Studs and Duds, Wild Card Weekend: Ed Reed Can't Be Stopped

Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around with his finger in the air while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's Studs and Duds.

We've decided to extend Studs and Duds into the playoffs. Here's Wild Card Weekend at a glance, where we point out the horses destined for the Kentucky Derby and jeer those headed to the glue factory.

Studs

Ed Reed, S Baltimore (2 interceptions, 1 returned for a TD) -- As one of my colleagues said in an email yesterday, there isn't a football player in the NFL (or the world, for that matter) playing better football than Reed. The Ravens' shifty Robin to Ray Lewis' Batman has hauled in six interceptions in his last three games, all must-wins, and has given the Baltimore defense that scary title that no other unit, offense or defense, can claim this season -- "Group You Do Not Want to Play Under any Circumstances." The '07 Patriots offense carried that torch and now the Ravens defense, thanks to Reed, is happy to be strutting around with the acclaim.

Both his interceptions were tough catches, and it was really too bad a potential third interception went through his hands late in the game. Up next for the Ravens? A quarterback who threw just seven interceptions all season. If only they had some experience with a quarterback who only tossed seven interceptions before the playoffs (rubs chin).

Darren Sproles, RB San Diego (330 all purpose yards, 2 TDs) -- All year I've been calling Sproles "The Hummingbird" because the little guy gets those wings a-movin' and ain't nobody catching him. This week, "The Hummingbird" moved to a whole different level. With just about washed-up star LaDainian Tomlinson subjected to sideline cheering, Sproles came in and rushed for over 100 yards, including a 22-yarder in overtime for the win and a visit to Pittsburgh this Sunday.

Duds

Chad Pennington, QB Miami (25-for-38, 252 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs) -- When you are shooting hoops behind your house as a kid, or practicing 10-footers on the putting green or even throwing fade routes to a certain spot, envisioning yourself doing so to win some huge sporting event is the norm. This performance from Chad was the complete opposite of what you'd hope for as a kid. His passes were off all day, the long ones sailed a little more than he'd hoped and if not for an incredible play by Ronnie Brown towards the end of the game to catch a touchdown pass, he would have gone without a score in his first playoff game with Miami.

Two losses for Pennington against the Ravens can only really mean one thing -- lobbing the ball around the field doesn't work with a defense this quick. Somewhere, in a land of cheese and Wranglers, a man that shall not be named is smiling as he gets "gunslinger" tattooed on his arm.

Tarvaris Jackson, QB Minnesota (15-for-35, 164 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT) -- If you're a Vikings fan, the elephant in the room all year has been the quarterback issue. Nobody wants to talk about it even though it is all that you should be talking about. Jackson made some abysmal passes yesterday, including the interception to Asante Samuel, and never looked comfortable in the pocket, not for one second. More than his 42.9 percent completion percentage and his 45.4 passer rating is this stat -- Jackson -- one true run, 17 yards. As a mobile quarterback, Jackson only took off once all game long.

Adam Gretz made a brilliant point in the Sunday chat that I think should be brought up again -- with Adrian Peterson in his prime as a running back, how many more years with the Vikings surround the best rusher in the league with incompetent quarterbacks? Ironically, the only situation I can think of to compare it to was Kevin Garnett's best years as a member of, you got it, the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Near Studly -- Mike Scifres, Larry Fitzgerald, Bertrand Berry, Joe Flacco and David Akers.

Near Dudly -- Dolphins running backs, Matt Ryan, and Vikings special teams (Surprise).