Now that the College Football Playoff is underway, the NFL Playoffs aren’t far behind with Wild Card Weekend commencing this Saturday.

As always, the SEC is well-represented in this year’s NFL Playoffs, but here’s a look at the key SEC players who could have a huge impact in the 2014-15 playoffs.

  • QB Peyton Manning (Broncos) — You can’t mention the SEC in the NFL without mentioning Peyton Manning. The Denver QB was once again a force in the backfield, throwing for 4,727 yards and 39 touchdowns. As he gets older, Manning is beginning to experience a few more physical limitations, but he’s still one of the best quarterbacks, if not the best, in the league. The Broncos have a bye week to begin the playoffs, but he’ll be the centerpiece of their playoff run.
  • QB Matthew Stafford (Lions) — The former Georgia QB and No. 1 overall pick is enjoying one of his best seasons as a pro. The receiving duo of Golden Tate and Calvin Johnson have been a huge help to Stafford, who’s thrown for 4,257 yards this season. Stafford will face off against a very stingy Dallas defense in the Wild Card round and will need one of his best games of the season to help the Lions advance.
  • QB Cam Newton (Panthers) — The season as a whole for the Panthers haven’t been very great. However, Carolina got hot late in the season and captured the division title in the underwhelming NFC South. Cam Newton has recovered from his injury he sustained in the car wreck and will have to return to his superstar form in order for the Panthers to be successful.
  • RB Jeremy Hill (Bengals) — The rookie RB from LSU has come on strong late in the season and overtaken the starting running back role for the Bengals. Jeremy Hill is a tough, downhill runner who’s become a huge playmaker for what can be an inconsistent offense. They’ll need Hill on the road in Indy if the Bengals want to get their first road playoff win under head coach Marvin Lewis.
  • RB Eddie Lacy (Packers) — Many expected Mark Ingram or Trent Richardson to be the better pro prospect, but early returns suggest Eddie Lacy is the much better running back at the NFL level. He’s become a three-down back for the Packers and is a weapon in both the run or passing game. The quarterback gets much of the attention in GB’s offense, by Lacy is a force to be reckoned with in the backfield.
  • WR Randall Cobb (Packers) — The do-it-all receiver for the Green Bay Packers has emerged as one of Aaron Rodgers’ most reliable offensive weapons. Cobb is a playmaker and an vitally important part of GB’s offense. He’ll see a lot of opportunities to make plays when the Packers get underway in the Divisional round.
  • WR AJ Green (Bengals) — He’ll be a little banged up, but no one expects AJ Green to sit out this first playoff game. There’s no questioning Green’s importance to the Cincinnati offense. He’s arguably the best wide receiver in the entire playoffs. Andy Dalton will be looking his way more times than not come Sunday afternoon.
  • DE Carlos Dunlap (Bengals) — The former Florida product is a main pass rusher for Cincinnati. Dunlap’s best known for wreaking havoc in opposing backfields, so Andrew Luck better be aware of No. 96. Dunlap has recorded 8.0 sacks and two forced fumbles on the season.
  • DT Geno Atkins (Bengals) — Cincinnati’s run stopper and anchor on the defensive line must step up against Indianapolis on Sunday. Geno Atkins has become one of the NFL’s most talented defensive tackles and his disruptiveness is key to the success of Cincinnati’s defense.
  • LB CJ Mosley (Ravens) — Despite being a rookie, CJ Mosley has quickly developed into one of the top tacklers in the NFL. He recorded 133 total tackles in 2014 and was Baltimore’s leading tackler. With how much Pittsburgh relies on its running game, Mosley will be active in the Ravens’ opening playoff game against the Steelers.
  • LB Von Miller (Broncos) — Von Miller remains one of the elite pass rushing threats in the NFL. Although his off-the-field troubles have deterred his career some, Miller is still a key player for the Broncos’ defense and his 14.0 sacks ranked sixth in the NFL. It wouldn’t be surprising to hear Miller’s name a lot in the playoffs once Denver plays.
  • CB Patrick Peterson (Cardinals) — Peterson had a knack for making plays while at LSU and he’s done the same for the Cardinals. Whether its a big return or a big interception, Peterson will need to have an impact against the Panthers. He’ll be primarily responsible for locking down former FSU WR Kelvin Benjamin.