NFL Playoffs 2012: Most Important Non-QB for Each Team's Super Bowl Hopes

The NFL postseason is the proving ground for history’s great quarterbacks, but it’s too often forgotten that 21 other starters have a lot to do with winning the Super Bowl. This collection represents the player on each team who will have the biggest effect on its postseason success…aside from the QB who will get all the credit:

Cincinnati Bengals: RB Cedric Benson

Cincinnati’s defense is short on individual stars, so Benson gets the nod for his ability to control the clock and take pressure off rookie QB Andy Dalton.

Detroit Lions: WR Calvin Johnson

Football’s best WR has carried the Detroit offense on his back, especially since Jahvid Best’s injury.

Pittsburgh Steelers: S Troy Polamalu

With the Steeler offense crippled by injuries, they’ll need game-changing plays from defenders like ballhawk Polamalu.

Atlanta Falcons: WR Roddy White

RB Michael Turner is a big part of the Atlanta attack, but defenses’ respect for White opens up the field for every other Falcon.

Denver Broncos: LB Von Miller

With Tim Tebow (a non-QB in another sense) producing minimal scoring from his option offense, sackmaster Miller must keep the opposing team’s point total down.

New York Giants: WR Victor Cruz

Cruz’s circus catches have pulled the Giants out of the fire all season, and the playoffs won’t be any different if Big Blue is to find any success.

Houston Texans: RB Arian Foster

With the Texans down to their third-string QB, Foster must keep the offense from melting down entirely.

New Orleans Saints: RB Darren Sproles

A threat to score any time he touches the ball, Sproles has been the free-agent addition of the year in New Orleans.

Baltimore Ravens: RB Ray Rice

The Ravens defense will go exactly as far as the inconsistent Ravens offense can carry it, and that means Rice (the team leader in rushing yards and receptions) must come up big.

San Francisco 49ers: RB Frank Gore

San Francisco’s outstanding defense needs points from somewhere, and QB Alex Smith won’t exactly make Niner fans forget Joe Montana.

New England Patriots: TE Rob Gronkowski

Second-year man Gronkowski has been a revelation with 17 TDs, and a New England club that will have to win some shootouts needs all the scoring it can get.

Green Bay Packers: RB James Starks

The surprise standout of last year’s playoffs, Starks will need another strong postseason for the Packers to keep the ball moving at frigid Lambeau Field.