Coach, player don't think knee injury is affecting is accuracy as a passer ASHBURN, Va. — Robert Griffin III pulled Wednesday's most successful play fake on Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan when he posed as a media member inside the Redskins Park auditorium during Shanahan's press conference, asking how Shanahan spent his New Year's Day.
Shanahan started to answer before realizing it was Griffin who had caught his coach in a "Gotcha'' moment.
"You got me by surprise there,'' Shanahan said, laughing. "I tried to put a good game plan together. I wasn't sure how healthy you were, so it was hard without you calling me.
"You got me good.''
The Seattle Seahawks may have the healthier, hotter quarterback in fellow rookie Russell Wilson entering Sunday's wild-card meeting. But Griffin's sprained knee is getting better, and he said during his earlier press conference that he is healed to the point where the bulky brace he is wearing is causing him to limp more than the knee itself.
"It's getting pretty close to just being mostly the brace,'' Griffin said. "The doctors aren't going to let me take it off, I don't believe.
"I try to do as much as I can without the brace. Then, whenever they find out that I don't have it on, I have to throw it on.''
PHOTOS: Most memorable Wild Card moments 
Terrell Owens (pictured) had a case of the dropsies all day during a 1998 NFC Wild Card game, but Steve Young didn't give up on him. With the 49ers needing a touchdown, Young threw over the middle to Owens, who caught the game-winning 25-yard touchdown sandwiched between two Packers defenders for a 30-27 win.
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The game needs no explanation, really. It's known simply as "The Comeback". Down 32 points, the Bills, led by backup quarterback Frank Reich (14), pulled off the greatest comeback in NFL history to defeat the Oilers 41-38 in overtime of a 1992 AFC Wild Card game. There hasn't been a game like it since.
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It's one of the few plays in NFL history with it's own name: "The Music City Miracle". In a 1999 AFC Wild Card game, Frank Wychek took the ball on a kickoff and lateraled it (or did he?) to Kevin Dyson (pictured), who returned it for a touchdown in the final seconds to give the Titans a 22-16 win over the Bills. It'll never be forgotten.
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Two of the NFL's oldest rivals played an epic 2002 AFC Wild Card game as Tommy Maddox, the NFL's comeback player of the year, threw three touchdowns in the final 19 minutes to lead the Steelers back from 17 points down for a 36-33 win over the Browns.
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The 49ers were left for dead in a 2002 NFC Wild Card game after facing a 24-point deficit. But Jeff Garcia (pictured) led San Francisco to the second-largest comeback in playoff history as the 49ers pulled off a stunning 39-38 victory that ended in controversy because of a muffed Giants field goal attempt that snapper Trey Junkin won't ever live down.
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Heading into the 2002 playoffs, the Packers were 13-0 in the postseason at home. But a young, 22-year-old Michael Vick (pictured) went into Lambeau Field and led the Falcons to a convincing 27-7 win in an NFC Wild Card game.
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Who could forget Matt Hasselbeck declaring, for all of us to hear, during the overtime coin toss that the Seahawks wanted the ball and they were going to score. Well, it didn't go as Hasselbeck planned as he threw this pick-six to Al Harris (pictured), giving the Packers a dramatic 33-27 victory in a 2003 NFC Wild Card game.
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In a 2004 NFC Wild game, the Vikings went into Lambeau Field and defeated the rival Packers 31-17 for an impressive win. But the moment we, and Joe Buck, will never forget is Randy Moss pretending to moon the crowd after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
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It's the moment Tony Romo (pictured) has been trying to live down ever since it happened. 2006 NFC Wild Card game. Cowboys-Seahawks. Dallas was a 19-yard chip-shot field goal away from a win, except Romo botched the snap with 1:19 remaining, allowing the Seahawks to hold on for a 21-20 victory. It's the moment that still defines Romo's career.
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The highest-scoring game in playoff history absolutely was bonkers and ended in the most dramatic of ways. In overtime, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' fumble (pictured) forced by Michael Adams (pictured) was scooped up and returned 17 yards for a touchdown by Karlos Dansby, clinching a 51-45 win for the Cardinals in a 2009 NFC Wild Card game.
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As 7-9 division champions, the Seahawks were the red-headed step children of the 2010 playoffs. All they did, though, was defeat the defending Super Bowl champion Saints 41-36 in an NFC Wild Card game, which will forever be remembered by this breathtaking 67-yard touchdown run from Marshawn Lynch (pictured) in he broke seven tackles on his way to the end zone.
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In the year of Tim Tebow, what did you expect? The Broncos and Steelers played into overtime of a 2011 AFC Wild Card game, but all it took was a blown coverage by Pittsburgh and a short pass to Demaryius Thomas (pictured). From there, Thomas did the rest by stiff-arming Ike Taylor, then sprinting for an 80-yard touchdown to seal Denver's 29-23 win on the first play of OT.
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Autoplay Show Thumbnails Show Captions Fullscreen Last Slide Next Slide Shanahan agreed somewhat, saying, "He probably doesn't have to wear it. But the doctors thought it would be best for him to wear it to protect it so we don't further injure the LCL ... He can still run it and run it well.''
