NFL Playoff Picks: QBs Who Will Lead Their Teams to Victory

If you don't have a high-caliber quarterback, chances are you aren't going to go very far in the playoffs.

Fortunately for three teams in particular in the Wild Card round, they don't have to worry about that.

Unless you're Trent Dilfer with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001, you can't simply be a game manager to succeed in the postseason. You need to be a game changer.

Here are three quarterbacks who will lead their respective teams to victory in Wild Card Weekend.

3. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger hasn't been his usual self the last few weeks, particularly because he's been battling a sprained ankle.

But Roethlisberger has shown in the postseason that he knows how to bring it on the big stage. Last season in the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens, he threw two touchdowns and no interceptions, garnering a 101.8 quarterback rating in the process.

Roethlisberger faces a Denver Broncos defense in the Wild Card round that has shown it can be exposed against top quarterbacks like Tom Brady of the New England Patriots.

Expect Roethlisberger to bounce back and lead the Steelers to the Divisional round.

2. Eli Manning, New York Giants

Eli Manning takes a lot of heat in New York, primarily because, well, it's New York.

But the fact of the matter is, he's an elite quarterback. I wouldn't group him in with Brady, but he's certainly one of the best in the league.

In the biggest game of the season against the Dallas Cowboys, Manning played one of his best games of the season, throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns while completing 72 percent of his passes.

Manning is headed into the playoffs on a roll, and I expect him to have a huge game against the Atlanta Falcons at home.

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

What can you say about Brees that hasn't already been said?

Brees broke Dan Marino's NFL passing record this season with 5,476 yards through the air. He also tossed 46 touchdowns.

Brees is coming off a performance in which he passed for 389 yards and five touchdowns against the Carolina Panthers in Week 17. His Wild Card opponent, the Detroit Lions, just gave up 45 points to Matt Flynn and the Green Bay Packers.

Expect Brees to soar in the Wild Card round and win a shootout against Matthew Stafford in New Orleans.