year.

Tennessee Titans

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Although his team has put together a string of losses, rookie QB Marcus Mariota still has plenty to be proud of.

His 2,244 yards and 16 TDs jump out. What’s more, Mariota has been elusive in the pocket, showing great mobility and rushing for an average of 6.2 yards.

This month, he’ll continue to work on limiting his turnovers as he faces a tough schedule the rest of the season, with four games against teams that all have winning records. It will be especially interesting to see what Mariota can do matched up against the tough secondaries of the Jets and Patriots.

His season has shown the Titans front office that it has a winner, and it could be very active this offseason.

Denver Broncos

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As the Denver Broncos get ready for an interesting playoff run, kicker Brandon McManus has been in rare form.

Only 24 years old, McManus has a strong leg and has compiled a 91.3 kick percentage this season, showing much improvement. He’s tallied 88 points for the team and, with that high altitude in Denver, figures to be a big offensive weapon for the Broncos in the playoffs.

Kansas City Chiefs

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With a 6-5 record, this is a crucial point in the Kansas City Chiefs’ season. Quarterback Alex Smith is key, of course, but so is top receiver Jeremy Maclin.

In his first year with the Chiefs following five years with the Philadelphia Eagles, Maclin has almost 800 yards receiving and just had a monster game versus the Bills. In Week 12, he went 9-of-11 for 160 yards and a touchdown.

While it may be asking too much for him to keep putting up those types of numbers, the Chiefs need him to be reliable the rest of the way, as they haven’t gotten too much production from their other wide receivers.

Oakland Raiders

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While there have been a series of disappointments along the defensive line for the Oakland Raiders this season, as the Associated Press highlighted, Khalil Mack’s play as a pass-rusher has not been one of them.

At this point, it’s hard to think where the defense would be without Mack, given his seven sacks and one forced fumble. While a change in position meant less overall tackles for Mack, he has still excelled in an OLB/hybrid role. Looking forward, the Raiders would be wise to build around him.

San Diego Chargers

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The task of replacing wide receiver Keenan Allen is almost impossible for the San Diego Chargers, but they need to continue to look for positives following his injury in early November. One player who has risen to the challenge is fellow receiver Stevie Johnson.

Phillip Rivers figures to go to him often during the rest of the month, as Johnson is coming off a 92-yard performance versus the Jaguars. With holes at wide receiver, the Chargers are counting on Johnson to carry his fair share of the offensive load.

Dallas Cowboys

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As the Dallas Cowboys are grappling with being last in the NFC East with a 3-8 record, one player they can look forward to watching continue to grow next season is linebacker Sean Lee.

Currently leading the team in tackles with 81, Lee recorded his first sack of his career during Week 3, when he got to Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan. As the Cowboys look to formulate an offseason plan, Lee will be a nice piece to build around.

New York Giants

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As the New York Giants push to get to .500, they are relying on improved play from wide receiver Rueben Randle. This team was built around Eli Manning’s arm and the offense that comes with that. As Paul Schwartz of the New York Post wrote, it may be their biggest strength.

While Odell Beckham Jr. gets the majority of the looks, Manning needs that reliable No. 2 receiver more than ever. If Randle can finish strong, it would be a huge boost for a team that has often had to outgun its opponents this season.

Philadelphia Eagles

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What the Eagles decide to do with free-agent-to-be Walter Thurmond this offseason will be crucial for their defense next season.

The 28-year-old defensive back has led the team in interceptions this year with three. He also has two forced fumbles. Since he has the ability to change games with his timely hits and reads, Philadelphia would be wise to try to re-sign him.

Washington Redskins

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Dealing with inconsistencies all year, the Washington Redskins find themselves tied with the Giants atop the NFC East with a 5-6 record. Quarterback Kirk Cousins has been a revelation at times, and when he has starred, he has enjoyed throwing to tight end Jordan Reed.

In a career year, Reed has had four games with over 70 yards receiving. Their partnership will be key to watch as the season comes to a close, and Reed may be featured more in the offensive scheme. Lacking a standout running game, the Redskins' air attack will be crucial this month.

Chicago Bears

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How the Chicago Bears fare the rest of the season is largely dependent on Jay Cutler and his ability in the red zone. Without any big-name guys to turn to on offense, Cutler has a decent amount of pressure on him to make things happen.

He’s done a good job of limiting his picks this year (six interceptions compared to 18 in 2014) and has consistently thrown for at least 200 yards all season.

With a strong close to the season, Cutler can show the Bears front office, and the fanbase, why he’s still got plenty to offer for next year.

