NFL Playoffs 2011: 10 Players Whose Legacy Will Be Altered in the Postseason

At the start, 12 teams entered. Now, only eight teams remain.

The NFL playoffs are in full swing, with the wild card round concluded, and a new, exciting set of games coming up this weekend.

Everyone knows that the postseason is where players can cement their legacy. A game-changing play in the postseason can lead to being a hero. But, on the other end, if it is a game-changing play for all the wrong reasons, that player will be forever remembered as the one who cost his team the big game.

In this year's postseason, there will be some of those heroes, and yes, some of those zeros.

Here is a look at 10 players whose legacy will be forever altered this postseason.

Jay Cutler, QB, Chicago Bears

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears throws a pass against the New York Jets rushes at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Jets 38-34. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Cutler has has an off-and-on season this year, but in the end, when it mattered most, Cutler was pretty good down the stretch. He led his team to the No. 2 seed in the NFC and home field in the Bears opening game against the Seahawks.

Cutler hasn't set much of a legacy for himself thus far in his young career. But, he does have his team in position to make a Super Bowl run.

Unfortunately for Cutler, that will not be the case.  Whatever legacy he did have, will take a step backward if the Bears get upset by the Seahawks this weekend.

Sorry Jay, you're just not consistent enough, and in the playoffs, that's going to come back to hurt you.

Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle Seahawks

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates after running back Marshawn Lynch #24 scores on a 67-yard run in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Q

Win or lose this weekend against Chicago, Matt Hasselbeck has already had his legacy alerted in this year's postseason...In a good way.

Hasselbeck threw for 272 yards and tossed four touchdown passes in the Seahawks upset victory over the defending Super Bowl champion, New Orleans Saints. He reminded everyone just what has made him a successful NFL quarterback over his career.

He may be getting up there in age, and this may be his final run in a Seahawks uniform, but Hasselbeck's performance in the win against New Orleans will always be remembered by Seattle fans.

Mike Wallace, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 12: Mike Wallace #17 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the ball on a trick play during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 12, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Imag

Wallace showed signs of greatness last season as a rookie, and after the departure of Santonio Holmes, Wallace had a breakout season this year with the Steelers.

He will continue his outstanding play against the Ravens. Not many can run against that feared Ravens defense, so the Steelers will likely try to get it done through the air. This means that the opportunities should be there for Wallace to have a breakout game.

He is the the fastest player in the NFL today, and now, NFL fans across the country will have the chance to see just how good this guy is on the NFL's biggest stage.

Chris Lofton, LB, Atlanta Falcons

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ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 20: Curtis Lofton #50 and Chris Houston #23 of the Atlanta Falcons tackle Steve Smith #89 of the Carolina Panthers at Georgia Dome on September 20, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The third-year linebacker out of Oklahoma had a monster season for the NFC leading Falcons. He had a team-high 118 tackles, including three tackles for loss. He anchored a defense that only allowed an average of 18 points per game, which ranked fifth in the NFL this season.

If the Falcons are going to make a run at the Super Bowl, they are going to going to need to get exceptional play from their defense, and that all starts with Mr. Lofton.

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 the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8, 2011 in Seattl

Lynch capped off the Seahawks victory over the Saints with one of the most impressive runs in playoff history.

Lynch could have an average game in the Seahawks matchup against the Bears, and still have altered his legacy in in a positive way. But chances are, after his performances against the Saints, Seattle is going to get this guy the ball early and often against Chicago.

Lynch went from an average running back on a below-average team, to one of the go-to running backs in this year's postseason.

Danny Woodhead, RB/WR, New England Patriots

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 26: Danny Woodhead #39 of the New England Patriots runs against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

This is a guy who the New York Jets cut early on this season, and now, he will have the chance to come back and beat them when New England meets Rex Ryan's team this weekend.

Woodhead has been one of the many surprise stars for the Patriots this season, and could play a big role in the Patriots playoff run this year. The undersized running back doesn't possess much of a legacy at this point, but he certainly will once this year's playoffs are over.

Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 27: Roddy White #84 of the Atlanta Falcons catches a pass during warm-ups prior to the start of the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Georgia Dome on December 27, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty I

White has had some big years of late, but none as big as this year. He has solidified himself as one of the top wide-outs in the game, and is only going to help his legacy if Atlanta goes on a big run at a Super Bowl title.

Right now, White's legacy consists of his big performances in the regular season, but if the Falcons make it to the Super Bowl, White will cement his name as one of the top receivers in the game, who got it done on the biggest stage as well.

He is the big playmaker in Atlanta's offense, and if Matt Ryan is going to put up big numbers, Roddy White will likely be the recipient of many of those big passing numbers.

Shayne Graham, K, New England Patriots

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 12: Shayne Graham #5 of the New England Patriots kicks a field goal against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 12, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Patriots beat the Bears 36-7. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Shayne Graham has been known as a pretty good kicker in his time with the Cincinnati Bengals. But after his departure with Cincinnati, he hit the free agent market and was scooped up by the Patriots when Stephen Gostowski was lost for the year.

Graham has been great for the Patriots thus far, connecting on all 12 of his field goal attempts this season. When you get deep in the playoffs, kickers are so important and often can decide the final outcome of the game.

We saw it so many times with the Patriots and Adam Vinatieri, and now, it will be Graham's time to shine. It will be Graham's time to cement his legacy as a clutch Super Bowl kicker. Chances are in his favor, that he will have his chance to do so.

Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 02: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks on in the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins on January 2, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The only reason that Brady isn't No. 1 on this list, is because his legacy is already cemented in NFL playoff history. He has already shown that he can get in done on the biggest stage. And why it can be said that Brady didn't have a ton of offensive firepower around him during his first couple of Super Bowl runs, this year, he might have less to work with then ever.

The Patriots have been getting it done all season long with a trio of wide receivers, all under 5"10, and a pair of rookie tight ends that are getting their first sniff of what the NFL playoffs are all about.

Brady's legacy will only improve with the type of season he has had this year, especially if Brady is able to lead them to another Super Bowl victory this season.

Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons

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ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 11: Quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons against the Baltimore Ravens at Georgia Dome on November 11, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Matty Ice, as they call him, has the chance to make the biggest career impact of any quarterback in this year's playoffs.

He has not been in this position before. He leads the way for the top team in the NFC and if he plays well this postseason, the Falcons will have a good chance to be the NFC's representative in the Super Bowl this year.

If he can lead the Falcons to the big game, Ryan's legacy will be alerted in a huge way. He will go from being thought of as a good NFL quarterback, to a great NFL quarterback, that can get in done in the postseason on the biggest stage.

Ryan has all the tools to cement his legacy this postseason. Now, all we can do is sit back and see if Matty Ice can deliver his team their first Super Bowl championship.