NFL Playoff Predictions: 5 Potential Super Bowl MVPs No One Is Talking About

It's no secret that players like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees are top Super Bowl MVP candidates.

With the Packers, Patriots, and Saints all appearing to have a bye-week this postseason, it's clear their offenses take precedent. Well, there's plenty of other talent that's capable of winning the Super Bowl MVP award also.

So, here are five candidates going under the radar.

Matt Ryan: QB, Falcons

It was really a hiccup game in the midst of his last five performances, because Atlanta QB Matt Ryan has been on fire with the exception of the Falcons' game at Houston.

There, Ryan threw just one TD and had two picks. However, those are his only two interceptions thrown in his previous five outings. Collectively, Ryan has 26 TDs to just 12 INTs this season. But 12 of those TDs have come since Atlanta's Week 10 home game versus Tennessee.

In his last two games, Ryan has seven TDs to zero INTs and 544 passing yards. Now, sure the opposing defenses weren't all that impressive but those numbers are only going to build confidence heading into the playoffs.

Atlanta controls their own destiny as the NFC's No. 5 seed and having a potent/balanced offense around him, Ryan can lead The Dirty Birds a lot further than most think in the postseason. The defense has improved but this team goes as Ryan goes.

As long as he can keep putting up good numbers, watch out for Hot-lanta this January, especially with the vehemently weak pass defenses that exist in the NFC.

Arian Foster: RB, Texans

In spite of all of Houston's injuries, RB Arian Foster has become the focal point of coach Gary Kubiak's offense. Fortunately for the Texans, Foster has produced and been virtually unstoppable all season.

Collectively, Foster has accounted for exactly 1,500 total yards through 14 weeks and has scored 10 TDs. His versatility is as good as any other RB in the NFL, which has shown thanks to Houston's 10-3 record and seven-game win streak.

This postseason, Foster is only going to become that much more important. There's no reason for the Texans to abandon anything offensively, as no matter who's under center or out wide, it's obviously working.

Now, it also helps in having a great defense to limit the opposing offense. However, there aren't very many teams in Super Bowl consideration who can say they've had to overcome the types of injuries like Houston.

Foster is their main man and if he continues to roll in January, the Super Bowl will only welcome him.

Eli Manning: QB, Giants

Yes, Eli may already have one Super Bowl MVP award (ironically one year after his older brother), but he's still going underappreciated because of other gunslingers like Brady, Rodgers and Brees.

Thing is, Manning has been carrying the Giants all season on his shoulders. The ground game is arguably the worst in the NFL (statistically yes) and the defense has yet to really stop any offense on a consistent basis.

So, Eli has no choice but to air it out and keep New York in the game by outscoring everyone. He did it against Dallas last week, much like he did a few times earlier this season. And had it not been for one mistake against Green Bay (INT by Clay Matthews), the Giants would have taken down Titletown.

All that being said, when Eli won Super Bowl XLII, the Giants had a solid pass rush and the offense was much more balanced. This season though, Manning is having his best season ever and New York is just 7-6.

Not to mention it's his third consecutive season with 4,000-plus passing yards.

Rob Gronkowski: TE, Patriots

For as great as Tom Brady is, TE Rob Gronkowski is a major part of his success this season.

And had it not been for Gronkowski coming of age right before our eyes so quickly, New England wouldn't be 10-3.

He's easily the best TE Brady's ever had in his offense and thanks to the Pats defense giving up so many points every game, Gronkowski has no option other than to dominate the opposition.

No LB or DB can cover him one on one because no one can match his combo of speed, size, strength, and agility. The man is just a straight up monster who can balance as good as a martial artist.

In addition, his reliability in catching passes is as good (if not better) as a young Tony Gonzalez from the late-1990s. Only difference is that Gronk is faster and accelerates quicker. This season he's compiled almost 1,100 receiving yards, has 15 TDs, and 71 receptions.

Perhaps his yards after the catch is most impressive, which comes in handy to any QB as it makes their job so much easier.

Charles Woodson: CB, Packers

The leader of the Green Bay defense and arguably the heart and soul of the Packers, CB Charles Woodson.

The man may be 35 years old, but he leads the NFL with seven interceptions (tied with two others) and is fourth on the Packers with 61 tackles. Now yes, Green Bay's vulnerable pass defense can be attributed to Woodson having so many tackles for a CB. However, he does play a lot more up on the edge of the box and at the line to jam WRs.

So, it's not that Woodson is getting beaten as it is him getting in good position to make plays, otherwise seven picks doesn't happen. Additionally he's a risk-taker, but Woodson knows when to take the risk and it pays off more often than not.

He's one of the more sure-tacklings DBs in the league and also has 15 pass-deflects. Let's put it this way: although the cheese ranks No. 31 in pass defense, the majority of those yards are away from Woodson.

And if Green Bay is on the verge of repeating in the Super Bowl, chances are the Packers play a tough defense, whether it's Baltimore, Pittsburgh, or Houston (all of which are capable of slowing down the Packers offense).

Therefore, the defense will need to step up and Woodson is the guy.

Follow John Rozum on Twitter @ Sportswriter27