Griffin appeared to be hobbling at times against the Dallas Cowboys in Sunday night's 28-18 win. But he ran effectively enough on read-option keepers that he gained 63 yards on six carries and scored a 10-yard touchdown.
"I know a lot of people talk about the limp with the brace, but any time you wear a brace like that, it's to protect you,'' the quarterback said. "So, it's going to cause a natural limp. ... You're not going to be able bend your knee normally. It restricts your flexion and your extension. It's just to protect the ligaments in there.
"So there will be a natural limp in there. At the same time, you can still generate power.''
Griffin completed just nine of 18 passes for 100 yards against the Cowboys, but Shanahan said he doesn't believe the injury has diminished RGIII's accuracy. On the season, Griffin is completing 65.6% of his pases with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions. But the Cowboys forced him to hold the ball on several early throws as they changed up to more deep zone coverage and invited the Redskins to run 42 times.
"Being 50% sounds like it's not very accurate, especially for him,'' Shanahan said of Griffin's second-lowest completion rate this season. "But they challenged us a little different way last week, and we didn't throw the football as much."
If there's a silver lining to the injury, Griffin said it has taught him how important it is to protect himself when necessary.
"This game is not easy, but the injury did show me some things I can do to make the game easier for myself — easier on my body,'' he said. "Ironically, I've done a better job of protecting myself since the injury, sliding, getting down, getting all the possible yards I can and getting out of bounds.
"I don't think I've ever rushed for 10 yards a carry in a game, and I did that in this past game. That was kind of funny.''
TEAM MVPs: 32 stars for 32 clubs 
Bills RB C.J. Spiller: He's finally synchronized his game to the speed of the NFL. The ninth overall pick in 2010, Spiller struggled to read blocks and hit the right holes early in his career and spent much of his serving as Fred Jackson's understudy. But with "FredEx" sidelined by injury for much of 2012, Spiller capitalized on the opportunity to flourish. He broke off 6 yards per carry, trailing only Adrian Peterson among NFL running backs, and Spiller's 1,244 rushing yards more than doubled his previous career high. Among Buffalo players, only WR Stevie Johnson caught more passes. With Jackson turning 32 this year, expect the Bills' next coaching staff to feature Spiller even more in the future. Honorable mention: Johnson
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Dolphins DE Cameron Wake: It's hard to believe this guy went undrafted out of Penn State in 2005 and had to go the reluctant-mortgage-broker-turned-Canadian-football-star route to get his shot in the NFL. But Wake has established himself as a quarterback-hunting force even though the Dolphins shifted him from linebacker to defensive end in 2012. All Wake did was turn in 15 sacks, most of his four-year career, while his generously listed 258-pound frame held up well against the run. Rookie coach Joe Philbin's troops trended up as the year progressed. A few more talents of Wake's caliber, drafted or not, could mean the Dolphins will soon leave losing seasons in their wake. Honorable mention: Mike Pouncey
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Patriots QB Tom Brady: Duh, right? Yet we seem to almost take him for granted. He offered yet another sublime performance that seemed to go virtually unnoticed as Peyton Manning, Adrian Peterson and Calvin Johnson stole the headlines. Even Stevan Ridley, who had the best year by a New England running back in nearly a decade, seemed to garner more attention than the only man who remains from all three of Bill Belichick's Super Bowl-winning crews. But make no mistake, the Patriots can't run their fast-break (but occasionally depleted) offense and deconstruct the best defenses without their matinee idol of a triggerman. Brady won't win a third league MVP this year, but he might deserve it. Honorable mention: Vince Wilfork
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Jets CB Antonio Cromartie: History wouldn't suggest that Cromartie would be the guy to flourish under adverse circumstances since he seemed more prone to creating them; reference his training camp proclamation that he was the Jets' second-best receiver after Santonio Holmes even though Cromartie has caught one pass in seven NFL seasons. But give him credit for stepping into the breach as the Jets' No. 1 cover man after Darrelle Revis tore up his knee in Week 3. Cromartie Island was often on the map as he regularly contained and even erased star wideouts Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Wes Welker and Larry Fitzgerald over the course of the season. Perhaps more surprisingly than flashing his talent, Cromartie was lauded for displaying leadership skills that weren't previously evident. Honorable mention: Muhammad Wilkerson
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Ravens RB Ray Rice: Would former Ravens coordinator Cam Cameron still have his job if he'd mixed a little more Rice into the offensive diet? No way to know, but it's worth noting Cameron hit the unemployment line after the star back was given nearly 50 fewer touches than he had in 2011 when he led the NFL with 2,068 yards from scrimmage. Perhaps no play better epitomized Rice's value than the fourth-and-29 he converted off a dump-off pass in Week 12 at San Diego, perhaps a season-saving play in retrospect. If the Ravens are to capture an elusive second Super Bowl, their fortunes will depend more on this 5-9 dynamo than a decaying defense. Honorable mention: Jacoby Jones
