NFL Playoff Predictions: Matt Ryan and Players Who Will Continue Playoff Woes

Besides the NFC East and the last AFC Wild Card spot, we know what teams will be making the NFL playoffs this season

For teams like the Green Bay Packers, it will be a time for repeats, and for teams such as the New England Patriots, it will be a time for revenge. 

Helping both of those teams' causes are quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. For whatever reason, those guys just bring their game to a whole new level during the playoffs. 

And unfortunately, for whatever reason, some guys just haven't handled the playoffs very well. Their game goes to a new level, but that level is a notch below where they usually play.

There's always a chance to silence public opinion, but here's a look at five guys who have struggled in the playoffs and will continue to do so this year. 

Carson Palmer, Oakland Raiders

I know, I'm cheating already. Oakland's playoff chances are thin, but if they win and Denver loses, they are in.

So I'm including Mr. Carson Palmer. 

Palmer hasn't had a ton of playoff experience. In his first ever playoff game, he threw a 66-yard pass to Chris Henry before tearing his ACL and MCL and missing the rest of the game. So he gets a pass for that one.

Four years later, however, Palmer finally got another playoff shot and disappointed. He completed just 50 percent of his passes for 146 yards.

Palmer shouldn't necessarily get the "playoff choke artist" label, but his small struggles will continue simply because of his upcoming opponent. 

If the Raiders make the playoffs, they have a date with either Pittsburgh or Baltimore. The game would be at home, so that's a plus, but those defenses are incredibly stingy. Palmer has been off and on this season, but he would be much more "off" should he face one of those teams in the playoffs. 

Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers

I know it's tough to label four touchdowns in three playoff games as "playoff woes," but Rashard Mendenhall had some serious fumbling problems last year. 

Mendenahall, who fumbled just twice all season, fumbled twice in three playoff games. One of those was the all important cough-up in the Super Bowl, which turned out to be a huge momentum changer. 

If Mendenhall has to face a tough defense like the Denver Broncos in the first round, his playoff struggles will continue. Pittsburgh better hope Ben Roethlisberger is healthy by then. 

Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys still have to beat the New York Giants to actually get to the playoffs, but I'll include him anyways.

Romo has not only gotten criticism for playoff struggles, but he's been criticized for late-game woes in general. 

The hate towards the Dallas quarterback isn't quite as justified, as, say, the Joe Flacco criticisms, but all in all, Romo has failed to win games.

It's as simple as that.

His stats in the playoffs aren't terrible (80.8 QB rating, four touchdowns, two interceptions), but the 1-3 record isn't so good.

Romo hasn't seen the playoffs since the 2008-09 season, so maybe with age comes playoff ability. A less-than-100 percent hand and a matchup with the high-scoring Detroit Lions aren't ideal though.

Look for Romo to struggle again.  

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan is still young, so he falls under the "still has a chance to change public perception" category, but Matty Ice has been Matty Lukewarm in the playoffs.

In 2009, he lost at Arizona throwing for just 199 yards and two interceptions, although he also added two touchdowns.

Then last year, after a first-round bye, Ryan and the Falcons lost to Green Bay at home. Ryan threw for a measly 186 yards, one touchdown and two picks. 

It's worth noting, of course, that both teams that beat Ryan eventually made it to the Super Bowl, but at some point he has to win a playoff game. The Falcons are currently projected to have a rematch with the New Orleans Saints, so he's going to have to play another legitimate Super Bowl contender.

The Saints have already beat Ryan twice this season, although he has played very well against them.

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco is quickly getting a reputation for being a choke artist in the playoffs, and it's really no secret why.

His record in the postseason of 4-3 isn't bad, but three of those wins have come in the wild-card round and usually it's been because of his stellar defense.

In one win, he went 9-for-23 for 135 yards and zero touchdowns. In another, he went 11-for-22 for 161 yards and one touchdown. In 2009 against the Patriots, Flacco went 4-for-10 for 34 (34!) yards and one interception.

In Flacco's seven playoff games, he's passed 200 yards just once and thrown seven interceptions to just four touchdowns. 

Now that he's coming off his worst-ever season accuracy-wise, it could get ugly for Flacco and the Ravens.