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The most important player to every NFC teams’ playoff hopes

By Joel Deering

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 16: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball for a 21 yard touchdown, his second of the day, in the fourth quarter of them game against the Miami Dolphins at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 16: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball for a 21 yard touchdown, his second of the day, in the fourth quarter of them game against the Miami Dolphins at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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NFC teams' playoff hopes - Adrian Peterson
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 16: Adrian Peterson #26 of the Washington Redskins runs for yardage during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on December 16, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Washington Redskins (7-7)

Most important player: RB Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson is the most important player to this NFC team’s playoff hopes for a similar reason to why Dalvin Cook is important to the Vikings.

Everyone counted this team out when Alex Smith went down. Since then, they haven’t been the same team who was once leading the NFC East, but they’ve been able to do enough to keep themselves alive heading into the last two weeks of the season.

QB Josh Johnson has been able to step in for the Redskins over the past two weeks and do a pretty nice job. He doesn’t have big numbers, but his QB rating since he’s been with the team is 98.2. While Johnson has done a nice job, he’s not going to be relied upon to do everything for this team. His role is to manage the game, not making crucial mistakes along the way.

The real burden for this team lays upon the shoulders of Peterson. For the Redskins to have a shot a making the playoffs, Peterson needs to have some of his best games this season. Over the last two weeks, Peterson has ran for 16 and 51 yards. His averages in those games were 1.6 and 2.7.

The Redskins were able to get a win in one of those games, but it was against the Jaguars’ offense. The other game was a blowout loss. If the Redskins are going to get wins in their last two games, Peterson must control the time of possession and consistently move the ball for this offense. If that doesn’t happen, the Redskins are done.

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