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Bengals DT Geno Atkins: WR A.J. Green and his 1,350 receiving yards and team-best 11 scores is the guy who jumps off the stat sheet. But the Bengals were a middling team when he was doing most of his damage in the season's first half. This team got hot when the Atkins-fueled defense jelled to spearhead a 7-1 finish culminating with the franchise's first back-to-back playoff berths in three decades. Atkins has an atypical frame for an interior defender (6-1, 300 pounds), but he offers unique production (53 tackles, four strips, career-high 12.5 sacks), too, and opens up lanes for pass rushers Michael Johnson, Carlos Dunlap and Wallace Gilberry; Cincinnati's 51 sacks ranked third. Think Atkins, and think John Randle 2.0. Honorable mention: Green
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Browns MLB D'Qwell Jackson: The terms "stability" and "Cleveland Browns" have rarely been synonymous over the last quarter century. But Jackson provides the steady voice and production that anchor a team that may finally be poised for a breakthrough in 2013. When healthy, Jackson gobbles up ballcarriers to the tune of 276 tackles over the past two seasons. But even when he's not — Jackson had to overcome a pair of career-threatening pectoral tears in 2009 and 2010 — he's been a model of fortitude and embodiment of inspiration for a team that's been lacking in those areas. He may not have the Q rating or talent of Ray Lewis in his prime, but Jackson is that kind of leader for this team. Honorable mention: Phil Dawson
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Steelers CB Ike Taylor: He's generally one of the least heralded players on a perennially dominant defense, one that ranked No. 1 again in 2012, a distinction achieved four times in the past six years. But something was clearly missing after Taylor went down with a fractured ankle Dec. 2. The Steelers lost their next three games, eliminating them from the postseason field. Why? Look no further than a Taylor-less secondary that was dissected in turn by Philip Rivers, Tony Romo and Andy Dalton. Taylor may be infamous for hands of stone (just 14 interceptions in 10 seasons), but his ability to check most Tier 1 receivers is nearly as important to Dick LeBeau's gameplans as any fire-zone blitz. Honorable mention: Heath Miller.
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Texans DE J.J. Watt: Linemen in base 3-4 defenses are typically supposed be stout against the run while tying up blocker so outside linebackers can make the highlight-reel plays. But don't dare typecast Watt, who, like Bruce Smith, has been a game-wrecker under coordinator Wade Phillips. Watt's 20.5 sacks were the most ever for a 3-4 end since the stat became official in 1982. Even more impressive, his 16 batted balls (Watt swats) is an unheard of figure for a lineman and ranked in the top 10 this season in a category dominated by cornerbacks; many of those deflections resulted in Houston interceptions. There may not be a more valuable or unique defender in the league. Honorable mention: Arian Foster
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Colts WR Reggie Wayne: There's no arguing that Andrew Luck breathed fresh life into the Colts just months after iconic Indianapolis hero Peyton Manning was told to pack his bags. But Luck and the rest of the team's new blood might not have experienced nearly the same success without an old hand on deck. Wayne shocked many by re-signing with the reloading franchise. Then the 34-year-old turned in one of the best years of his 12-year career while quickly becoming the security blanket for Luck, who deemed Wayne the best player he'd ever played with. All those double-teams Wayne commanded also allowed the younger wideouts to blossom as the season progressed. Honorable mention: Luck
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Jaguars LB Paul Posluszny: No disrespect to the man known as "Poz," but deeming anyone on the Jaguars as "most valuable" might seem a stretch. Still, Posluszny embodies the type of player head coach Mike Mularkey referred to when talking about a group that showed up and fought week in and week out, especially late in the season as the defeats seemed to inevitably mount. Posluszny intercepted three passes, and his 139 tackles ranked eighth in the NFL. He also never ducked reporters and an endless stream of questions about the club's deficiencies. Posluszny may never be a game-breaker, but he's certainly the type of stalwart most locker rooms would embrace. Honorable mention: Cecil Shorts III
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Titans RB Chris Johnson: He had a rather remarkable year, especially considering how poorly it started. Johnson had 45 rushing yards through three weeks, inviting a fresh round of criticism from those skeptical of his skills and dedication. But he averaged 92 yards over the final 13 games even though the Titans lost 80% of their starting offensive line to injured reserve while opponents frequently dared greenhorn QB Jake Locker to beat them through the air. Yet just one Johnson bolt — like his career-best 94-yard gallop against the Jets — can be enough to win a game. Given healthy sidekicks, and maybe an increased role in the passing game, and better things may lie ahead for CJ2K. Honorable mention: Kendall Wright
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Broncos QB Peyton Manning: Maybe he is a robot. Has anyone done a better job of knocking off 18 months worth of rust? Once Manning proved his neck was healthy enough to withstand the rigors of an NFL season, there was little doubt he'd play well. But who would've expected him to post the second-best statistical season of his 15-year career while adjusting to a new playbook and a less heralded supporting cast than the one he typically enjoyed in Indianapolis? Manning erased most of the Broncos' single-season passing standards — obliterating the previous mark of 27 TD passes set by John Elway — and led the team to its first No. 1 playoff seed since Elway's final season in 1998. Honorable mention: Von Miller Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports
