NFL X factors: Two rookies look to shine in NFC wild-card playoffs
Philadelphia kept Jacobs out of the end zone in Week 1, but he had at least one score in his last eight games with a pair of three-touchdown performances against the 49ers and Lions. If quarterback Jordan Love struggles against the Eagles’ top-ranked pass defense, Jacobs will see more than the 17.7 carries he averaged in the regular season.
L.A. Rams | Kyren Williams | RB
The Rams sat most of their starters, including Williams, in last week’s 30-25 loss to Seattle, but the third-year running back averaged 95.4 yards per game with five touchdowns in his previous five starts.
Williams set career marks with 316 carries, 1,299 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2024 and averaged 4.2 yards per carry for 97 yards in a 30-20 win over the Vikings in Week 8. He also caught five passes for 19 yards and a touchdown and will likely see a similar workload on Monday.
Minnesota Vikings | Sam Darnold | QB
Darnold may be the league’s fourth-leading passer, but his performance against the Lions last week was concerning. With the NFC North and a first-round bye on the line, Darnold posted season-low numbers in yards (166) and completion percentage (43.9 percent).
Of course, Justin Jefferson didn’t help with just three catches and hasn’t had a touchdown in two weeks after scoring five times in his three previous games. Expect both to bounce back this week while Darnold looks for Jefferson early and often against the Rams.
Philadelphia Eagles | Jalen Hurts | QB
Hurts was limited in Wednesday’s practice and remains in the league’s concussion protocol after suffering a head injury against the Commanders in Week 16, forcing him to miss the team’s last two games.
He had two scores against the Packers in Week 1 but failed to score a touchdown in last year’s wild-card game, a 32-9 loss to Tampa Bay. If he’s cleared to play as expected, he’ll need to shake off the rust to avoid a similar fate against Green Bay.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Bucky Irving | RB
The rookie running back took over Tampa Bay’s backfield in Week 8 and finished the regular season as the NFL’s 10th-leading rusher with 1,122 yards. He averaged 6.9 yards per carry against the Commanders in Week 1 with a 31-yard romp in the fourth quarter.
Only two teams allowed more rushing yards per game (137.1) than Washington in the regular season, so expect the Buccaneers’ third-ranked offense to feature Irving as much as possible on Sunday.
Washington Commanders | Jayden Daniels | QB
Daniels went 17-of-24 for 184 yards with 88 yards and two scores on the ground against the Buccaneers in his first NFL game. He threw only 12 passes before leaving last week’s game with a minor leg injury but had 15 touchdowns with two rushing scores in his previous five starts.
But will Daniels be nervous in his first postseason game? Even he’s not sure.
“I don’t know what the playoffs feel like, so I will find out next week,” Daniels said. “Obviously, everything is going to be amped up.”
He’ll need to stay cool against a Tampa Bay team that’s 6-1 since its Week 11 bye.
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