NFL Playoffs 2012: Alex Smith and 7 Best Playoff Performances

The best players are the ones who can step in the playoffs and carry their team in the clutch. These men did that better than anyone this postseason.

This is a time where players can move from good to elite in the eyes of fans. It is also when people like Alex Smith can turn themselves from a punchline into a hero.

There are still three games left to be played in the 2012 playoffs, but there have already been some outstanding performances so far this year.

Tom Brady, New England Patriots

After a week of Tim Tebow talk and analysts comparing the Denver Broncos quarterback to the elite in the NFL, Tom Brady took matters into his own hands.

Brady went off against the Broncos with 363 yards and six touchdowns. The game was never close as the New England Patriots cruised into the AFC Championship.

He also completed 76 percent of his passes, compared to the 35 percent of his counterpart.

The New England quarterback secured his place among the best playing today, and a Super Bowl win this season will place him as one of the best quarterbacks ever.

It seems there is no stopping him.

Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers

Vernon Davis had a down year during the regular season, but he saved his best performance for when it mattered most.

The tight end started the scoring with a 49-yard touchdown pass, but that was only the beginning.

Davis was available down the field every time the 49ers needed him and finished with 180 yards receiving, a new playoff record for a tight end.

His best plays were on the last drive with the team down three points. Davis caught a 47-yard pass from quarterback Alex Smith to get to the 20-yard line. A few plays later he caught the game-winning touchdown with only nine seconds remaining.

It was one of the best days for a franchise that is full of great playoff performances.

Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants

Of all the contributors in the New York Giants upset victory over the Green Bay Packers, no one had a bigger day than Hakeem Nicks.

The receiver had a career-high with 165 yards and two touchdowns, his second multi-touchdown game in as many weeks.

Nicks had a 66-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter that set the tone, and then grabbed a jump ball in the end zone just before the half to give his team a 10-point advantage.

So far he is carrying the Giants this postseason, and he could be the key to a victory next week over the San Francisco 49ers.

Arian Foster, Houston Texans

His team could not come through with a victory in the second round, but Arian Foster completely dominated the Cincinnati Bengals in the opening game of the playoffs.

The Bengals had a Top 10 rush defense during the regular season, but Foster tore through them for 153 yards and two touchdowns.

The Houston Texans had never seen a playoff game in its franchise history, but there seemed to be no problem with nerves for the running back.

Against the Baltimore Ravens, Foster followed his performance with 132 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, three T.J. Yates interceptions were too much to overcome.

Still, Arian Foster is cementing his place as one of the best running backs in football.

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees has been so good this season, it is almost not impressive when he does have a good performance.

Still, Brees deserves to be recognized for his work in the opening round victory over the Detroit Lions.

The quarterback completed 77 percent of his passes for 466 yards and three touchdowns. The Lions have a solid offense, but Brees displayed almost a flawless performance to the point that Detroit just could not keep up.

Against the San Francisco 49ers, Brees threw for another 462 yards and four touchdowns, but two interceptions led to his team being eliminated from the playoffs.

The New Orleans Saints quarterback would prefer team success, but there is no doubting that Brees has had one of the best seasons in NFL history.

Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos

Most people were focused on Tim Tebow, but it was Demaryius Thomas that justified his status as a first-round pick towards the end of the season.

The receiver had 414 receiving yards and three touchdowns over a four-game stretch, and then had his best performance in the first round of the playoffs.

Thomas finished the game with receptions of 58, 51, 15 and 80 yards. The last one was a touchdown on the first play of overtime that clinched the game for the Denver Broncos.

On that final play he caught the ball about 15 yards down the field, and then a brutal stiff-arm allowed him to break away to the end zone.

Regardless of who is under center for the Broncos in the future, that person will have a solid target in Thomas. 

Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers

It took seven years for the former No. 1 overall draft pick to reach the playoffs, but Alex Smith made the most of his opportunity.

Smith helped the San Francisco 49ers defeat the New Orleans Saints with 299 passing yards and three touchdowns, plus a rushing touchdown.

That type of performance puts him in rare company, as Aaron Rodgers, Rich Gannon, Joe Montana and Tobin Rote are the only players ever to have three passing touchdown, one rushing touchdown and no interceptions in a playoff game.

The rushing touchdown was especially impressive. It was a career-long 28-yard run on a 3rd-and-8 with the 49ers losing in the final minutes.

If the Saints did not take the lead the following drive, that play would go down as a defining moment for the 2012 playoffs. Instead, a 14-yard strike to Vernon Davis with nine seconds left will have to replace it.

In one game, Smith replaced the title "game manager" with "winner."