One X-factor for each team in the NFL playoffs:

Bengals tight-end C.J. Uzomah

Cincinnati Bengals – C.J. Uzomah

As we look at this Bengals squad, there are a lot of known commodities, in particular on offense. Joe Burrow has become one of the best young quarterbacks, with smarts beyond his years and incredible toughness.

The offensive line has the size to create vertical movement in the running game but there are still glaring issues in protection and the skill-position group is loaded with play-makers. Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby did a great job against Storm Norton, offensive tackle for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The guy who is often forgotten on the offensive side of the ball but has shown serious flashes in certain games is tight end C.J. Uzomah.

Coming into the year, we weren’t even sure who their starting tight end would be, having invested a second-round pick in Drew Sample a couple of years ago.

Uzomah, at just under 500 yards on the year, has about six times the production of Sample.

And what makes C.J. such an X-factor is apparent in his game log – 49 percent of his receiving yards have come in three games, while not having surpassed 20 yards in eight of their contests.

He’s been boom-or-bust all season long. And when we look at the Raiders defense, they’ve excelled at limiting big plays through the air (sixth-fewest completions of 20+ yards) and have been highly vulnerable to tight-ends (seventh-most yards allowed to the position).

So having Uzomah’s big frame and strong hands, especially as they get into the red-zone, could be huge.