Handing Out MVP Awards for Every Winning Team of Playoffs' Divisional Round

With the NFL Divisional Round in the books, let's take a look at the MVP from each of the four winning teams: 49ers, Patriots, Ravens and Giants.

San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith

What a story of redemption Saturday was for Alex Smith after a journey of hardship and a career of criticism. The former No. 1 pick finally validated himself with a final five minutes of football that made even Joe Montana envious. Smith's quarterback sweep for a touchdown was pure gold, but his ice-in-the-veins final drive was one for the ages. The final strike to Vernon Davis capped off some of the most riveting playoff football we've seen in a long time. Good for you, Alex Smith.     

New England Patriots: Tom Brady

Brady's a guy that knows all about what Smith pulled off Saturday, but he needed no such late effort to get the Patriots back in the AFC Championship Game. His six touchdown passes, including five in the first half, were more than enough to beat a punch-less Broncos team. I thought about giving this MVP to Rob Gronkowski, but Brady's fourth-quarter punt inside the 20 gave him the edge.  

Baltimore Ravens: Lardarius Webb

There's a case to be made for Ed Reed here, especially after his fourth-quarter interception near the goal line sealed the win for the Ravens.

But I'm giving it to Webb, who had two picks and didn't allow a completion of longer than 19 yards to Andre Johnson. Plus, Yates targeted Johnson 15 times but connected just eight times. Johnson got his yards, but he wasn't a game-changing factor. 

New York Giants: Hakeem Nicks

Where do you start, with Nicks' 66-yard touchdown reception early on, where he bounced off a would-be tackle attempt from Charlie Peprah than outran the Packers secondary into the secondary? Or maybe his Superman leap in the end zone to snag a Hail Mary pass to end the first half?

Overall, Nicks had 165 yards. In a game filled with stars, Nicks shone the brightest.