With three weeks remaining in the NFL’s regular season, here’s a list of 10 players who figure to have a huge impact on the playoff picture. For obvious reasons, quarterbacks were excluded from this list:
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3. New York Giants WR Hakeem Nicks: Over the past three games, Nicks has re-established himself as the team’s best receiver after some inconsistencies and injuries earlier this season. Nicks has 22 catches for 338 yards and two touchdowns over that span and appears to be as trusted by quarterback Eli Manning as any receiver Manning has ever had. Nicks nearly led the Giants to a comeback win over the Green Bay Packers with those two scores, then followed that up by gaining a career-high 163 yards in the comeback win at Dallas. But this isn’t simply about whether the Giants will be able to outlast Dallas in the NFC East (the teams play one more time on New Year’s Day). The Giants also face the cross-Jersey rival Jets on Christmas Eve in the game that could impact whether the Jets make the playoffs. Fantastic stuff.
4. New York Jets CB Darrelle Revis: Speaking of the Jets and their quest for the playoffs, they not only have the Giants in the way, but a really interesting game against the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday. Look for Revis, who always asks to handle the best opposing receiver, to cover Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson all game long before he takes on Nicks the following week. Those aren’t just cool matchups, but integral to whether the Jets will hold off the likes of Cincinnati and the Tennessee Titans for what could be the last playoff spot in the AFC.
5. Denver Broncos LB Von Miller: The likely NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year isn’t just an extraordinary pass rusher (12 sacks in 12 games) for a guy his age, he’s also good in coverage. Miller has four passes defensed, which is the most on the Broncos for non-defensive backs. Yeah, you’ve probably heard more about that guy named Tebow – and he has had some great moments – but the consistent element of the Broncos is the defense. In four of the past five games, Denver has limited opponents to 13 points or less. The one exception was the game vs. the Minnesota Vikings that Miller missed because of injury. Now, Miller’s performances don’t just potentially impact Denver and the AFC West. With the game this Sunday against New England, Miller and the Broncos could impact what happens at the top of the AFC seedings.
[ Related: Debunking the myths of Tim Tebow ]
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