NFL Playoff Predictions: 4 Players Seeking Redemption from Past Failures

Playoffs are where careers are defined and judged throughout the history of sports. With a shot at redemption so rare in pro football compared to other sports, answering that opportunity must be met with a stellar performance.

A guy like John Elway was fortunate to get redemption after losing three Super Bowls; however, others such as Dan Marino and Fran Tarkenton were not so lucky. Then there's Joe Montana, Troy Aikman and Terry Bradshaw, who didn't need any redemption.

As you might have already guessed, it's quarterbacks who seek the redemption and are more intensely criticized.

Tom Brady: QB, Patriots

Tom Brady has already won three Super Bowls and two MVP awards, but he has not won a playoff game since the 2007 AFC title over San Diego.

Then the downward spiral began after the undefeated Patriots were upset by the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. Brady not only hasn't tasted postseason victory in four years, but his play hasn't been normal either.

In the 2007 playoffs Brady threw three picks against the Chargers and had a rating of 66.4. The Super Bowl was slightly better however; he threw just one TD and had a playoff low 60.4 completion percentage. Two years later in 2009 at home against Baltimore, Brady once again hit a new low.

There, two TDs to three interceptions, a 54.8 completion percentage and a rating of 49.1. Now his 2010 game against the Pats' AFC East rival Jets, Brady played better (89 rating, two TDs, one pick) but New England lost again.

It was their third straight playoff loss, with the previous two at home.

Joe Flacco: QB, Ravens

You can't expect much from rookie QBs, but Baltimore's Joe Flacco was under center in the 2008 AFC title game. No rookie had done what he'd done, which is lead his team to the conference championship.

Unfortunately Flacco's play was anything but average in the postseason. One TD, three picks, 50.8 rating, 44.0 completion percentage and no more than 13 completions in one game. However, that was his rookie season, so we'll give him a pass.

The following season it only got worse. Thanks to the defense and RB Ray Rice, Baltimore was able to bounce the Patriots in the Wild Card, but Flacco was just 4-for-10 passing for 34 yards and a pick.

A week later in Indianapolis and he was 20-of-35 for 189 yards and two picks. The 2009 postseason for Joe Flacco finished with a rating of 39.4. So, maybe 2010 was slated to be better?

After all, there's not much worse a guy can play, right?

Well, Flacco played slightly better but it still wasn't enough. The game that mattered (at Pittsburgh), Flacco went 16-of-30 for 125 yards, one TD, one pick and a rating of 61.1. Needless to say, Flacco has been able to lead and play well enough in the regular season, but in seven career playoff games a rating of 25.7.

Ouch.

Matt Ryan: QB, Falcons

Along with Joe Flacco, Atlanta's Matt Ryan was also a rookie in 2008 and led the Falcons to the playoffs.

That year Ryan had played rather well being a rookie and The Dirty Birds were on the road to Arizona. The Cardinals however, were not amused as they limited Ryan to just 199 yards and picked him off twice as he finished with a 72.8 completion percentage.

Definitely better than Flacco's numbers but Atlanta unfortunately lost.

Two years later Atlanta claimed the NFC's No. 1 seed and were hosting the No. 6 Green Bay Packers, whom they had previously beaten in the regular season. A game where Ryan played quite well.

That being said, Ryan was once again held in check to just 186 passing yards, one TD to two picks and a rating of 69.0.

Considering that Ryan had thrown 28 TDs to just nine picks and an average of 231 pass yards per game throughout the 2010 regular season, this was certainly an off performance. With another playoff berth in 2011, it'll be interesting if Ryan can shake the playoff cobwebs from '08 and '10.

Carson Palmer: QB, Raiders

Provided that the Raiders can win on Sunday and the Bengals lose, Oakland can slide in as the AFC's No. 6 seed.

And wouldn't you know who would benefit from a Cincinnati loss: Carson Palmer.

In two playoff appearances with the Bengals, Carson has simply been unlucky. After winning the AFC North in 2005, Cincinnati was hosting the No. 6 seed Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round.

On one play, Palmer dropped back and connected with Chris Henry for a 66-yard gain. Too bad his knee was blown and Palmer was done for the game. Not surprisingly, Cincinnati lost 31-17.

Four years later the Bengals returned to the playoffs. The AFC North titlists were hosting the New York Jets.

A week earlier Palmer barely played as the Bengals had already locked up the division however, the Jets needed a win to get in, so they played hard and Carson was just 1-of-11 for zero yards and a pick.

In turn, that wasn't a good sign leading into the following week when they rematched the Jets.

There, Palmer was just 18-of-36 for 146 yards, one TD and one pick with a rating of 58.3. If Oakland can steal that final seed from Cincinnati, that won't be enough redemption unless Oakland at least wins their Wild Card game.

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