12 secret weapons to watch in the NFL playoffs

1. Seattle Seahawks -- Byron Maxwell doesn't get the same fanfare his fellow Legion of Boomers Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor do, but he's been an integral piece of the Seahawks' defensive puzzle this season, collecting two picks, 12 passes defensed and 35 tackles.

The former sixth-round pick's versatility is what makes him so valuable though, and on nickel defensive downs, he often moves inside on opposing slot receivers (replaced by Tharold Simon on the outside). Maxwell's ability to play inside or out with equal effectiveness, combined with his penchant to force turnovers either by intercepting the ball or using his trademark punch-out, makes him a player to watch as the postseason rolls around.

2. Green Bay Packers -- Randall Cobb is hardly a "secret" weapon, but on a team with players like Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson and Eddie Lacy, adding Cobb into the equation makes it difficult for opposing defenses to cover and account for everyone. Cobb finished the year with 91 catches for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns, and while Nelson is Green Bay's downfield, red zone specialist, Cobb makes his plays in the short and intermediate zones, beating one-on-one coverage and picking up yards after the catch.

3. Dallas Cowboys -- The Cowboys defense was supposed to be terrible this year. Rolando McClain was supposed to be terrible ... always. Neither turned out to be true: Dallas' D wasn't "the worst in NFL history" this season, as one writer predicted, and McClain is enjoying a career renaissance after retiring ... twice.

4. Carolina Panthers -- Tight end Greg Olson had maybe the quietest 1,000-yard season of any receiver in history. Overshadowed by rookie Kelvin Benjamin's performance this year, the eighth-year pro finished with 84 catches for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns, proving himself to be one of Cam Newton's most trustworthy targets. While most defenses will be focused on Benjamin downfield and in the red zone, Olson has the ability to move all over the field and threaten over the middle, up the seam or down the sideline. He can provide matchup issues for defenders because of the combination of his size and speed.

5. Arizona Cardinals -- With opposing pass defenses keying in on Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd, rookie John Brown has become a dangerous weapon up the seam and deep downfield for the Cardinals. He has blazing breakaway speed and quick-twitch agility to gain separation over the middle. Bruce Arians hasn't been afraid to work him into the game plan. Brown is a big-play specialist, averaging 14.5 yards per catch on the year while reeling in five touchdowns. He's a thorn in the side for opposing defensive coordinators, who have to figure out how to match up with one of the quickest players on the field.

6. Detroit Lions -- While the Seahawks get a lot of press for their safety duo in Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas, Detroit's offseason free agent acquisition combo of Glover Quinn and James Ihedigbo went out and led the NFL with 11 interceptions, Quinn with seven and Ihedigbo with four. Additionally, as a duo, they've racked up 144 tackles, 18 passes defended and two sacks.

1. New England Patriots -- Jamie Collins, the Patriots explosively athletic outside linebacker, is asked to do a variety of different things in the New England defense, and he executes each with aplomb. Whether it's stopping the run at the outside linebacker spot, rushing the passer off the edge or dropping into coverage in space, Collins has shown he's a natural in only his second season, and he even took over play-calling duties for the defense in Week 14 against the Chargers when Dont'a Hightower went out with a shoulder injury. His understanding of everyone's roles and ability to get them all into place in that game demonstrated how far he's come along in his short career.

2. Denver Broncos -- Emmanuel Sanders was an under-the-radar free agent during the offseason after he spent four seasons in Pittsburgh behind a few big name receivers. The Broncos went after him, though, and it's turned out to be perhaps the best free agent acquisition the NFL saw this year. Sanders quickly acclimated to the different timing base offense that Manning runs, and the two developed trust and chemistry from the jump.

Sanders is the Broncos' top first-down maker, he finished fifth in the NFL in receiving yards and grabbed nine touchdowns, and his highlight reel of one-handed catches continues to get longer. Sanders has a diverse skill set and is used all over the field, deep, short and in the red zone. Peyton Manning has admitted that he doesn't think he can overthrow Sanders, and that's not even a self-deprecatory jab at his arm strength, it just goes to Sanders' speed downfield.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers -- Martavis Bryant hit the ground running when he first emerged in Pittsburgh's offense in Week 7, catching five touchdowns in his first three appearances. What he brings to the Steelers' offense is a field stretching speed threat that presents an attractive target for Ben Roethlisberger every time an opposing defense plays one-on-one on the outside. The 6'4, 211-pound rookie out of Clemson can run a 4.3 40 and tracks the ball well over his head, and while he's still learning the nuances of the NFL game, he has mastered one narrow but valuable role.

4. Indianapolis Colts -- Pro Bowl cornerback Vontae Davis has been a star on the Indianapolis defense this year, and he led the NFL with an opposing quarterback rating of just 38.8, per PFF. The Colts' top DB did not allow a touchdown in coverage in 786 snaps this season while breaking up seven passes and picking off four balls.

5. Cincinnati Bengals -- The Bengals were 32nd (last) in the NFL in sacks this year, but pass rusher Carlos Dunlap has been a boon for the defense down the stretch, helping give Cincy the ability to move and harass the quarterback, something they'd been missing. In the Bengals' crucial win over the Broncos in Week 16, Dunlap was a force as Peyton Manning tried to engineer a game-winning drive, constantly providing pressure, helping to cause the game-winning and game-sealing interceptions. The defensive end registered a sack and four quarterback hits on the night. He was almost unguardable, and if he can keep up that level of play in the postseason, Cincy's defense will be hard to handle.

6. Baltimore Ravens -- Justin Forsett isn't a secret anymore after rushing for 1,266 yards and eight touchdowns this year, but the "out of nowhere" player of the year that took over in the backfield after Ray Rice was released should be a key part of the Ravens' playoff run. The wily seventh-year pro provided the Ravens with a spark all season while rushing for a clean 5.4 yards per carry, and the respected veteran transitioned seamlessly into Gary Kubiak's zone-blocking scheme. Forsett has played in the zone-blocking scheme whole career with stops in Seattle, Houston and Jacksonville, and his experience and knowledge of nuances needed to succeed in it should pay dividends in the postseason.