Players To Watch
These Are The Guys To Watch This Postseason
By Pat Kennell

Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts

Reggie Wayne is the second receiver on his team, but consider him a victim of circumstance. Wayne is a No. 1 receiver and he'll receive that title in the not-so-distant future. He is a strong, speedy receiver who runs routs well, and is depicted by his fellow teammates as having the best hands on the team-an acknowledgement that shouldn't be taken lightly. The 2006 playoffs may become the backdrop for Wayne to take reign of the Colts' stable of talented receivers.

Tom Brady, QB, and Adam Vinatieri, K, Patriots

Set 'em up and knock 'em down. Brady and Vinatieri have become the poster children for NFL clutch performances over the past several years, and there's no reason to believe this year will be any different. The tandem is most perilous in hard-fought, close games where a clutch performance is routinely needed at a crucial juncture of the game, otherwise known as the NFL playoffs. The Patriots will again be a force to be reckoned with, and the Brady/ Vinatieri tag-team will be a major obstacle for opponents.

Champ Bailey, CB, Broncos

Bailey has changed the entire dynamic of the Broncos defense. His exceptional one-on-one coverage skills allow Denver to put an extra man in the box, making available extra run support. Bailey's services have also helped in the pass rush. Denver B.C. (Before Champ) rarely blitzed-with Bailey, the Broncos now feel comfortable blitzing five or six. His impact on the Broncos defense is reminiscent of what Deion Sanders brought to the 49ers in 1994, less the nicknames and the bling.

David Garrard, QB, Jaguars

The above name is not a typo. With the oft-injured Byron Leftwich's status somewhat unknown, it seems to be a fairly distinct possibility that Garrard may see significant action in the playoffs. His potential performance may turn out to be an audition for those NFL franchises looking to bring in a new starting quarterback in 2006. Garrard is well aware of this, and if he needed any extra incentive to perform at a high-level, this surely would be it. He has the potential to be one of the defining stories of this year's playoffs.

Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals

With a slew of young play-makers around Palmer, Cincinnati looks like they will be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come. But the Bengals want the future to be now. They will look to Palmer to galvanize a successful run in the playoffs. Whether he is able live-up to the lofty expectations is a different story. Ben Roethlisberger's lack of playoff experience looked to be a major factor in the Steelers inability to muster offensive production last season. Will Ben and Carson share the same fate?

Heath Miller, TE, Steelers

The Steelers lack of a deep receiving threat is not a good thing (see Burress, Plaxico); Big Ben's ailing thumb injury isn't ideal for a playoff run, either. Enter Heath Miller. The rookie may play an integral role in the Steelers' post-season. Roethlisberger's injury calls into question how far down the field he'll be able throw, so Miller's mid-range pass catching threat should aid Roethlisberbeger in his time of need. It's imperative that the Steelers get Miller the ball more consistently. Their playoff livelihood may depend on it.

Steve Smith, WR, Panthers

There isn't much deception involved with the Carolina Panthers offense. They like to run the ball with Davis and Foster, and Delhomme likes to drop back and wait for routes to develop. His main target is Steve Smith, who is playing as well as anyone in the league. The truth is in the numbers: he leads or is among the leaders in every receiving statistic. Yet, nobody is able to put Smith under wraps. Last year, Smith was sidelined with a broken leg. Now, it seems as though that's the only way he can be stopped.

Thomas Jones, RB, Bears

Thomas Jones is one of the select few players on the Bears' offense that show up every week. Not only does he lead the team in rushing and touchdowns, he has also made improvements to his game. Before coming to Chicago, he was regarded as cutback runner that was at his best when he could get outside the tackles. But he has excelled as a power runner between the tackles because of his extraordinary burst and vision. Look for his play to improve as Rex Grossman reemerges from injury.

Carnell Williams, RB, Buccaneers

Cadillac Williams will have to perform well in order for the Bucs to do any damage in the playoffs. Williams' play tailed off during the middle season, but he seems to have turned the corner and looks to be returning to early season form. Williams is at his best when he can get outside the tackles where he can break the big one at any time. He and Joey Galloway will be looked upon to provide stability to a Buccaneers offense that often looks shaky under third year quarterback Chris Simms.

Plaxico Burress, WR, Giants

Plex has become Eli Manning's go-to guy because of his explosiveness and big-play ability. Other players seem to have benefited by his company as well. Jeremy Shockey is playing like the tight-end that created so much buzz his rookie season, while Amani Toomer and Tiki Barber have increased their production. As for Eli, he will continue to build chemistry with Plex and the best looks like it is still to come-possibly in the playoffs. Burress and the rest of the Giants offense have the potential to be electric.

Shaun Alexander, RB, Seahawks

This guy hasn't received as much publicity as he should, partly because the national media often equates Seattle with Siberia-if he played in New York, he would be the face of the NFL. While he doesn't have the flash or speed of San Diego's Ladainian Tomlinson, he readily suffices for those deficiencies with exceptional field vision and razor-sharp cuts. Alexander can carry the Seahawks on his shoulders, but with an experienced QB, a solid group of offensive lineman and receivers, and a stout defense-he'll just need to steer.