Coming into the Wild Card round, the Buffalo Bills were running thin on defensive depth. Linebacker Tyrel Dodson had a “questionable” designation on the injury report heading into the game and had to turn to someone else to step up in case Dodson was not able to play.

The Bills picked LB A.J. Klein to be the man to get the job done. He was planning a family road trip in an RV he had just bought when he got the nod for the Bills wild card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Klein, an 11-year NFL veteran, has had multiple stints on Buffalo’s practice squad this year but has not registered any plays in the regular season.

In fact, Klein had been out of any football play since being cut by the Bills on Dec. 10.

He got his chance after LB Terrel Bernard got injured in the third quarter and proved to be even more vital after LB Baylon Spector was also injured during the game.

The linebacker proved he was well worth the opportunity, leading the team with 11 tackles. His efforts helped Buffalo hold the Steelers to 106 rushing yards and take the win.

Now fully indulged in the playoff run with the Bills, Klein’s focus shifts to the defending Super Bowl champions - the Kansas City Chiefs.

Whether or not Klein will get the same amount of playing time this weekend is up in the air, but his ability to perform at a high level when called upon cannot be questioned.