Most Clutch NFL Playoff Performances of All Time

The NFL playoffs are what define a player's career. It's what separates the good from the average and the great from the good.

There's been numerous dominating and clutch performances throughout the years, and there's surely more to come. To that end, here's a list of five of the most clutch postseason performances in NFL history.

Note: Listed in reverse chronological order

Kurt Warner, 2009 NFC Wild Card

A year after leading the Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl, Kurt Warner got back into the playoffs, this time against the upstart Green Bay Packers.

The 38-year-old QB finished with an astounding performance, going 29-of-33 for 379 yards and five TDs (zero picks).

Six different players had three or more receptions, four with six or more and he was sacked just one time.

Kurt Warner without a doubt has had some of the most dominating and exhilarating postseason performances in NFL history. But the aging QB saved his best performance for last, as this game was Warner's final victory in the NFL.

A 51-45 OT win over the the Packers, who cut him way back in 1994, Warner is one of just two QBs to ever start for two different teams in Super Bowl (Craig Morton, Cowboys 1970 and Broncos 1977).

Plaxico Burress, 2007 NFC Title Game

With below zero wind chills in Green Bay in late January, Giants receiver Plaxico Burress proved you can have success throwing the ball in abysmal weather conditions.

In New York's magical playoff run of the 2007 NFL season, Burress caught 11 passes for 154 yards to help the Giants upset the Packers 23-20 in OT. It was Brett Favre's last game for Titletown.

Not to mention, Burress played with a bad shoulder and ankle, which only became more sensitive in freezing weather conditions. Nonetheless, those numbers set a Giants franchise playoff record, and his TD catch in Super Bowl XLII was the game-winner.

Unfortunately it's been downhill for Burress since. But regardless of how his career ends, the 2007-08 NFL playoffs are his to cherish.

Ty Law. 2003 AFC Title Game

Heading into the 2003 AFC title game, the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning were on fire.

A 41-10 win over Denver in the Wild Card, and then a 38-31 shootout win over Kansas City in the Divisional round, put Indianapolis in New England for what ended up being the first of three AFC title games between the two over the next four years.

Manning had thrown for 377 yards against Denver, 307 against the Chiefs and had combined for eight TDs to zero picks.

Well, then Ty Law happened, and Manning was intercepted four times in a 24-14 loss. Law was responsible for three of the interceptions which help the Pats build a 15-0 halftime and 21-7 fourth-quarter lead.

They were Law's only three picks of those playoffs, and New England would win a second Super Bowl two weeks later.

Frank Reich, 1992 AFC Wild Card

Filling in for the injured Jim Kelly, Buffalo backup QB Frank Reich was unknown to most of the football world.

Then, the 1992 AFC Wild Card kicked off and NFL history was made. Down 35-3 at halftime, Frank Reich literally had nothing to lose in the second half.

Then again, he had been in this position before also.

Eight years earlier, in 1984 for the Maryland Terrapins, Reich came off the bench to start the second half against the Miami Hurricanes, down 31-0. Long story short, Reich led Maryland back to a 42-40 win.

Now, staring in the face of a 32-point deficit, Reich finished 21-of-34 for 289 yards and four TDs. The Bills won the game 41-38 in OT and made it all the way to the Super Bowl.

Unfortunately for Reich and the Bills, a third straight Super Bowl loss capped off an incredible playoff run.

Joe Montana, Super Bowl XXIII

This was not Joe Montana's best performance in the Super Bowl, and it wasn't even the year when he won the Super Bowl MVP award. However, Montana's performance in Super Bowl XXIII was his most clutch on the NFL's biggest stage.

The MVP award would go to Jerry Rice, who caught 11 of Joe's passes for 215 yards.

Thing is, Montana made Rice, as he had already won two Super Bowl's before Jerry came aboard in 1985. In this game, Montana was 23-of-36 for 357 yards, two TDs and zero picks.

Down 13-6 in the fourth quarter, Montana threw two TD passes to get San Francisco the win. His calm, cool and collected demeanor during the game's final drive is why this performance is so clutch.

He spotted John Candy in the stands, which is how poised Montana was in a nutshell. A year later, Joe would win another Super Bowl and earn a third MVP Trophy in four tries. He finished 4-0 in Super Bowls and threw 11 career TDs with zero picks in all four games.

Clutch doesn't even begin to describe the mastery Joe Cool put on during the Super Bowl.

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