NFL Playoff Predictions: 7 Players Primed for Breakout Playoff Performances

The NFL playoffs are always a time when ordinary players move toward elite, and the great players become legends. Who will make the jump this season?

A few weeks ago, the Green Bay Packers were believed to be invincible. However, the Kansas City Chiefs proved that the fight for the Super Bowl is still wide open. 

Nine teams have already clinched playoff spots, and three are still up for grabs.

The question is which teams will advance deep into the tournament, and who will be the players to take them there?

Arian Foster, RB Houston Texans

Technically, Arian Foster had an entire breakout season last year by leading the league with 1,616 rushing yards. 

However, the postseason is the time when everyone is watching.

The Houston Texans have never reached the playoffs in the franchise's short history, so this year will be filled with plenty of excitement. The downside is that the team is down to its third-string quarterback in T.J. Yates, so the Texans need everyone else on the team to step up.

Foster is one of the most important players on this team, and Houston will need its star running back to continue his high level of play.

With an opening round game against the No. 6 seed, Foster should be able to lead the Texans to at least one victory.

Drew Brees, QB New Orleans Saints

After breaking Dan Marino's 1984 record for passing yards in a season, Drew Brees has shown he is playing as good as he has in his entire career.

That is especially impressive for a Super Bowl champion and a five-time Pro Bowl quarterback.

The New Orleans Saints have been on a roll, winning the past seven games in impressive fashion. Brees is the key to the recent success, as he now leads the league in passing yards and completion percentage while being second in touchdowns and quarterback rating.

If the standings remain the same, the Saints would host the Atlanta Falcons in a rematch of the Week 16 matchup. While it is difficult to beat a team three times in a season, the Saints proved they are a far superior team with a 45-16 rout.

The Saints will be one of the biggest challengers to the Green Bay Packers, as they are probably the only team that can match the offensive scoring. Brees' experience will be a big factor in helping the team succeed. 

Patrick Willis, LB San Francisco 49ers

Patrick Willis has been on the sidelines with a hamstring injury for the past few weeks, but he practiced this week and should be able to return for the playoffs, according to ninersnation.com.

With the San Francisco 49ers about to make their first postseason appearance since 2002, it would take a lot more to keep one of the best linebackers in football off of the field.

Willis has been regarded as a premier linebacker in the NFL since his rookie season in 2007. Since then he has been to the Pro Bowl every season and named first-team All-Pro three times. However, playing on the West Coast for a lousy team does not garner as much attention as he deserves.

This year the Ole Miss graduate would love to show how good he is on a national stage by leading the best defense in the NFL to a victory or two over quality competition. 

Tony Romo, QB Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys still need to defeat the New York Giants to get into the playoffs, but this will be a dangerous team in the postseason.

Tony Romo is known to struggle in December, but lucky for him the Cowboys are finished playing games in that dreadful month. The quarterback has a career record of 10-15 in the 12th month and a 49-23 mark during the rest of the season. The team's Week 17 matchup will be on Jan. 1.

Although he only has one playoff victory, it often takes quality quarterbacks a few chances to break through toward postseason success. Peyton Manning lost his first three playoff games, and it took him seven appearances before eventually winning the Super Bowl.

The quarterback should know he does not have too many more chances for success, and it is starting to look like it is now or never for the gunslinger. With the talent Romo has around him, it should be about time that he finally pulls through. 

His hand injury should also not be a problem, as he expects to play through the pain against the Giants, according to dallascowboys.com.

Terrell Suggs, LB Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens pride themselves on defense, and Terrell Suggs is one of the main reasons for the team's success over the past nine years.

Suggs is enjoying the best season of his career with a career high in sacks with 13. Although he has been quiet the past couple of games, the veteran is ready to breakout with a great performance in the playoffs.

The linebacker could be the most important person for the Ravens, as they will need to be able to get to the opposing quarterback if they would like to win playoff games.

In Week 1, Suggs sacked Ben Roethlisberger three times, leading to a rout and sending a message to the rest of the league that Baltimore has one of the best teams in the league. Now it will need to prove it in the postseason. 

Wes Welker, WR New England Patriots

Wes Welker has been with the New England Patriots since 2007 and probably expected a lot more postseason success in the five years he has been with the team.

Unfortunately, the Patriots have not won a playoff game since being upset by the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

This year there are some problems with the defense, but Tom Brady and company seem determined to do everything they can offensively to not lose again this season. The team has already won its last seven games and is in line to earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. 

Welker leads the NFL with 1,518 receiving yards, and his 116 receptions are 20 more than the next closest player. He has been just as good when he gets an opportunity in the playoffs, as evidenced by his 11-catch, 103-yard performance in the Super Bowl.

If the Patriots make a run this postseason, Welker will be a big reason for the success. 

Aaron Rodges, QB Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers crawled out of Brett Favre's shadow a year ago by leading his team to a Super Bowl championship. Now the Green Bay Packers move from the hunters to the hunted.

For Rodgers, this postseason is a chance to enter the conversation as one of the best quarterbacks of all time.

Many players have won a single Super Bowl, but the true elite have won multiple times as a starter. Only 10 quarterbacks have ever won two or more titles. Four of them have won three or more.

The season that Rodgers is currently having is already historic. He currently has the highest passer rating of all time at 122.5, thanks to his 45 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Drew Brees has narrowed the gap, but Rodgers should still walk away with the 2011 NFL MVP award.

If Rodgers can continue his dominance and end the season with another championship, the quarterback would almost be able to start writing his Hall of Fame speech at 28 years old.