We all know Eli Manning, Brian Westbrook, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Albert Haynesworth, Ben Roethlisberger and other stars will play major roles in this weekend's NFL divisional playoff games.
But somewhere on each roster, lurking underneath the hype for those star players, is a player who will make a major difference.
Last week, it was running back Darren Sproles and punter Mike Scifres for the San Diego Chargers. It was safety Antrel Rolle for the Arizona Cardinals and defensive tackle Mike Patterson for the Philadelphia Eagles.
You can't win a Super Bowl without so-called role players stepping up and making contributions in big games.
It's their chance to steal some of the spotlight.
With that in mind, here are under-the-radar players who could have a major impact on each team's chances this weekend:
Arizona Cardinals
Nose tackles Bryan Robinson and Gabe Watson
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| Bryan Robinson: A key to controlling Carolina's runners. (Getty Images) |
Robinson signed as a free agent last spring from the Cincinnati Bengals and has been a pleasant surprise. He earned the starting spot and has held it all season. Watson, a fourth-round pick in 2006, is the bigger of the two players at 332 pounds. He needs to play well in relief of Robinson for the Cardinals to have a chance of slowing down DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.
If these two tackles play big, the Panthers could be forced out of what they want to do, which could lead to an upset.
Baltimore Ravens
Center Jason Brown
Although centers get a lot of help from guards, any time a team plays the Tennessee Titans the center also has to play big. That's because Haynesworth is the best inside player in the league. When he's disruptive, the defense feeds off him.
If the Ravens want to run the ball, they have to get push inside. That means Brown getting on Haynesworth. I've seen Haynesworth blow up opposing centers. At 6-3, 320 pounds, Brown is bigger than most centers and should have a better chance of matching power-against-power with Haynesworth. They both play a nasty brand of football, which should make it fun. Haynesworth had five tackles, one for loss, in the Titans' 13-10 victory in Week 5.
On a side note: Brown, like Haynesworth, becomes a free agent after the season. It's money time.
Carolina Panthers
Free safety Charles Godfrey
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| Charles Godfrey can't start playing like a rookie now. (Getty Images) |
With the Cardinals being a pass-first offense, it will be important for Godfrey to stay away from biting on play-action passes and double moves. He has to play like a veteran to help slow down that passing game.
He showed a lot of improvement the final month of the season, so this is his chance to show he's not a rookie who can be picked on but rather one who can excel in the spotlight.
New York Giants
Wide receiver Domenik Hixon
When Plaxico Burress was suspended, it was supposed to be Hixon's time to stand out. That hasn't happened.
Hixon started the last five games of the season and made 22 catches, but he had only one touchdown reception. He did come on in the final two games with eight catches for 133 yards; his two longest catches in that span, a 40-yarder and a 23-yard touchdown catch, came against the Vikings in the season finale.
Hixon has to make a big play or two down the field to make the Eagles' blitzing defense pay. The Eagles said they were able to play the Giants much differently in the second game between the teams, which they won, because Burress wasn't in the game. That meant single coverage on the receivers. Hixon has to make them pay for that this time as the deep threat.
Philadelphia Eagles
Strong safety Quintin Mikell
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| Quintin Mikell can help the Eagles avoid a Giant pounding. (Getty Images) |
If the Eagles are going to slow the Giants' rushing attack, Mikell's ability to crowd the line in the right situations will be key. He made two stops of Adrian Peterson in the backfield last week against the Vikings, showing his ability to excel in run support.
The Giants will attempt to pound it at the Eagles, and you can bet Philadelphia will drop down both safeties at times. Mikell, a sure tackler all season, must continue to be so in this one.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tight end Heath Miller
The Chargers have struggled to defend the pass all season. That will put extra pressure on the safeties to help outside on the Steelers' receivers, Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.
That's where Miller could come up big. He caught a career-high 48 passes this season despite missing two games, including the first meeting between the Steelers and Chargers.
I look for Miller to be a factor in the middle of the field, putting pressure on the Chargers' linebackers and safeties. He'll definitely be in the mix near the end zone. He's the "other" tight end in this game to Antonio Gates, but Miller might be just as important come Sunday.
San Diego Chargers
Wide receiver Vincent Jackson
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| The Chargers need the big Vincent Jackson on Sunday. (Getty Images) |
That leads me to Jackson. The Chargers have to get more from their outside passing game than they did last week against the Colts. Jackson did not catch a pass. That's troubling for a player who had 59 catches for 1,098 yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season.
Also troubling: Jackson was arrested Tuesday morning on suspicion of drunken driving.
When Jackson is going well, it usually means the Chargers are as well on offense. In the Chargers' four-game winning streak to close out the season, Jackson had 20 catches for 395 yards and two touchdowns.
He has to be big against that Steelers defense in large part to help loosen things up.
Tennessee Titans
Wide receiver Justin Gage
It's hard to believe that on a team as run-dominant as the Titans have been, a receiver is my choice.
But I go back to my premise about playing the Ravens: To beat them you have to challenge them in the passing game.
It's too hard to run on them, so I look for the Titans to try to hit a few big plays down the field. The Baltimore corners are beatable.
Gage doesn't have blazing speed, but he knows how to get open. When the Titans played the Pittsburgh Steelers three weeks ago, a team similar to the Ravens on defense, Gage had five catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.
The Titans need to get production close to that this week if they are to throw the football and have success.
