After a well-earned bye week, the Detroit Lions will start their playoff run as big favorites against the Washington Commanders on Saturday night in the Divisional Round. To start the week, head coach Dan Campbell had little time for addressing any pressure that comes with being the No. 1 seed. That sentiment has surely been passed along to the players.
It's obvious the Lions will need a full team effort to pay off this year's playoff run with a trip to the Super Bowl, and to win that game if they get there. But there are a select number of players whose performance will have a slightly different (and heightened) level of importance, and many can make a game-shifting difference with just an impact play or two.
It's not exactly "Super Bowl or bust" for this year in the Lions' building, as they look like a sustainable contender for years to come, but it might be the last run with the current group of players and coaches.
If the Lions are going to pay off this playoff run, namely get over the NFC Championship Game hump or more, these players will be big x-factors.
7 players who will be the biggest x-factors in the Lions' playoff run
7. David Montgomery
After rehabbing the injury to his right MCL rather than have surgery, Montgomery is going to be back on the field for the playoffs.
Jahmyr Gibbs was fantastic as the lead back for the Lions while Montgomery was out, but "Sonic" is just not the same without "Knuckles." Two of Detroit's possible remaining opponents before the Super Bowl, the Commanders and the Los Angeles Rams, were bottom-12 run defenses during the regular season. In the case of the Rams, they've shown what they can do when the opponent has no viable ground game.
Campbell has called Montgomery a "tone-setter" for the Lions' offense. He is certainly that, and having him back will be vital to this playoff run.