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

Chiefs wide receiver Byron Pringle

Kansas City Chiefs – Byron Pringle

Whoever has watched the Chiefs this (and to some degree last) season knows that the passing offense comes down to Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and then probably Patrick Mahomes scrambling as the top three options.

And guess what? The rest of the AFC knows that as well. So we’ll see defenses bracket those guys at a high rate and it will be up to the other pass-catchers to win their one-on-one matchups.

Mecole Hardman has been more involved this season, but it’s either at the line of scrimmage or screaming downfield, and we have yet to see anything from Josh Gordon. So the one name here that we’ve seen beat guys on the outside and become a key contributor in a few games has been Byron Pringle.

Right now, Mahomes has a passer rating of 127.6 when targeting him and he has moved the chains on 32 of his 42 receptions. He does a great job on secondary routes and gets vertical immediately after the catch, while having the size to gain yards through contact.

Unfortunately, he’s also had butterfingers at times, as he has dropped four passes and fumbled twice.

That is what makes him a key figure in determining the AFC, because there be third downs where the pre-snap look already tells Kansas City they can’t go to either one of their top two options and it will come down to whether or not Pringle can beat his man.

Ironically, Pringle's biggest game came against the Steelers in Week 16, who they’ll face in the Wild Card Round (6 for 75 and two touchdowns).