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4 red-hot players to watch on Championship Sunday

James Lang / USA TODAY Sports

With the NFL's final four teams one win away from the Super Bowl, the margin between glory and agony shrinks. Never has it been more important for every player to play up to his highest potential. One overthrown pass, dropped ball, or missed tackle can decide everything.

Here are four players at the top of their game who could be the difference Sunday:

Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers isn't just the hottest player in football entering Championship Sunday; there's an argument to be made that he's playing the position of quarterback better than anyone has in history.

It feels like Rodgers does something that leaves his opponents' jaws on the floor on every other play. He's masterful at evading the rush and buying himself time, and his combination of arm strength and pinpoint accuracy border on superhuman.

Since Week 12, and including the Packers' first two playoff games, Rodgers has led the NFL with a 21-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He also ranks second in the league in yards per attempt (8.42). The only player with a better mark is ...

Matt Ryan

The favorite to win NFL MVP honors, Ryan has thrown 14 touchdowns without an interception in the Falcons' five-game winning streak leading up to Sunday's contest. Dating back to Week 12, Ryan's yards per attempt is an NFL-best 9.04. And he's done it with superstar wideout Julio Jones hobbled.

This is Ryan's opportunity to prove he deserves to be mentioned among the NFL's upper class of quarterbacks. The three other passers remaining in the playoffs have a Super Bowl ring; at age 31 and in his athletic prime, this may be Ryan's best chance at achieving football immortality.

James Harrison

In a dominant performance in the divisional round, Harrison registered a sack and had several other plays where he pressured Alex Smith. He also drew the holding penalty that negated a two-point convert that would have tied the game for the Chiefs.

The week before, Harrison had more pressures (seven) than the entire Dolphins defense combined (six). At 38 years old, he's playing some of the best football of his life.

With Tom Brady on tap Sunday, the Steelers need Harrison to fend off Father Time for at least one more weekend.

Dion Lewis

Lewis didn't make his regular-season debut until Week 10 and was relatively quiet until the divisional round, likely owing to the fact he's returning from a torn ACL.

The Patriots unleashed their weapon against the Texans, however, and the result was three touchdowns and an NFL record. Lewis became the first player in postseason history to score on the ground, through the air, and on a return in the same game.

The Steelers can reasonably claim to have the best running back remaining in the postseason, Le'Veon Bell, but the Patriots know they have a dangerous weapon in the backfield that's heating up at precisely the right time.

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