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The New Orleans Saints are set to host the Minnesota Vikings at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday in the wild-card round. Despite the Saints being a 7.5-point home favorite, they will need several key players to step up and have their best game of the season in order to beat the Kirk Cousins-led Vikings. Some names are obvious, while others may be flying a little more under the radar. It’ll take a team effort to advance deeper into the playoffs.

Here are the six Saints players that will need to step up their game on Sunday:

Janoris Jenkins, cornerback

New Orleans acquired Jenkins in Week 15, and he saw his first action as a Saint during the Week 16 game against the Tennessee Titans when he played 44% of defensive snaps. In Week 17, Jenkins broke out and recorded five tackles and a game-sealing interception against the Carolina Panthers while playing 100% of snaps. With Eli Apple expected to miss more time with an ankle injury, “Jackrabbit” must step up and help solidify the secondary against talented Vikings receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen.

Tre’Quan Smith, wide receiver

A usually hot-and-cold Smith will need to find that extra gear on Sunday, and play to a similar level of production to that of his Week 17 performance. Against the Panthers, Smith caught all five of his targets to gain 56 yards and a touchdown catch at the goal-line. With no receiver yet emerged as a true, consistent threat opposite of Michael Thomas, Smith must prove he can be a difference-maker when it counts the most.

Alvin Kamara, running back

After missing significant time with injury earlier in the season, the running back returned looking like a shell of himself. Over the last two weeks of the season, Kamara has once again began to show why he can be one of the best backs in the league. With Super Bowl aspirations on the line, Kamara will need to return to his 2017-2018 form in order for New Orleans to make a deep playoff run.

A.J. Klein, linebacker

Klein has been a consistent force, along with Demario Davis, in the linebacker corps this season. In Week 17, he recorded his first interception of the season to go along with five tackles. With some depth issues at the position for New Orleans, and a strong rushing attack in Minnesota with Dalvin Cook, Klein will have to step up. A good performance from Klein could be all the difference.

Trey Hendrickson, defensive end

With the defensive line banged up, Hendrickson has seen increased snap counts in the later part of the season starting in Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons. Hendrickson will need to play one of his best games in order to beat a very good Vikings offensive line and get pressure on Cousins. Cam Jordan cannot do everything on his own, and Hendrickson will be relied upon to get the job done on Sunday.

Michael Thomas, wide receiver

This one may seem odd. How can someone include Thomas in a list of players that need to step up? Thomas will need to get back on track after a lackluster Week 17 where he only caught four of his nine targets. The entire New Orleans offense runs through Thomas, and now that the playoffs arrived, Thomas will need to play his best brand of football for the Saints to make reality out of their Super Bowl dreams.

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