Predicting the Top 10 Performers on NFL Wild Card Weekend

It's finally that time, football fans! The NFL's Wild Card Weekend is here, which means meaningful games for some fanbases, and the beginning of a long offseason for others.

For those teams still in contention, the action gets started on Saturday with two AFC clashes between Kansas and Houston, along with Pittsburgh and Cincinnati later on.

Sunday brings about two NFC wild-card contests between Seattle and Minnesota, as well as Green Bay and Washington.

With the first matchup looming less than 24 hours from now, it's time to take a look at some players we can expect big on-field performances from.

Before any angry fans comment about their favorite player being excluded, I based this list off of that particular player's opponent as a team, as well as individual matchups between cornerbacks and receivers.

Surrounding talent was also factored into this list, as that oftentimes leads to more success on the field, anyway. The final factor brought into consideration was a player's recent performance, although in some cases, that was waived due to my first factor: their opponent.

Please enjoy this list of 10 performers we can expect big things out of this weekend!

Honorable Mention

Associated Press

As well as Doug Baldwin has played in recent weeks, he wasn't quite able to crack my top 10.

As much as I would like to include the following three players, there just wasn't enough room on this list for everyone. So, Geno Atkins, Doug Baldwin and Jordan Reed, I apologize, but that doesn't mean I don't expect each player to have a solid game this weekend.

Geno Atkins is as good an interior defensive lineman as anyone, and his All-Pro selection certainly proves that. Atkins racked up 11 sacks and nine stuffs this year and hopes to continue his dominance against a powerful Pittsburgh Steelers offense on Saturday.

Doug Baldwin has been as hot as anyone in recent weeks, hauling in 11 touchdown receptions in his final six games to close out the regular season. With Marshawn Lynch's return on Sunday in Minnesota, I expect the Seahawks to reestablish their dominant running game, but that doesn't mean there won't be opportunities for Baldwin throughout the day.

Finally, Jordan Reed, one of this season's breakout stars, certainly hopes to make his presence known against the Green Bay Packers this weekend. Reed led the Washington Redskins with 87 catches, 952 yards and 11 touchdowns this year as one of Kirk Cousins' favorite targets. This will be Reed's first playoff appearance, and his matchup with Green Bay's linebackers will be key in determining the outcome. 

10. J.J. Watt

There's really no point in trying to deny Justin James Watt's greatness. This guy just makes plays and has a tremendous nose for the football, with or without a helmet on.

Watt gets to the quarterback better than anyone else in the league, as evidenced by his NFL-best 17.5 sacks, making him a nightmare for a Kansas City Chiefs offensive line that allowed 45 sacks this season.

In Houston's season-opening loss to Kansas City, Watt recorded two sacks and four stuffs for a loss of eight yards. The Texans will need a performance similar to the show Watt put on in Week 1 if they're going to be able to take down the red-hot Chiefs on Saturday.

9. Jeremy Maclin

One year after the Chiefs failed to throw a touchdown pass to a wide receiver, Jeremy Maclin has come in and led the team with 87 receptions for 1,088 yards and eight touchdowns.

While it took him some time to acclimate to the Chiefs offense, Maclin finished the regular season strong with touchdowns in five of his last six games.

Kansas City doesn't have many reliable options in the passing game, but you can bet Alex Smith will frequently be looking for Maclin throughout the game against a gritty Houston Texans defense. 

8. Kirk Cousins

While no quarterback put up better late-season numbers than Russell Wilson, one of the only guys who came close is Washington's Kirk Cousins.

The Redskins' fourth-year quarterback has been tough to slow down as of late, throwing 23 touchdowns— compared to just three interceptions—over his last 10 games.

However, Cousins will be facing Green Bay's sixth-ranked pass defense on Sunday. If this one turns into a shootout, though, the Redskins certainly seem to have a quarterback capable of putting up points on the scoreboard.

7. Randall Cobb

This might seem like an odd pick, given that Randall Cobb hasn't scored a touchdown in six weeks. However, the Packers still have Aaron Rodgers throwing the ball—a guy who found Cobb on 79 occasions this season.