Detroit Lions

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As the Detroit Lions begin to look ahead to next season, one main area of concern for them is the secondary. While other areas of the defense have been serviceable, Detroit is currently tied with Baltimore for last in the league in interceptions with four.

Free safety Glover Quin is responsible for two of those picks and represents a prime candidate for them to build around. This should be an offseason of change in Detroit.

Green Bay Packers

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Coming off his best game of the season, running back Eddie Lacy will look to keep it going this week versus the vulnerable Lions.

Although dealing with a bothersome ankle, Lacy showed great poise rushing for 106 yards on 17 carries while catching four passes for 34 yards and a touchdown in the Packers’ tough loss to the Bears in Week 12.

He leads the team in rushing with 513 yards off 122 attempts and plays the important role of taking pressure off Aaron Rodgers and presenting coach Mike McCarthy with a balanced attack. If the 2013 Eddie Lacy can show up in the next four games, the Packers will have way more momentum and confidence heading into the playoffs.

Minnesota Vikings

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The Minnesota Vikings are one of the surprise teams of the 2015 season thanks to a dynamic one-two punch of Adrian Peterson and Teddy Bridgewater on offense. On the defensive end, one name that they continue to count on is Anthony Barr. Another player on this list who is under 25 years old, Barr already has three forced fumbles this season.

The No. 9 overall pick in 2014 has 6.5 sacks in his career already and recently revealed that he has been playing with a broken hand, according to Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune. Barr has quickly emerged as one of the most athletic players at his position and figures to play a vital role if the Vikings lock down a playoff spot.

Atlanta Falcons

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Devonta Freeman has been a beast for the Atlanta Falcons all season, tallying nine TDs and almost 800 rushing yards. The balance he brings will be key for the Falcons as they try to snap a four-game losing streak that has come at the worst time.

To make matters worse, Freeman and Co. have to face the undefeated Carolina Panthers twice this month. Since the Falcons only average 23.6 points per game, good for 14th in the league, Freeman will have to bring his best in those contests.

Carolina Panthers

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One of the most underrated members of the Panthers’ stellar defensive unit has been defensive back Kurt Coleman.

The Ohio State product has been on fire recently, collecting an interception in each of the last three games. As the saying goes, defense wins championships, and Coleman will be front and center as this Panthers team attempts to make franchise history in January.

New Orleans Saints

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The New Orleans Saints are hoping for a bounce-back performance out of star receiver Brandin Cooks in Week 13.

With six touchdowns in his age-22 season, Cooks represents a big part of the Saints’ future. His ability to continue to build chemistry with Drew Brees will be instrumental to the Saints’ progress next season.

His 4.33-second speed in the 40-yard dash has and will continue to help this offense. Look for the Saints to try more deep balls to Cooks this month, as they test the young player’s durability.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins has tremendous potential for the Buccaneers, and although he’s missed a bulk of the games this season, he has the size (6'5", 262 lbs) to break out when Tampa Bay figures to be more competitive in 2016.

Players at his position usually take a while to develop, so the fact that he has two touchdowns off only seven receptions is encouraging for Buccaneers fans. Look for offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter to target Seferian-Jenkins more in the red zone this month.

Arizona Cardinals

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Another player on this list who is under the age of 25 is Tyrann Mathieu of the Arizona Cardinals. Mathieu is leading the team in interceptions with four and has 89 yards on the year.

On Thursday, he was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November and will look to carry that momentum into contests in December and beyond.

San Francisco 49ers

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Following running back Frank Gore’s departure to the Colts, Carlos Hyde emerged early on this season thanks to a 168-yard effort versus the Vikings in Week 1.

Although he remains sidelined with a stress fracture in his foot, Hyde remains a humongous part of the Niners' plans for the future.

When healthy, he is a hard runner and bruising running back with great bursts. As the offensive line continues to come together, Hyde could really break out next year.

Seattle Seahawks

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As Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports wrote, there are so many questions/doubts around running back Marshawn Lynch’s role with the Seattle Seahawks moving forward.

First off, Lynch is nearing the age of 30 and just had surgery to correct a groin injury. After years of running a very physical style of play, the injuries have piled up, and Thomas Rawls has risen as a candidate to replace Lynch full-time.

Although Rawls has only rushed for three TDs, the rookie’s 5.6-yard average is serviceable and should fit well with the Seahawks’ strategy moving forward.

St. Louis Rams

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Last year’s NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award winner, Aaron Donald has continued to develop with seven sacks this season.

He has great leadership qualities and is a big reason why the Rams rank second in the league in total tackles, a sign that they might be headed in the right direction.

If St. Louis can beef up the secondary behind Donald and Co., either via free agency or the draft, it may be one of the surprise teams next year.