NFL Playoff Predictions: Updated Super Bowl MVP Predictions

After some great divisional games, the conference championships are expected to be better. Well, this also narrows down the odds for Super Bowl MVP honors and to those who've played above the rest.

That being said, each team remaining has at least one player who's currently worthy of a solid chance to be the Super Bowl MVP. So, here are two from each franchise to watch for as the playoffs continue.

Tom Brady: QB, Patriots

Without question Tom Brady has to be on this list and rightfully so, as he threw for six TDs and 363 yards against the Denver Broncos on Saturday.

No doubt it's a bigger test for Brady this week against the Baltimore Ravens as they have future Hall of Famers in Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. If Brady can play well as expected, a New England win would make him the Super Bowl MVP front runner.

Already having two to his name, Brady is still looking to get one more ring as the Patriots haven't won one since the 2004 NFL season. Although that was only Brady's fifth year, New England has been in the postseason every season since, except 2008 when he was injured.

So, the numerous opportunities that Brady has had since then are not going to go unnoticed, after all, when we see a competitive player like Brady, fans do expect more and more.

Well, after winning his first playoff game since the 2007-08 AFC title game, New England and Brady have much confidence and momentum rolling into this season's conference title game. As long as the Patriots are in the postseason, Brady is always a top Super Bowl MVP candidate.

Rob Gronkowski: TE, Patriots

The man who's been Tom Brady's favorite target all season and acting as a receiver who stretches the field, New England tight end Rob Gronkowski is a great Super Bowl MVP candidate.

On the year he accounted for over 1,300 receiving yards on 90 receptions and scored 17 TDs.

He then kept that dominance going into the Pats' playoff game versus Denver. There, Gronkowski scored three TDs, caught 10 passes for 145 yards and New England was up 35-7 at the half.

For New England to advance to Super Bowl XLVI, Gronkowski must replicate, or at least come close, to that performance. Baltimore doesn't have a linebacker who can run with Gronk for 60 minutes and they'll need to double cover him.

Well, that then opens up Wes Welker, Deion Branch and Aaron Hernandez elsewhere, so the Ravens must choose wisely. Gronk's presence alone gives New England arguably the most distinct advantage of anyone remaining, so don't be surprised to see more dominating numbers this postseason.

Eli Manning: QB, Giants

No surprise here, Eli Manning has been the glue keeping the New York Giants together all season long. Whether they had injuries at running back, receiver or defense, Manning kept rolling to keep the Giants in the playoff hunt.

Now healthy, he and New York are simply just dominating in the playoffs once again.

After a solid performance at home versus Atlanta, Manning took his game up another level and out-performed Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers. Once again at Lambeau Field, Eli took down the No. 1-seed Packers with a 330 yard performance with three TDs.

He threw for almost 5,000 yards in the regular season and had it not been for Eli, New York would not be within one game of the Super Bowl.

This time however, he must defeat the San Francisco 49ers who bested the Giants 27-20 earlier in 2011. Manning threw two picks and the 49ers defense held strong when backed up inside their own red-zone.

If Manning can avenge that loss against one of the NFL's best defenses, another Super Bowl is extremely likely.

Hakeem Nicks: WR, Giants

In the regular season it was mainly Victor Cruz for Eli Manning, however, although Cruz has been decent in the postseason, Hakeem Nicks has simply taken over.

Versus Atlanta in the Wildcard round, Nicks caught six passes for 115 yards and scored two TDs.

Then against Green Bay on Sunday, Nicks dominated once again and caught seven passes for 165 yards and scored two more TDs. No pass defense has yet to stop him and if they do, then Eli will just target Victor Cruz or Mario Manningham.

Still, because of Cruz's regular season dominance, Nicks went under the radar heading into this postseason. Now that the Giants have become an even more improved passing offense, it's going to be tough for anyone to stop.

As for Nicks, he can beat any single coverage down the field, across the middle, with a double move or on a quick slant. His all-encompassing skill set to beat a defender is scary good and if he gets doubled-covered, then that just leaves Manningham, Cruz or tight end Jake Ballard open.

The question for any defense is who they want to stop because they can't stop all of Eli's targets.

