NFL Playoff Picture: Joe Flacco and Players Who Must Succeed in Postseason

With the NFL playoffs quickly approaching, players are getting ready to make sure they perform at a high level, and some need to shine in the postseason more than others. 

Whether they've never been to or just haven't been good in the playoffs, these players must deliver for their respective teams. 

A poor playoff performance will result in loads of criticism throughout the offseason, and that is something they don't need. 

With that said, here are a few players whose life would be better off if they have some postseason success this year. 

Joe Flacco 

The Baltimore Ravens star QB has won a couple playoff games, but every year there's always that one game where he flops. 

Flacco either fails in the critical moment or fails to show up at all. This season, however, Flacco has to put all of that behind him and carry the Ravens to great postseason success. 

Even if Baltimore doesn't reach the Super Bowl, the loss cannot fall back on Flacco. If it does, Ravens' fans will continue to share their frustration about their starting QB. 

The Ravens are playing some superb football right now, and Flacco has to make sure he lives up to expectations and isn't a no-show in the playoffs. 

Matt Ryan

The Atlanta Falcons franchise QB has been a dud in his brief playoff history. He's 0-2, and the majority of fans remember how awful he and the Falcons were in last year's blowout loss to the Green Bay Packers. 

As a wild-card team this year, the Falcons aren't under an immense amount of pressure. However, Ryan certainly is because with so many talented weapons surrounding him, there's no excuse for the Falcons not to succeed in the postseason. 

Sure, Atlanta's defense is subpar, but that only means the offense has to step up more. All of that falls on Ryan to step up and carry his team to the next level.

A playoff victory will show that Ryan and the Falcons are headed in the right direction, but another sloppy offensive performance in the playoffs will be a cause for concern. 

Arian Foster 

The Houston Texans' top running back is one of the best in the NFL, and while he's never tasted the playoffs before, he has to make sure his first time is a memorable one, and not in a negative way. 

Foster is all the Texans have with quarterback Matt Schaub out with an injury, meaning he needs to put the team on his back. 

He's a free agent after this season, and if he wants the mega bucks, he'll need to shine bright in the Texans' first-ever playoff game. 

Houston has been struggling in recent weeks, but with a strong defense, the Texans can make some noise this postseason. However, Foster has to deliver for the offense or else the Texans will fail.