2012 NFL Playoffs: 8 Players Who Came Up Big in the Clutch

For some, it may have been the biggest moment in their lives. The chance to prove they belonged in the party, the chance to show their team they still had something left to give.

It was an amazing run this past weekend. From great runs to exciting catches, to unbelievable defensive stops—the Divisional Playoffs had everything.

And now for those who were successful, a date with the AFC and NFC Championship games.

Oh, what a rush.

Now, if we have the same kind of excitement this coming week, then we will have our appetites satisfied for the next two weeks until the Super Bowl.

Here are those players who came up in the clutch this weekend.

Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers

This is a team that is used to the likes of Joe Montana and Steve Young coming up with huge plays in the playoffs.

Not Alex Smith!

But Smith continued to show this season is a special one for both himself and his 49ers teammates. He completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Vernon Davis with nine seconds left for a 36-32 win. Smith had a 28-yard run for a score with 2:11 left in the Divisional Playoff game.

The win meant the 49ers would have home field advantage in the NFC Championship game.

Eli Manning, New York Giants

Manning continues to prove he is just as good as his older brother when it comes to postseason heroics.

Manning threw for 330 yards and three scores as the Giants ran through the Packers 37-20.

The Giants limped into the playoffs and now look to be the team that could supplant the Packers of 2010 as the team that could shock everyone and reach the Super Bowl.

Manning's performance continues to prove that he is one of the better playoff quarterbacks of all time.

New England Patriots Defense

The Patriots defense came up huge on Saturday, stopping Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos, 45-10, in Gillette Stadium.

Tebow turned people into believers when he and the Broncos beat the defending AFC Champion Steelers, 29-23, in overtime.

Tebow looked common and confused, completing 9-of-26 passes on the game.

The Patriots also shut down the Broncos running game. Willis McGahee led the team with 76 yards on the night.

Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers

Davis was the hero in the 36-32 win over the Saints Sunday in San Francisco.

The emotion of the game-winning catch, a 14-yard strike, was all over his face after the catch.

Davis had seven catches for 180 yards and two scores during the game.

Lardarius Webb, Baltimore Ravens

Interceptions by Webb and Ed Reed in the final quarter of the game preserved a 20-13 win last Sunday.

The defense held rookie quarterback TJ Yates to 184 yards and three interceptions on the contest.

The win sent the Ravens (13-4) to New England next weekend to face the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.

Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants

Victor Cruz may have gotten all the accolades for most of the season for the Giants, but Nicks came up huge against the Packers.

Nicks had seven catches for 165 yards and two scores from Eli Manning in the win.

Nicks and Cruz have been the focus of the Giants passing attack this season, both enjoying 1,000-yard receiving years.

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

His numbers were not gaudy, but Flacco had an efficient afternoon in leading the Ravens to a 20-13 win over the Texans.

Flacco had two touchdown passes and 176 yards in the air in the win. This performance, combined with four turnovers forced by the Ravens defense, were the difference in the game for Baltimore.

Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Brady threw six touchdown passes, five in the first half, as the Patriots proved they were the best team in the AFC with a 45-10 win over the Broncos.

Brady had 363 yards and six touchdown passes. Rob Gronkowski had 10 catches for 145 yards and three of those Brady scores.

Deion Branch also had a reception for a score as well.