The Detroit Lions have gotten big contributions from key players all season, and through two playoff wins. If they're going to beat the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, that will of course have to continue. The best players need to perform in the biggest games, that's no secret.
But the Lions would not be at this point, one win away from going to the first Super Bowl in franchise history, without other players stepping up in some crucial moments along the way. Last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it was linebacker Derrick Barnes who sealed the win in the Divisional Round with an interception. Others have had moments in the proverbial sun when the team needed someone to step up and make a play.
As has been said before, all week and pretty much everywhere, the Lions matchup fairly well with the 49ers. The two teams are very similar in a broad sense, perhaps setting the table for Sunday to be the start of a playoff rivalry for years to come.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. If the Lions are going to leave Levi's Stadium with a win and a trip to Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII, these three players will be sneaky x-factors.