The Biggest X Factor for the 49ers in the Playoffs

The 49ers are the overwhelming favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. For them to come up short, some X factor would have to derail their season.

Rookie kicker Jake Moody certainly is an X factor. He had a good season, but he missed his last two kicks -- a 38-yarder and an extra point. And he didn't attempt many field goals under pressure. And the one-game winner he attempted, he missed, and the 49ers lost that game to the Browns. If the 49ers find themselves in a close playoff game, will Moody let them down? Fortunately for the 49ers, they rarely find themselves in close games, because their offense scores so many points.

Second-year quarterback Brock Purdy also is an X factor, simply because he's young -- only 24 -- and when he has a bad game, he tends to have a REALLY bad one. Like a complete meltdown, like the one he had on Christmas against the Ravens. When he makes a mistake, he presses and often makes more mistakes.

Kyle Shanahan is an X factor too, considering he's responsible for some of the biggest playoff collapses in NFL history.

But the 49ers' biggest X factor is their oldest player -- Trent Williams. Because if he gets injured, their season is over. They cannot win the Super Bowl without him.

Every play the 49ers call on offense is designed with the assumption that Williams will win his block 10 out of 10 times. Every pass, every run. He protects Brock Purdy's blind side and he leads the way for Christian McCaffrey.

If Williams were to go down, the 49ers run game would implode, they'd become a one-dimensional passing attack with no pass protection. Their entire offense would fall apart.

All the 49ers have to do is keep their oldest player healthy for three more games.