2017 NFL Playoffs These 13 lesser-known

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Stars usually show up come playoff time, which is why they are stars. NFL playoffs   The usual suspects will do their thing in this year's postseason party. You will see and lighting it up, and you will see and running it and the elite pa s rushers making those game-deciding plays.  But football is the ultimate team game. It takes grunts to win titles as well, players who are key to winning championships but might not exactly be household names outside their own cities.  I have picked one -- OK, for the Giants I picked two -- of those types of players from each of the 12 playoff teams who I think will be deciding factors in how far their teams go -- both good or bad.  Some of the choices here are based on players needing to step up if their teams are truly going to make a playoff push. Others are players who have become important pieces for their teams.    You know the stars, now here are 13 players to keep an eye on this postseason. defensive end   This second-year player led the Patriots in sacks with seven, taking over as a starter in the last nine games. He Brock Burke Jersey  played in just one game as rookie in 2015 and ended the season on IR. But he's made a major impact this season on a unit that needed somebody to step up with the trade of to the . Flowers has three games with two sacks this season. He's also done a nice job in the run game and he has two forced fumbles. His ability to disrupt the opposing quarterback will be big for New England in the postseason. inside linebacker   Since taking over as starter in Week 7, Wilson has been one of the pleasant surprises on the Chiefs defense. He is athletic, can run and shows up a lot on tape. With veteran lost for the season in Week 14, Wilson has been even more important to the Chiefs defense. He is an every-down linebacker who is more than capable against the pa s. He's also solid in the run game. With injuries hitting the Chiefs' front seven this season, he's been one of their better players.   outside linebacker   After mi sing the first part of the season while recovering from sports hernia surgery. Dupree has emerged as a good pa s rusher over the past month, managing 4 sacks in his final four games. The 2015 first-round pick had four sacks as a rookie, and then cut 20 pounds off his body last offseason to become faster. Then he had the hernia i sue and it took him until November to get back into football shape. In Pittsburgh's scheme, they need production from the outside linebackers. Dupree has been providing it the past month and has to do so in the postseason if they are to be a Super Bowl team. right tackle  The Texans offensive line has had i sues for much of the season and Clark has been a big part of it. He took over  Scott Heineman Jersey as the starter when was lost for the season and he's had big i sues in pa s protection. Clark left last week's game with an ankle i sue, but he is expected to play this week against Oakland. That means he will see a lot of . In the first meeting, Clark got beat for one sack by Mack and gave up another to . He has to be better this week -- and moving forward, if the Texans win. inside linebacker  He was signed off the street in October after an injury to and took over as the starter shortly after that. He got off to a great start, playing a big role in the improvement of the defense, but he's tailed off some as of late. He will need to be good this week against Houston, which is expected to run the football. Riley, who spent six years with the , will be big in trying to slow .   cornerback  When the Dolphins beat the Steelers in October, Howard was on the sidelines nursing a knee injury, putting a damper on his rookie season. That day, the Dolphins did a nice job in coverage, as Yohander Mendez Jersey  had an impre sive game against . Maxwell is questionable with an ankle injury this week, which puts Howard in the cro shairs even more so. Rookie corners tend to get picked on come playoff time, so Howard has to be ready for the action. defensive tackle  The play inside of this rookie has allowed the Cowboys to move back outside to end. Collins started 14 games, but it took him a while to start showing off what he can do. He has great quickne s, which helps him rush the pa ser. He has five sacks, all since Week 9. He has also improved in the run game, holding the point better than he did early in the season. cornerback  The second-year player took over as the starter when was lost for the season. He's done a good job in coverage in his six starts. The team isn't afraid to leave him in one-on-one situations, and Collins has been up to the task. He mi sed the first four weeks of the season while serving a league-imposed suspension, but the end of his second season might be something that decides whether the Falcons make the Super Bowl. He doesn't have the ability of Trufant, but he also doesn't back down from a challenge. He will get that in his first playoff start. Take that to the bank.   free safety  When was lost for the season with a leg injury, the Seahawks lost a vital part of their defense. Thomas has great range, which is a must in their scheme. Terrell stepped in and did a  Willie Calhoun Jersey solid job in his first couple of games, but he's tailed off some down the stretch. The Seattle defense has also tailed off because of it. Terrell needs to be better in the postseason. He isn't Thomas -- who is? -- but he has to be better than the Terrell we've seen the past month. defensive back  Hyde isn't a safety or corner, but just a defensive back. That's because he lines up as a slot corner a lot of the time, but he's also started at safety in his career. Last week, because of injuries, he had to move outside to the starting corner spot. He responded with good play against the , getting a late interception in a one-on-one situation with . There is a chance he could be outside again this week against the , depending on the health of some other corners. That will be quite the challenge against Odell Beckham Jr. and gang. If not, he will line up inside in the slot in coverage. Hyde is a pure football player who's a true hybrid, and he has been a valuable part of the Packers defense for a while now. Is this the season the playoffs makes him more known? Giants tackles and  The Giants' tackles have had major i sues protecting this season, which is not the way you want to head into the playoffs when  Russell Wilson Jersey pa s rush becomes even more important. Flowers, who is a second-year player from Miami, has taken some steps forward, but not enough. He has to be better. Hart, who had 13 starts after taking over for , is another young player who has had a lot of ups and downs this season. He had a run of a few good games, but tailed off late and then sat out last week's game against the Redskins with a forearm injury. If the Giants are to make a run, these two need a lot more ups than downs.   Lions defensive end/tackle   He led the Lions with eight of their league-low 26 sacks, but he is a different type of pa s rusher. He won't explode past a tackle