The Las Vegas Raiders punched their ticket in the NFL Playoffs with an incredible last-second game-winning field goal in Week 18 to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers. Now, all the focus has turned to their Wild Card matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. It won’t be an easy game, but the Raiders are talented enough to pull off the upset.
Derek Carr and company head into the game as a very dangerous offensive unit. Josh Jacobs has been playing well on the ground and the duo of Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller has been dominant as well. Defensively, the Raiders have talent, but they need to find consistency in the playoffs.
With a matchup like this, the stars are usually going to rise to the occasion. However, teams that make deep playoff runs have X-Factors who step up come postseason time.
All of that being said, let’s dive in and take a look at the one X-Factor who must step up for the Raiders in their Wild Card matchup against the Bengals.
The Raiders’ X-Factor Against The Bengals
Las Vegas has plenty of star talent that will be expected to step up. However, they will need one player in particular to make a massive impact on the defensive side of the football. That player is defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who will be asked to lead the charge against Joe Burrow.
Cincinnati has a high-powered offense capable of making a huge play on any given down. If the Raiders want to win this game, they will need to put pressure on Burrow. There is no one else better equipped to do just that than Ngakoue.
Throughout the course of the regular season, Ngakoue ended up recording 28 total tackles to go along with 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and three defended passes. He has been the heart and soul of the Raiders’ defense all season long. Usually, a team’s best pass-rusher isn’t their X-Factor, but that is the case in this situation.
Ngakoue has to find a way to make a play or two this week. If he can get to Burrow and force a turnover or some quick decisions that result in turnovers, the Raiders are going to be in a good position. They simply cannot allow the Bengals’ offense to get comfortable and to have time to make the big plays they have made.
Not only will his individual performance impact the game heavily, it could allow other players to put up big games. If the Bengals have to focus on slowing Ngakoue down, that opens the door for the rest of the Raiders’ defense.
Expect to see this game end up being a very entertaining matchup. To slow down Burrow and the Bengals, the Raiders desperately need a big-time performance from Yannick Ngakoue.
