NFL Playoff Bracket 2012: Defensive Players Who Must Step Up in Divisional Round

It can be easy to reduce any NFL playoff matchup to the battle of quarterbacks, and often that battle does prove to be the deciding factor. Sometimes, though, it can be just as important to get a big game from the players responsible for stopping all those great quarterbacks.

For this weekend’s divisional-round games, no defenders face more pressure than this trio:

Von Miller, Denver Broncos

Denver’s defense has been a bigger part of the team’s success than the infinitely-hyped Tim Tebow, and the Bronco D will have to stand tall again on Saturday. Tom Brady is having yet another Tom Brady season, and few signal-callers are more dangerous in the postseason.

Denver’s best chance is to keep Brady from getting comfortable in the pocket, and that job starts with uber-rookie Miller. He had 11.5 regular-season sacks—adding another against Pittsburgh last week—and must put Brady on the ground if Denver is to keep this game close.

Carlos Rogers, San Francisco 49ers

Drew Brees’ phenomenal success this season has had a great deal to do with the extraordinary depth of his receiving corps. Top wideout Marques Colston was just third on the team in receptions, trailing TE Jimmy Graham and RB Darren Sproles.

With so many weapons to account for, the 49ers’ defense must be able to leave its corners in single coverage on a regular basis tomorrow. Carlos Rogers, the best of the bunch, will frequently be left on an island with Colston or Lance Moore and has to keep Brees from picking him apart in the process.

Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants

Beating the Packers comes down to stopping Aaron Rodgers, a task easier said than done. Frequent blitzing is suicide against this receiver-rich offense, so the Giants have to be able to create pressure with their down linemen.

For all the big-name pass rushers on New York’s roster, Pierre-Paul had nearly twice as many sacks as the next-best Giant (Osi Umenyiora). If the G-Men hope to create any kind of rush against a Packer line that has exceeded all expectations this season, Pierre-Paul needs to be at the forefront.