Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams: 5 X-factors for Divisional Round

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 30: Chidobe Awuzie #24 of the Dallas Cowboys intercepts a pass intended for Sterling Shepard #87 of the New York Giants during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium on December 30, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

4. The play of Chidobe Awuzie vs. Robert Woods

Though this isn’t a matchup article, an X-Factor in the Divisional Round game will be the overall play of Dallas Cowoys cornerback Chidobe Awuzie against Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods.

Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has Awuzie graded at 65.1 and Woods with a grade of 88.0, so this is a very big-time X-Factor for the Cowboys in how they scheme with their defense, because Robert Woods has had an excellent season in 2018.

Woods finished the regular season with 86 receptions for 1,219 yards and six touchdowns. Woods hasn’t had a 100-yard receiving game since Week 7. Of the six touchdowns, just one came in the last four games of the regular season.

Awuzie is going to have to step up big in this game because on the other side of the wide receiver is Brandin Cooks, who Byron Jones is going to be focused on as well in the playoff game. Not to mention there is Todd Gurley to game plan around too, leaving room for a lot of Cowboys players defensively to step up in the big moment.

The ultimate X-Factor for the defense is the play of Awuzie and how well he performs against a 1,000-yard receiver like Cooks.

For more grades, advanced statistics and more at Pro Football Focus, subscribe to PFF’s EDGE or ELITE subscriptions at ProFootballFocus.com.

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