On Sunday, these X-factors mark the spot
It’s not just the QBs who hold the key for Packers-49ers, Chiefs-Titans.
“Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games.”
It’s a motto Packers running back Aaron Jones has tried to live by throughout his football career.
His father, Alvin, has repeated it for as long as he could remember, but Jones has said he recalls the mantra really sticking with him around the age of 8. He was just getting started as a running back in Pop Warner action. He idolized Emmitt Smith and embraced the chance to deliver whenever called upon. And now, as the moments have grown bigger in his third NFL season, Jones craves those opportunities even more.
Making his playoff debut last week, Jones rushed for two touchdowns as the Packers defeated the Seahawks 28-23.
The games don’t get much bigger than this weekend’s slate.
On Sunday, Jones and the Packers will face the 49ers in the NFC championship game. Meanwhile, in the AFC, the Chiefs will host the Titans.
As the four teams square off, the faces of the franchise – Aaron Rodgers, Jimmy Garoppolo, Patrick Mahomes and Derrick Henry – will rightfully have the spotlight trained on them. But strong contributions from their supporting casts are critical.
Here’s a look at each game and four players, Jones included, who will be called upon to deliver X factor performances to help their teams win.
Packers at 49ers
The much-hyped Week 12 matchup between the two teams fell far short of its billing of a potential NFC championship preview, as the 49ers thumped the visiting Packers 37-8. Garoppolo had one of his best games of the season, completing 70% of his passes for 253 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown to George Kittle and a 42-yard score to Deebo Samuel. Meanwhile, San Francisco’s defense held Rodgers to 104 passing yards while sacking him five times.
But the Packers call themselves a much-better team now. They have shored things up defensively, found greater comfort in the offensive system and won six consecutive games since that defeat.
Potential X factors
❚ Packers: RB Aaron Jones – Back when he was in the running for the Packers’ head coaching job, Matt LaFleur reached out to Jones. He encouraged the third-year pro to study film of Rams running back Todd Gurley, as well as Tevin Coleman’s footage from his time in Atlanta. LaFleur wanted Jones to play a similar well-rounded feature back role in his offense. Jones has delivered, rushing for 1,084 yards
and a league-leading 16 touchdowns while also catching 49 passes for 474 yards and three touchdowns.
LaFleur preaches the importance of balance and believes in establishing the ground game to set up opportunities in the passing game. That’s why it’ll be important for Green Bay to get Jones going on Sunday. In the earlier loss to San Francisco, he was limited to 38 yards on 13 carries.
If Jones can get off to a quick start against a 49ers defense that has allowed 112.6 rushing yards per game, that will pave the way for the well-rounded brand of ball the Packers want to play.
❚ 49ers: CB Richard Sherman – Sherman and Rodgers have history, having faced each other seven times during the regular season and once more in the postseason. Yet Rodgers has tended to shy away from targeting Sherman, and the cornerback has never surrendered a touchdown to the two-time MVP.
Rodgers’ top target, Davante Adams, set a franchise playoff record with 160 receiving yards on eight catches last weekend. Look for Sherman to match up with him throughout Sunday. Adams had a pedestrian day against the 49ers this season with seven catches for 43 yards and one touchdown, which didn’t come against Sherman.
Sherman, who is back to playing at a Pro Bowl level, had an interception in last weekend’s win over Minnesota while being targeted only three times. If he carries this dominant stretch into Sunday’s game, the 49ers have a good shot at securing a spot in the Super Bowl.
Titans at Chiefs
The last time these teams met, Mahomes made his return from the knee injury that sidelined him for two games, and he threw for a season-high 446 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 72% of his passes. But Henry rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns while averaging a season-best 8.2 yards per carry and spearheading a fourth-quarter comeback that led to a 35-32 triumph.
Potential X factors
❚ Titans: CB Adoree’ Jackson – Tyreek Hill went off in the previous meeting between these two teams with 11 catches for 157 yards and a touchdown. Look for the Chiefs to look get “the Cheetah” going early and often again.
One of the best ways to limit Hill’s production is to attack him at the line, and Jackson boasts the physicality to do so while also possessing good speed. In their one playoff showdown (2018), Jackson helped limit Hill to seven catches for 87 yards and no touchdowns, and he’ll aim to have a similar impact on Sunday.
Minimizing one of Kansas City’s most explosive offensive weapons will go a long way toward improving the Titans’ chances of an upset.
❚ Chiefs: S Tyrann Mathieu – It should be a busy day for the Honey Badger. The Chiefs’ leading tackler must lead an improved effort as he and his teammates try to find a way to contain the 6-3, 247-pound Henry.
The Chiefs have to do a better job of stopping Henry at the line of scrimmage. Last time, they frequently got caught out of position, left too many cutback lanes for the running back to attack and then fared poorly in pursuit. Conditioning also will come into play, Mathieu told reporters this week. Late in the game, as defenders tire, Henry seems to only get better, the safety lamented.
But Mathieu also must deliver in pass coverage. In Ryan Tannehill’s career rebirth with the Titans, the quarterback has provided the threat of the big play, though he hasn’t needed to do much in consecutive playoff wins in which he has passed for less than 100 yards. During the regular season, however, Tennessee’s offense erupted with Tannehill under center to average more than 30 points per game in the veteran’s 10 starts. Mathieu will be asked to help take away that deep threat, which will frequently come off of the play-action.