NFL Playoff Predictions: 3 Players Who Will Dominate the Divisional Round

Offense dominated the Wild Card Round—even Tim Tebow put on an epic aerial performance.  

With the 49ers and Ravens in action, will defense make a stand? 

Which players will dominate the division round?

Patrick Willis 

Although Willis was a bit sluggish in Week 17 coming off his hamstring injury, now that he's had two weeks to prepare, he'll be back to his old form this weekend. 

The Saints pose the quite the threat, both through the air and on the ground, but San Francisco's defense can overpower opponents just like New Orleans offense often does.

Willis is at the center of it all at his middle linebacker position.

For as much well-deserved notoriety as the Saints' passing game receives, their three-headed running game is the real X-factor.

I expect Willis to lead the charge in shutting down Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory and Darren Sproles.

If New Orleans leaves San Fran with a victory, they'll do so with another tremendous aerial performance from Drew Brees.

Ray Rice

The Houston Texans defense limited the Cincinnati Bengals to a mere 76 yards rushing on 19 carries, and Cedric Benson accounted for only 14 of those yards. 

Facing Ray Rice.

He's not only a surprisingly shifty and tough runner, the guy is a terrorizing factor in the passing game, especially on screen plays.

Rice caught 76 passes for 704 yards with three receiving touchdowns in 2011.

The Ravens dedicated their offensive game plan to the former Rutgers' star down the stretch. They won four of their last five games, the only defeat coming to the Chargers when Rice received 10 carries. 

He'll wear down the Texans defensive front and will frustrate them by converting on third downs by making tacklers miss on short, check-down throws. 

Rice will receive over 25 touches in this game and, as usual, will make the most out of each one of them.

Aaron Rodgers

With Drew Brees delivering another historic performance, Matthew Stafford proving why he's a young gun-slinger with limitless potential and Eli Manning leading a Giants surge similar to the one in 2008 that led to a Super Bowl victory, shockingly, Aaron Rodgers hasn't been in the forefront of our minds.

You know, the probable league MVP that threw 45 touchdowns and six interception during the regular season.

The fact that his team was on the bye didn't help, either. 

Although the New York Giants' secondary has tightened up of late (held Matt Ryan to 199 passing yards on Sunday), the Packers' receiving corps will give them fits this weekend.

Rodgers torched the Giants defensive backfield for 369 yards, four touchdowns and one interception in a 38-35 Week 13 win.

With Greg Jennings returning from injury, he gets his best downfield threat back and that takes pressure off the other guys like Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Jermichael Finley.

Another huge game for A-Rodg.   

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