NFL Playoff Predictions: 10 Young Players Who Must Step Up This Postseason

The 2011-2012 NFL Playoffs are about to begin, as eight teams begin a journey this week that they hope will lead to a berth in Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.

These teams feature some of the biggest stars in the National Football League, such as New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, but in order to secure a world championship, these squads will also need some big contributions from younger players—including the group listed here.

Sean Weatherspoon, OLB (Atlanta Falcons)

2011 Stats: 115 tackles, 4 sacks

Rookie wide receiver Julio Jones may have grabbed the lion's share of the attention from the media this year as far as Atlanta's young players are concerned, but in a conference containing such prolific offenses as the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints, the Falcons will advance in the playoffs as far as their defense can take them.

That places a lot of pressure on Atlanta defenders to at least slow down those offensive juggernauts. That includes second-year pro Sean Weatherspoon, who had a very solid season in his first year as a full-time starter.

Torrey Smith, WR (Baltimore Ravens)

2011 Stats: 50 receptions, 841 yards, 7 touchdowns

To say that Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith's first start in the NFL was a memorable one would be an understatement; Smith's first three receptions as a pro all went for touchdowns in a Week 3 blowout of the St. Louis Rams.

The Ravens are going to need the speedy Smith to help stretch opposing defenses and take some pressure off running back Ray Rice and the Baltimore ground game—especially with fellow wideout Anquan Boldin nursing a sore knee.

Andy Dalton, QB (Cincinnati Bengals)

2011 Stats: 300-of-516, 3,398 yards, 20 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 1 rushing touchdown

Quarterback Andy Dalton of the Cincinnati Bengals played about as well as could have possibly been expected after being thrown in the fire from Day 1 under center in the Queen City.

Now he leads the Bengals to a surprising spot in the postseason.

If Cincinnati is going to earn its first playoff victory since 1990, they'll need a big game from Dalton to do so. That means the "Red Rifle" will have to shake off the flu bug that has limited him in practice this week.

Cliff Avril, DE (Detroit Lions)

2011 Stats: 36 tackles, 11 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 1 interception

In 2011, Detroit Lions defensive end Cliff Avril started to put up production that matched his considerable potential. He posted career-highs across the board as the fourth-year pro and the Lions advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

If Detroit is going to keep its postseason run going this week against the New Orleans Saints, the key to the game may well be the ability of Avril and the Lions' front four to pressure Drew Brees, who can carve up any defense in the NFL if given enough time in the pocket to do so.

Morgan Burnett, S (Green Bay Packers)

2011 Stats: 107 tackles, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 3 interceptions

Even though he spent much of the season playing through a broken hand, Green Bay Packers safety Morgan Burnett had a solid sophomore campaign in the NFL, topping 100 tackles and switching from strong safety to free safety after Nick Collins went down with a neck injury.

Green Bay ranked dead last in the National Football League in pass-defense this season. While that can be partly attributed to the Packers' offense forcing teams to the air, the Green Bay secondary—including Burnett—is going to need to step it up if the Packers are going to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

Kyle Arrington, CB (New England Patriots)

2011 Stats: 88 tackles, 7 interceptions

The New England's pass-defense was a sieve for most of 2011, but there were a few bright spots—including the play of third-year cornerback Kyle Arrington, who led the team in interceptions and was second in tackles.

The Patriots' prolific offense can score with anyone, but unless their defense can get off the field, New England fans may be in for another postseason of disappointment, placing a great deal of pressure on Arrington and the other Patriots defensive backs.

Malcolm Jenkins, FS (New Orleans Saints)

2011 Stats: 77 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble

Malcolm Jenkins of the New Orleans Saints appears to be successfully making the transition from college cornerback to pro safety; the third-year pro set a career-high in tackles at the back-end of the New Orleans defense.

That defense, however, ranked 30th in the National Football League against the pass, and if the Saints are going to make their way though the likes of the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers to advance to Indianapolis, their secondary is going to have to start stopping people.

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE (New York Giants)

2011 Stats: 86 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles

Jason Pierre-Paul established himself as one of the premier pass-rushers in the National Football League in his sophomore season, ranking fourth in the NFL in sacks while posting huge tackle numbers for a defensive lineman.

To beat the likes of the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers, teams need to able to pressure the quarterback with their defensive front to allow more defenders to drop into zone coverage. For the Giants to make a deep playoff run, Pierre-Paul will need to continue his stellar play.

Isaac Redman, RB (Pittsburgh Steelers)

2011 Stats: 110 carries, 479 yards, 3 touchdowns, 18 receptions, 78 yards

No team entering the NFL playoffs faces as many question marks on offense as the Pittsburgh Steelers. Starting quarterback Ben Roethisberger and center Maurkice Pouncey are both nursing high ankle sprains, while running back Rashard Mendenhall was lost for the season a week ago with a torn ACL.

That will leave primary duties in the Pittsburgh backfield to second-year pro Isaac Redman. While Redman has shown some ability when afforded playing time in the past, how he performs under the brightest of lights will go a long way toward determining how deep into the playoffs the Steelers can advance.

NaVarro Bowman, LB (San Francisco 49ers)

2011 Stats: 143 tackles, 2 sacks

San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVarro Bowman enjoyed a fantastic second season in the NFL, ranking seventh in the National Football League in tackles in his first season as a starter while helping to anchor the league's fourth-ranked defense.

As goes their defense so goes the 49ers—and in a conference filled with offensive firepower and with battery-mate Patrick Willis recovering from a hamstring injury, it will be up to Bowman to hold down the fort in the middle of the San Francisco D.