NFL Playoff Predictions: Predicting January's Top Sack Artists

They say defenses win championships. 

With all the tremendous quarterbacks that'll be in this season's playoffs, that saying could change to "pass rush wins championships".  

Let's prediction January's top sack artists are we head to the postseason. 

Aldon Smith, San Francisco 49ers

The rookie from Missouri has amassed a whopping 14 sacks this season, and has everything in his arsenal to be a premier pass rusher for years to come. 

He's stronger than his 6'4'', 258-pound body would suggest and he certainly possesses enough speed and quickness to work around the edge against left tackles. 

The fact that he's playing alongside potential Defensive Player of the Year Justin Smith is incredibly beneficial. 

Although the 49ers will most likely play against quarterbacks with the quickest releases in the game, Aldon Smith will have a major impact in January. 

Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens 

Suggs has been been a staple of the Ravens defense for nearly a decade, and he's accumulated 13 sacks in 2011. 

Game plans will be focused around stopping him, but that won't matter. 

Suggs consistently works around chip blocks and occasional double teams, and Baltimore's coaching staff will move him around along the defensive line to create favorable matchups. 

One of the more reliable defenders playing in the upcoming postseason.

Lamar Woodley, Pittsburgh Steelers

A bit of sleeper pick, but like Aldon Smith, Woodley is helped from the presence of one of his teammates.

James Harrison always needs to be accounted for, which allows Woodley to face more one-on-one matchups than he would on any other team. 

With the Steelers centralizing their game plan to win with defense, especially if Ben Roethlisberger isn't 100 percent, expect a barrage of befuddling blitzes that'll confuse opposing quarterbacks and lead to a great deal of sacks.