NFL Playoff awards

Most Valuable Player: Eli Manning, QB, Giants. This is an obvious choice. The younger Manning has elevated his game to another level this postseason, not once turning the ball over and compiling a quarterback rating of 99.4. He has not only managed all three of New York's playoff games, but he has also won them with his arm and newfound leadership. He has finally turned the corner on his bumpy career. Honorable mention: Amani Toomer, WR, Giants.

Best Offensive Player: Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers. Jackson somewhat disappointed during the regular season and did not have the breakout year that many anticipated, but he stepped up his game in a big way in the playoffs, totaling 300 yards on 18 catches for a 16.7 yards per catch average. He went for 114 yards in San Diego's first-round matchup against Tennessee and finished with 93 in each of the next two games. Honorable mention: Laurence Maroney, HB, Patriots.

Best Defensive Player: Corey Webster, CB, Giants. Who in the world would have thought the much-maligned Webster would have earned a spot here? Well, he has. He has picked off two passes in the playoffs, one against Tampa Bay and one that set Lawrence Tynes up for the game-winning field goal in overtime against the Packers in the NFC Championship Game. The 25-year old also shut down Dallas' Terrell Owens in the Divisional Round. Honorable mention: Michael Strahan, DE, Giants.

Biggest X-Factor: Ahmad Bradshaw, HB, Giants. He has been instrumental in the Giants' playoff run, rushing for over 60 yards in two of the team's three postseason contests and essentially taking over late in the second half against Green Bay. Bradshaw is going to be a special back in this league. Honorable mention: Darren Sproles, HB, Chargers.

Best Game: Giants vs. Packers, NFC Championship. What a game this was. It went back-and-forth for all 60 minutes, and while New York actually dominated for nearly the entire time, the Packers were able to keep it close all the way through. Honorable mention: Jaguars vs. Steelers, Wild Card Round.

Playoff Goat: Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys. For the second consecutive year, Romo came up very small in the postseason. If he wasn't making bonehead decisions like throwing the ball out-of-bounds with no receiver in the area to take an intentional grounding penalty, he was making errant passes and tossing the ball into extremely tight coverage to get picked off by R.W. McQuarters that sent the Giants to the NFC Title Game. Honorable mention: LaDainian Tomlinson, HB, Chargers.