2011 NFL Playoffs MVP Candidates: Divisional Playoffs

Round two of the 2011 NFL Playoffs has come and gone and there is currently one clear choice for postseason MVP. There are, of course, two weeks of football to go and that particular player will not be named the most valuable player of the playoffs in this series of articles if his team does not at least advance to the Super Bowl. He's also competing with several noteworthy players, including a teammate.

2011 NFL Playoffs MVP candidates: QB Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers, the current frontrunner in this race, decimated the Atlanta defense on Saturday night. He completed 31 of 36 pass attempts for 366 yards and three touchdowns. He also added a rushing score. After two weeks of postseason football, Rodgers leads the league in completion percentage and overall rating and he's just one TD behind Matt Hasselbeck, who won't play again this season. Rodgers appears to be obsessed with winning and, after two games, it doesn't look like any defense can stop him.

2011 NFL Playoffs MVP candidates: CB Tramon Williams

The Pro Bowl snub picked off passes on consecutive drives on Saturday evening, one of which he returned 70 yards for a touchdown. He is the only player in the 2011 NFL Playoffs with multiple interceptions (three total) and he's the postseason leader in defended/deflected passes. Williams may not have an island associated with his name but he's quietly been the best defensive back in the NFL in the past two weeks.

2011 NFL Playoffs MVP candidates: RBs Shonn Greene/LaDainian Tomlinson

The duo of New York running backs once again rushed for a total of over 100 yards on Sunday. They were also responsible for two touchdowns against the Patriots, and they are averaging roughly 4.5 yards per carry as a tandem. While many fans are talking about the team's quarterback, a player that very well could be mentioned in next week's piece, it is Greene and Tomlinson that are helping to open things up for the passing game.

2011 NFL Playoffs MVP candidates: QB Ben Roethlisberger

Big Ben is one game away from another Super Bowl appearance, largely due to his performance in the second half against the Ravens. His 58-yard pass to Antonio Brown, a play that was reportedly called by Roethlisberger, was one of the most memorable moments in the career of the Super Bowl champion quarterback. If the Steelers go on to win it all, we'll be seeing a replay of that pass for years to come.

2011 NFL Playoffs MVP candidates: QB Jay Cutler

Cutler, who was listed in 2010 NFL MVP articles in early September, started his 2011 NFL postseason run with two passing touchdowns and two rushing scores. Even more importantly to the Chicago faithful, Cutler finished the game with zero interceptions (although one of his passes probably should have been picked off). Cutler's QB rating of 111.3 is second best behind the aforementioned Aaron Rodgers, and the Chicago quarterback will have a legitimate shot at being named the MVP of the playoffs if he leads the Bears to victory against Rodgers and the Packers.