If Green Bay is going to get its offense back on track on Sunday, Cobb will likely need to play a major role. Having a first-round matchup with Washington's 25th-ranked pass defense could be just what Cobb needs to get going again.

In a game that has the potential to turn into a shootout, I fully expect Randall Cobb to make plays all game long and quite possibly find the end zone, which has been so elusive in recent weeks.

6. Russell Wilson

There isn't an NFL quarterback who has put up Wilson's numbers over the past seven weeks: 24 touchdowns, compared to just one interception. He has taken the Seattle Seahawks offense to a different level after a slow start this seaso, and is a major reason for the team's 6-2 record over the final eight games.

Despite Wilson's recent dominance and an absolute obliteration of the Minnesota Vikings defense in Week 13, I expect Minnesota and it's 12-ranked pass defense to come out motivated and slow down the Seahawks offense to some degree.

Regardless, Russell has proven to be one of the NFL's top playmakers and has enough talent around him to have success on Sunday. If he's given enough time to allow his receivers to break loose, it could be a long day for the Vikings.

5. DeAndre Hopkins

One of the key matchups in Saturday's Chiefs-Texans contest will be between DeAndre Hopkins and Marcus Peters. Not many cornerbacks have been able to stop Hopkins this year, but Kansas City's rookie sensation will look to continue his brilliant season against one of the NFL's top receiving threats.

Hopkins finished third in the NFL with 1,521 receiving yards, to go along with 11 touchdowns, and will once again be called upon to lead his Texans to victory.

In Houston's Week 1 game against the Chiefs, Hopkins caught nine balls for 98 yards and two scores, albeit against a rookie cornerback in his first NFL game.

Now that Peters has a full season under his belt, it will be interesting to see how he fares against one of the NFL's best pass-catchers.

4. Aaron Rodgers

At many points in the season, football fans were wondering when Aaron Rodgers would begin to look like the quarterback we were all accustomed to seeing in past years.

In the Packers' last six games, Rodgers threw just eight touchdowns and five interceptions, as his team went just 3-3 in those games.

However, the Redskins' porous defense factors in greatly to Rodgers' inclusion at this point on the list, as it seems an ideal time for the veteran quarterback to get back on track.

I fully expect Rodgers to look more like his old self on Sunday and put up points in bunches against a struggling Washington defense.

3. Ben Roethlisberger

While the Steelers didn't clinch a playoff berth until the last day of the NFL season, they are easily one of the AFC's scariest offensive teams.

Much of that is due to two-time Super Bowl Champion quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has thrown for more than 330 yards in eight of his 12 games this season.

Not only is Roethlisberger one of the most successful postseason quarterbacks in this year's playoffs, he also has some of the most dangerous playmakers around him, striking fear into the minds of opposing defenses.

Big Ben has seemingly locked in the timing with receivers Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton, and we can expect several deep balls to be thrown on Saturday against the Bengals.

2. A.J. Green

Speaking of the Cincinnati Bengals, A.J. Green will need to have a big game if his team is going to be able to keep up with the high-scoring Pittsburgh Steelers offense.

Green has put up 250 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the Bengals' first two games against Pittsburgh, and I fully expect him to keep up that success on Saturday night.

The Steelers have the NFL's third-worst pass defense, and Green will be looking to torch that secondary as he has all year.

With many points expected in this one, Green should have plenty of opportunities to put on a show.

1. Antonio Brown

There may not be a more difficult wide receiver to defend than Antonio Brown, who finished the year with an incredible 136 receptions for 1,834 yards and 10 touchdowns.

In the season's second half alone, Brown brought in 84 receptions for 1,116 yards and seven touchdowns. Those are great numbers for an entire season, yet the Steelers' No. 1 receiver was able to do it all in just eight games.

In a win-or-go-home situation on Saturday, it's safe to assume Brown will get the ball as frequently as Roethlisberger can get it to him.

Even in a hostile road environment against a solid Bengals defense, Brown should have plenty of opportunities to showcase his athleticism in front of a national audience.