NFL Playoff Bracket 2012: Players Who Will Rebound After Struggling in Wild Card

There are a few players who struggled in the Wild Card Round who are currently kissing the feet of their respective teammates, thankful they get to play another game after disappointing performances.

But there's always next game, as they say.

Here are three players coming off rough performances that will rebound in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.

3. Jake Ballard, TE, New York Giants

Rookie Jake Ballard was having a fine season until missing the last two weeks of the regular season with a PCL sprain.

Then Ballard struggled in the Wild Card Round against the Atlanta Falcons, catching two balls for 16 yards and letting a potential touchdown slip through his fingers.

Nonetheless, I like this kid and he showed he can produce earlier this season. Plus, he's facing the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round and they've been bad against tight ends this season.

2. Willis McGahee, RB, Denver Broncos

Who knew that the ageless Willis McGahee would be starting for the Broncos this season after getting cut by the Baltimore Ravens in the offseason?

But McGahee not only started, he went off for more than 1,100 rushing yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

However, the Wild Card Round was not kind to McGahee, who rushed for just 61 yards on 19 carries against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Nonetheless, I attribute that to the Steelers' tough rush defense more than McGahee all of a sudden showing his age. Against the New England Patriots, McGahee should get back on track. He rushed seven times for 70 yards against them in Week 15.

1. Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants

I guess you could say Victor Cruz was on cruz control in the Wild Card Round against the Falcons.

After going off for more than 1,500 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie this season, Cruz had only two catches for 22 yards against the Falcons.

However, he's just too explosive to be held down again. Plus, the Packers gave up more through the air than the Falcons this season. It's hard for me to ignore a combined 342 yards and two touchdowns in Cruz's last two regular-season games.