Ed Reed: Safety, Ravens

If there's one defensive player who can win the Super Bowl MVP award right now, it's Baltimore safety Ed Reed.

He's a big reason why the Ravens finished ranked No. 4 against the pass and Reed accounted for eight passes defended, three picks and one forced fumble.

In other words, he doesn't get challenged much, if at all, by opposing quarterbacks but had an excellent performance versus Houston in the divisional round.

There, Reed picked off one pass, made six tackles and defended four passes. He will definitely need to shine bright in the AFC title game versus future Hall of Famer Tom Brady and the Patriots offense.

It will be a significant challenge to slow down Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker, among others, because the Ravens and Reed know that Brady is a gunslinger with excellent protection.

We have to expect that Brady will attack Reed more than he's used to, so if Reed steps up in this game, imagine what he can do against Eli Manning or Alex Smith. His confidence alone will be sky high and the pass rush in front of him will be of great assistance.

Provided that Reed keeps patrolling the secondary without error, Baltimore has a big advantage over any of the remaining teams to win the Super Bowl.

Anquan Boldin: WR, Ravens

Joe Flacco may have finally had a solid playoff performance, but receiver Anquan Boldin put on a show.

Now, he may have only caught four passes on eight targets against a solid Houston defense, however, Boldin accumulated 73 yards and scored one TD.

His TD gave the Ravens a 17-3 lead going into halftime and Baltimore never lost the lead.

And although it wasn't a surprising performance, it's not like Boldin was exceptional in the regular season. There, he did catch 57 balls for 887 yards but only scored three TDs.

Then again, Baltimore's offense does revolve around running back Ray Rice but you can expect defenses zoning in on Rice to force Flacco into throwing the ball. Well, that's where Boldin comes in as he can beat virtually any single coverage situation and has some great hands as well.

This week against New England, Boldin gets a weak pass defense so anticipate Baltimore to come out blazing. Boldin's production will be crucial early and also in the Super Bowl against New York or San Francisco (provided the Ravens win).

Torrey Smith may be the deep threat, but Boldin is Flacco's main target as his route running and balls skills are as good as any receiver left in the postseason.

Alex Smith: QB, 49ers

To be honest, it's not at all surprising to see Alex Smith perform well in the postseason and put up such big numbers.

The reason is because he finally has a reliable head coach and offensive coordinator. Since being drafted in 2005, Smith has played under a different offensive coordinator every year but he's still managed to gradually improve under center.

This season he just played better because a legit head coach is backing him along with a threatening ground game and great defense. Well, Smith has escalated himself to being on the cusp of one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks.

In his first-ever playoff game, Smith was 24-of-42 for 299 yards and threw three TDs to zero picks and ran for one TD that was verbatim, Tecmo Super Bowl style.

Cap off the game with a game-winning TD pass that is now dubbed, "That Catch III" and Alex Smith has the confidence and mobility to take San Francisco back to the Super Bowl and win it.

Against the Giants, Smith will need to mobilize himself against New York's pass rush but its pass defense will allow yards. This is especially true concerning the next and final guy on the list. 

Vernon Davis: TE, 49ers

The Catch III by 49ers tight end Vernon Davis would make Dwight Clark proud.

And, with his seven receptions for 180 yards that included two TDs against the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, Davis has immediately become a more legitimized receiving threat.

In addition, Davis' ability to get additional yards after the catch as well as sure-handedness down field shows a vertical threat in the San Francisco offense, something the 49ers haven't had since Terrell Owens.

That will then take pressure off the ground game and derive attention from receiver Michael Crabtree. Much like what we're seeing in New England with Rob Gronkoswki, having that stud tight-end is really paying dividends to improve the offensive passing game.

Now add Alex Smith's mobility and stronger than advertised arm and Davis is a great Super Bowl MVP candidate. As he did against the Saints, Davis will need to play a big role against the New York Giants.

This is not limited to receiving, but also as a blocker for Frank Gore in the ground game and chipping a pass-rusher before beginning his pass pattern to slow down the blitz. He'll also have to be just as effective in the Super Bowl as the 49ers become a more complete offense.

After all, if history tell us anything, a reliable and studly tight-end is a quarterback's best friend in the passing game.

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