6 players poised to seize the playoff spotlight

The prospect of capturing the Lombardi Trophy is what most players dream of and the playoffs are when they can elevate themselves from standout performer to legend.

With the playoffs slated to get underway this weekend, we examine six players who have the most to gain from an excellent postseason.

Martellus Bennett, TE, Patriots

Arguably the league's best interview, Bennett integrated seamlessly into the Patriots' offense during his first year with the club. After Rob Gronkowski suffered a back injury that sidelined him indefinitely, Bennett stepped up as Tom Brady's favorite red-zone target, recording three touchdowns in the team's last four games. With a strong postseason, Bennett could see his value skyrocket as an unrestricted free agent or prove himself invaluable to Bill Belichick and company. He's surely aware of both lucrative prospects.

Lawrence Timmons, LB, Steelers

He doesn't have the brand recognition of Troy Polamalu, but there's no doubt that the veteran Timmons is the heart of this incarnation of the Steelers' defense. With 114 tackles in the regular season, Timmons led the Steelers for a fifth straight campaign. He also had two interceptions and 2.5 sacks. Nearing the end of his prime at age 30 and an impending free agent, this may be Timmons' last, best chance to make his mark in the rich history of black-and-gold defenses.

Devin Hester, KR, Seahawks

All it takes for a return man to secure a place in postseason history is one good run. Hester knows that better than anyone, as his opening-kickoff touchdown in Super Bowl XLI remains that game's defining moment (despite the Bears losing). The Seahawks know it too; they watched Percy Harvin almost single-handedly win them Super Bowl XLVIII despite playing in only one game that season. At age 34, the recently signed Hester probably won't get another chance in the NFL. If he can take one last kick back for a touchdown, not only will he go out on a high note, he'll cement his resume for the Hall of Fame.

Ndamukong Suh, DT, Dolphins

With no Ryan Tannehill under center, it's time for Suh to take control of the Dolphins - if he can. The talented defensive lineman received one of the richest contracts in NFL history for a defensive player, but has experienced his fair share of problems since arriving in Miami. For the Dolphins to somehow get past the Steelers on Sunday, the defense has to take over, and that starts in the middle with Suh. This is his chance to prove he's not the dirty, selfish player he's been labeled as and gain the respect of the Dolphins' locker room and fan base.

Michael Floyd, WR, Patriots

After finishing 2015 with five 100-yard performances in his final eight games, Floyd entered this contract season poised to prove he's worthy of joining the game's highest-paid pass-catchers. Instead, Floyd slumped to a disappointing season that was punctuated by his embarrassing DUI arrest, release by the Cardinals, and subsequent claiming off waivers by the Patriots. Floyd's legal issues will depress his value on the open market, but he can still make himself a lot of money by proving he remains a dominant deep threat and red-zone weapon. The Patriots need both with Gronkowski on IR and rookie Malcolm Mitchell ailing. Floyd scored his first touchdown with the Patriots in Week 17, carrying multiple defenders with him into the end zone on a beastly run after the catch, and could score several more in January.

Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons

Despite being a favorite for the 2016 MVP award, Ryan and the Falcons aren't getting a lot of consideration for the Lombardi Trophy. Why? Because Ryan's playoff record isn't particularly inspiring. The quarterback's 1-4 playoff mark has kept him out of the conversation about elite players at his position and hovered over his career like a dark cloud since his last postseason appearance in 2012. Now that he's got a new head coach and an improved, balanced offense, Ryan has a chance to break that barrier and jump up to the next level of NFL quarterbacks with a strong performance. He'll have to win a game or two as well.