NFL Playoffs: 15 Biggest X-Factors in the Divisional Round

The NFL playoffs are going to be entering the second round this weekend with the four divisional playoff matchups.

In the AFC, it's all about keeping things within the respective divisions with the Jets taking on the Patriots and the Steelers taking on the Ravens.

In the NFC, it's the upstart Seahawks taking on the Chicago Bears and the Packers taking on the Falcons.

Each game will have its own drama and storyline, and each game will have players who make the difference to determine whether or not their team advances.

Here are 15 players who bring that "x-factor" to this weekend's games.

15. Mark Sanchez

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets drops back to pass against the Indianapolis Colts during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 8, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Jets won 17-16. (Pho

Mark Sanchez is a developing quarterback who has had some great games and some bad games this season.

Sanchez threw for 189 yards and one pick against the Colts. Those aren't exactly numbers to inspire Jets fans going into New England this weekend. Sanchez can throw against New England, though, because in Week 2 he threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns.

Sanchez' ability to overcome the Patriots defense and perform will be one of the big factors in the game.

14. Marshawn Lynch

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Running back Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Seattle Seahawks runs for a 67-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8, 2011 in Seattl

Marshawn Lynch had what probably was the best run of his career last Saturday. That's really not debatable at this point.

If Lynch can keep this level of play up two weeks in a row, especially against the Bears' second-ranked rush defense, then the re-assessment going on right now about the Seahawks will continue.

Lynch's numbers this year weren't great and while a game like he had Saturday always seemed possible, the likelihood of it happening seemed to have diminished this year.

Sometimes it's very fun to be proved wrong, unless you're a Saints fan. Sorry guys.

13. James Starks

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: James Starks #44 of the Green Bay Packers avoids the tackle of Ernie Sims #50 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Who is this guy?

James Starks just has come out of nowhere in the last few weeks and his impact in Sunday's game against the Eagles can't be downplayed.

Starks ran for 123 yards against the Eagles, which then brought the Eagles defense in, opening up the passing game even more for Aaron Rodgers.

If Starks can do the same thing in Atlanta, the Falcons will have their work cut out for them.

12. Devin McCourty

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 02: Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots is congratulated by teammate Jerod Mayo #51 after McCourty intercepted a pass by the Miami Dolphins on January 2, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/

Devin McCourty is playing like anything except a rookie and quickly has become a key part of the Patriots defense: Seven picks, two forced fumbles, 82 tackles.

Belichick doesn't care if his player is a rookie: If the guy can play, he gets on the field.

Contrast that to some other coaches who steadfastly refuse to play rookies until a gun is put to their heads.

McCourty will hound Mark Sanchez the whole game and it will be interesting to see how many passes go his way.

11. Jay Cutler

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears looks for a receiver as David Harris #52 of the New York Jets rushes at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Jets 38-34. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Get

Jay Cutler wants this game. The Bears finished the season 11-5, but Cutler had some very shaky outings and he's not getting a lot of help from his offensive line, which has been known to just leave the game in the middle of a play.

If Cutler's protection holds up and he doesn't hurry his throws, Cutler will have a career day against the Seahawks.

The good news is that the Seahawks defense isn't that great statistically. The bad news is none of that really mattered last week against the Saints.

The Saints still scored a lot of points, but if Cutler is put under pressure, he has a history of making bad decisions.

10. Matt Forte

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GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 02: Matt Forte #22 of the Chicago Bears carries the ball after making a catch against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on January 2, 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Matt Forte had more than 1,000 yards rushing behind a suspect offensive line, including six touchdowns.

The Seahawks, which now officially are an enigma when it comes to predictions, have to stop this guy in addition to keeping Cutler contained.

Last week proved the Seahawks' stats mean nothing, so if the defense can stop Forte, the Seahawks can put themselves in a position to win.

9. Santonio Holmes

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Santonio Holmes #10 of the New York Jets celebrates late in the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 8, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. TH

Santonio Holmes was one of the best offseason pickups of any team in the league last year. Holmes, whose off-field problems resulted in his ejection from Pittsburgh, quickly became the Jets' most reliable receiver.

Holmes is the go-to guy for Mark Sanchez and if he can keep away from the Patriots coverage and make the kinds of catches only he can make, there won't be another blowout between the two teams this weekend.

8. Darrelle Revis

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 19: Darrelle Revis #24of the New York Jets warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 19, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Darrelle Revis had a great game in Indianapolis and he's going to have to have another one in New England with Tom Brady.

Revis didn't have a good day during Week 13, but Revis isn't the kind of player to dwell on the past and if Brady decides to challenge him, he knows he has to make sure that he's up to that challenge.

7. Troy Polamalu

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 28: Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers rolls out of bounds after intercepting a pass against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium at Ralph Wilson Stadium on November 28, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. Pittsburgh

Troy Polamalu is an X-factor in every game he plays in. Polamalu's nose for the ball and his style of play that leaves everything on the field makes him one of the biggest defensive threats in the NFL.

This will be the third time the Ravens have faced the Steelers this year, but that doesn't mean the Ravens will be any better at neutralizing Polamalu.

Part of Joe Flacco's routine before every snap will be to see where Polamalu is and go from there.

6. Ed Reed

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 09: Safety Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens warms up prior to playing the Kansas City Chiefs in their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 9, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Doug Pensinger

The Ravens' answer to Troy Polamalu is Ed Reed, who is just as dangerous for the Ravens as Polamalu is for the Steelers.

Reed will be looking to steal as many passes off of Ben Roethlisberger as he can, and even if the pass is completed, Reed will be there to make sure there isn't much more of a gain.

Reed can shut the running game down as easy as he can the passing game and the Steelers have to take Reed's play into account when preparing for this game.

5. Joe Flacco

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 09: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 9, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishw

Joe Flacco can have a really good day or he can have a really bad day. It all depends on what the Steelers defense gives him.

He didn't have great or terrible days the first two times around, but in both cases, the offense could have scored more points.

Flacco's ability to overcome the Steelers incredible defense will be a key to the game.

4. Ben Roethlisberger

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 23: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers laughs on the sideline during the game against the Carolina Panthers on December 23, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Ben Roethlisberger makes his own luck. Behind a very bad offensive line and with an offensive coordinator who seems incapable of using a lot of great players to their fullest potential, Roethlisberger succeeds where other quarterbacks would fail.

Roethlisberger is a master of taking lemons and making lemonade, and the Ravens once again are going to have to deal with that.

They didn't do a bad job in Week 13, but they still lost the game.

If the Ravens can keep Roethlisberger contained, they can win the game.

3. Matt Ryan

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ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons against the Carolina Panthers at Georgia Dome on January 2, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Matt Ryan is lights out at home, although a loss to New Orleans in Week 16 exposed a lot of flaws.

Ryan isn't put into the same category as the Peyton Mannings or Tom Bradys yet, but a win this Sunday over the Green Bay Packers will go a long way to changing that.

Ryan, like Joe Flacco, still is a young, developing quarterback. How he responds in this playoff game will be a great thing to watch.

2. Aaron Rodgers

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after a touchdown in the third quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in Philad

Aaron Rodgers is the Packers offense.

Rodgers' quality of play will go a long way toward determining if the Packers advance or not. With the emergence of a running game, though, it makes it a lot easier for Rodgers to do his thing.

1. Tom Brady

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FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates a touchdown scored by running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis #42 (not pictured) against the Green Bay Packers in the first quarter of the game at Gillette Stadium on

Tom Brady is Tom Brady. Brady can take over a game and, once he does, there's very little that can stop him.

The Jets have to be able to control Tom Brady or anything else they might accomplish will be in a losing effort.