2011 NFL Playoffs: Who in The NFL Has Something To Prove This Weekend?

Well, well, well, ladies and gents, we only have three (meaningful) games left in this 2010-2011 football campaign, and there is still a question I have yet to see answered:

Who has the most to prove?

You can talk all you want about stats, big plays, and ultimately rings, but who really needs to show up; not only this weekend, but in the Superbowl as well?

We've been asking this question in sports for years:

Can Kobe win without Shaq?

Will Peyton ever win a title?

Can someone prove to the Yanks that money doesn't always win titles?

It has come down to that time in these playoffs, where these exact questions are beginning to be asked.

Here are a few players and non-players, that have the most to prove in what we have left of our NFL playoffs:

Rex Ryan, Jets Head Coach

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets looks on during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Imag

All Rex Ryan has been doing this postseason, is playing the mic.

Talk after talk after talk and guess what...he's been winning.

Rex so far has been backing up his trash with victories, and no, these are not you're "everyday Ws".

Manning and Brady...in back to back wins...in the playoffs...even away from home? Yes, away from home.

Something unheard of in this generation of sports!

Coach Ryan now has the opportunity to make his 2010-2011 preseason prediction come true: The New York Jets winning the Superbowl.

Rex Ryan can not only prove that he is a football genius, but that he really can "talk the talk" AND "walk the walk".

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers QB

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 15: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates the game winning touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Heinz Field on January 15, 2011 in Pi

Now this guy may have nothing to prove on the field, but he has the chance to change his horrible reputation.

What can change a NFL players image more than laying low and donating millions of dollars to charities? Winning a championship.

In winning the Super Bowl, Roethlisberger will be looking to do more than just solidifying his spot in the NFL Hall of Fame, but he will be looking to gain a fresh start. 

A ring and holding the Lombardi Trophy over his head while wearing a "STEELERS 2011 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION" t-shirt  will change his reputation across the nation, possibly back to the Big Ben everyone knew and loved.

I guess if Big Ben has anything to "prove", he has to "prove" that he's simply a good guy.

Disclaimer: For all the haters, I know, winning is not actually proving he is a good guy, but yes, it will "prove" he is a good guy, if you catch my drift.

Ladanian Tomlinson, Jets RB

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: LaDainian Tomlinson #21 of the New York Jets celebrates after he scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Ja

You can argue that no one in these playoffs has more to prove than this guy.

LT has had one of the greatest careers a tail back can have...but there is just this one little thing missing, a Superbowl ring (it actually is fairly small).

After sticking with the Chargers, playoff exit after playoff exit, LT decided "to bring his talents to the Big Apple" last summer in hope of contending for a title with the surging Jets.

Tomlinson started training camp as the #2 running back and now is a crucial part of the offense which can either make or break a game. 

He can prove to every NFL fan on the Earth, that he belongs in the discussion as the greatest running back of all time.

Mike McCarthy, Packers Head Coach

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers looks on during their game against the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylv

There were questions mid-season if this guy should even still be coaching. 

After questionable calls, horrible challenges, and his inability to win close games, McCrathy's Pack are now surging and favorites to not only get to the Super Bowl, but to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to title town.  

But there is just one problem. It has been said that if the Packers lose this weekend against their division rivals, it would be one of the biggest disappointments in Green Bay history.  I'm sure Mike McCarthy doesn't want that on his shoulders.

McCarthy needs to not only prove to Ted Thompson that he is deserving to coach a talented Packers team, but needs to prove to the Cheesehead nation that he can lead this time not only to a title this year, but more to come in the next coming years.

If McCarthy can win the Superbowl this year, he can prove to all of his critics that maybe he does earn some credit for how well the Packers have been playing as of late.

Mark Sanchez, Jets QB

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots and Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets walk off the field after the Jets defeated the Patriots 28 to 21 their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 i

The picture says it all. 

No matter which way you look at it, Mark Sanchez beat both Manning and Brady in back to back games and now looks to be going up against another top 5 Signal Caller in Ben Roethlisberger. 

Sanchez has been playing fairly well in these playoffs and can not only thrust his name into the national spotlight, but can raise a few eyebrows as well.

With a stellar performance (i.e. victory) against the Steelers and another good game in the Superbowl (i.e. another victory), Sanchez would instantly be "THE MAN" in the Big Apple.

"Amar'e who?"

"Robinson Cano what?"

This would even raise Sanchez's ability on the field.  What more could a young guy ask for than to win a Superbowl title while playing the most important position on the field?  The sky would not only be the limit for him, but for this Jets team that he will be calling plays for in the next coming years.

Sanchez not only would prove to the league that he is the real deal, but to his coach, Rex Ryan, that there will be no benching talk for seasons to come.

Rod Marinelli, Bears Defensive Coordinator

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CHICAGO - AUGUST 22: Defensive line coach/assistant head coach Rod Marinelli of the Chicago Bears watches his players during warm-ups before a pre-season game against the New York Giants on August 22, 2009 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears

If a non-player has something to prove, its Rod Marinelli. 

Marinelli has a tough defense in the Chicago Bears and looks to play the high powered offense of the Green Bay Packers.

Marinelli needs to find a way to stop Aaron Rodgers and the Packers receivers.  With the Packers defense playing so well in these playoffs, we can't expect Cutler and the Bears to match the Pack, point for point.  The only way the Bears can stay in this game and get to the Superbowl is through stopping Aaron Rodgers.

If the Bears can send home their divisional rivals,  a defensive powerhouse matchup will be awaiting them in the Superbowl whether it be the Steelers or the Jets. 

The Bears success rests on their defense which is manned by Rod Marinelli.

If Marinelli can stop the hottest player in the league and then continue on to win a defensive match up for the ages, he can prove that maybe, just maybe, that 0-16 season was due to the fact that he was part of the Lions organization, rather than being a poor head coach.

Aaron Rodgers, Packers QB

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ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 15: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers reacts after he threw a 20-yard touchdown in the seocnd quarter to James Jones #89 against the Atlanta Falcons during their 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Georgia Dome on January 1

If anyone has something to prove, it's Aaron Rodgers. 

This may be his best opportunity to win a Superbowl this year, and it would simply do wonders for the kid.

Aaron Rodgers would make every Cheesehead in Green Bay nation forget about the Brett Favre era with a Superbowl win.

Speaking of Brett, Rodgers would then go on to prove both McCarthy and Thompson made the right decision in sticking with Rodgers when Favre wanted to come back.

And it seems like people are just beginning to realize just how talented this guy is, because throughout the season, "specialists" and "experts" were questioning if Rodgers really had what it took to be a top five QB.

Now those same "specialists" and "experts" are uttering the words:

"Move on over Tom and Peyton, Aaron Rodgers is in town!"

Aaron Rodgers can prove to the sports public, that those words, aren't just a fluke.