NFL Playoffs 2011: Marshawn Lynch, James Starks and Other Surprise Performances

Wild Card Weekend certainly was exciting. The Seattle Seahawks pulled off a major upset against the New Orleans Saints, the New York Jets beat the Indianapolis Colts at the last second, the Green Bay Packers survived a late scare from the Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens cruised past the Kansas City Chiefs.

But even more surprising than some of the results from the weekend were some of the players who turned in surprising performances.

Marshawn Lynch had one of the best individual runs in NFL history to seal the game against the Saints, but Green Bay's James Starks had 123 rushing yards in the Packers' best running effort of the year.

So whose performance was the most surprising of the week?

Here are the 10 most surprising performances from the first round of the 2011 NFL Playoffs.

10. Ed Reed, S, Baltimore Ravens

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 09: Safety Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens warms up prior to playing the Kansas City Chiefs in their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 9, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Doug Pensinger

Reed turned in a very solid performance for the Ravens' defense despite playing with a heavy heart.

Reed's brother is missing and believed to have drowned after jumping into the Mississippi River while trying to elude police.

That made Reed's performance even more special, as the Ravens demolished the Chiefs, 30-7.

9. Rex Ryan, Head Coach, New York Jets

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets looks on during warm ups against the Indianapolis Colts during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 8, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy

Instead of blitzing like crazy on defense, the Jets played passive defense against the Colts.

It must have worked, as the Colts managed only one touchdown and three field goals in the game.

Give credit to Ryan for going against what he believes in to win a ball game.

8. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts passes the ball in the first quarter against the New York Jets during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 8, 2011 in Indianapolis, I

I was shocked that Manning had such a mediocre, unspectacular day against the Jets.

Yes, the Jets played more coverage and blitzed less than normal, but I still expected more out of Manning.

This game seriously damages his playoff legacy.

7. Tramon Williams, CB, Green Bay Packers

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: Tramon Williams #38 of the Green Bay Packers intercepts the pass intended for Riley Cooper #14 of the Philadelphia Eagles late in the fourth quarter during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on J

Though Packer fans know how good Williams can be, it had to be a surprise to everyone else that a Green Bay corner not named Charles Woodson made the biggest play of the game on Sunday.

Williams made a leaping interception late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for the Packers.

He's certainly well on his way to earning his four-year extension.

6. Mike Williams, WR, Seattle Seahawks

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Wide receiver Mike Williams #17 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts after catching a 38-yard third quarter touchdown pass against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8, 2011 in

Williams came up big in the biggest upset of the playoffs.

For a guy who was out of football for two seasons, he's certainly playing very well.

His long touchdown catch was one of the non-Lynch highlights of the game on Saturday.

5. James Jones, WR, Green Bay Packers

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: James Jones #89 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in

Jones' performance was surprising in both good and bad ways.

The good: his touchdown catch in the second quarter on a play where he found a window for a scrambling Aaron Rodgers to deliver a low pass that Jones scooped up right before it hit the ground.

The bad: a drop of a sure touchdown pass just before halftime that would have put the Packers ahead 21-3.

4. Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 09: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 9, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishw

Flacco threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns in a cakewalk victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs were keying on Ray Rice and the running game, and Flacco was able to make them pay.

He's come a long way in his three years as an NFL quarterback.

3. Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle Seahawks

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks throws the ball in the second half against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Phot

Hasselbeck threw for 272 yards and four touchdowns on Saturday.

For whatever reason, he's played the Saints very well this season.

If he could play the Saints every weekend, he'd probably beat Tom Brady's record of 50 touchdown passes in a season.

2. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Running back Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Seattle Seahawks runs for a 67-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter against Jabari Greer #33 of the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on Janua

Yes, Lynch had one of the best runs in NFL history on Saturday.

But he wasn't the most surprising performance of the weekend.

We all know that Lynch is supposed to be a solid back.

Games with 131 yards and a touchdown should be the norm for him, not the exception.

Before his long fourth quarter run, he would have finished with a 60-yard, no-touchdown game.

1. James Starks, RB, Green Bay Packers

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: James Starks #44 of the Green Bay Packers is tackled by Moise Fokou #53 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Ph

The most surprising performance of the weekend belonged to James Starks.

Starks shredded the Eagles' defense for 123 yards on Sunday.

That was by far the best performance by a Green Bay running back this season, and it couldn't have come at a more important time.

We'll see if he can build off this performance next weekend against the Falcons.

His performance will likely decide the outcome of the game.