QB

Peyton

Manning

Indianapolis

There were three deserving QBs, so give Pennington the MVP, Brees offensive player of the year and Manning all-pro. No running game, no defense and the Colts still win 12 games.

HB Adrian Peterson

Minnesota

Like Barry Sanders, Peterson led the NFC in rushing as a rookie, then led the NFL in his second season. He set a franchise record this season with 1,760 yards.

FB Le'Ron McClain

Baltimore

The 260-pounder opened as the blocking back but closed as the feature back. He ran for 139 yards and a TD vs. the Cowboys and two TDs vs. the Jaguars to end the season.

WR Andre Johnson

Houston

Johnson led the NFL in receptions (115) and yards (1,575). He had eight 100-yard games and seven games in which he registered double figures in receptions.

WR Steve Smith

Carolina

Suspended for the first two games for a training camp fight, Smith finished with a flourish - eight 100-yard games and two 96-yarders in the final 14 weeks.

TE Tony Gonzalez

Kansas City

Gonzalez finished fourth in the NFL with 96 catches for his fourth career 1,000-yard season and 10 touchdowns.

He is the NFL's all-time leader at tight end in receptions, yards and TDs.

LT Michael Roos

Tennessee

Roos was asked to block the opposition's best speed rusher every week,and the Titans allowed a league-low 12 sacks.

RT David Stewart

Tennessee

Stewart's drive blocks helped the Titans finish in the top 10 in the NFL in rushing with 4.3 yards per carry and 24 TDs.

G Chris Snee

NY Giants

The runners may change in the New York backfield but not the results. Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw all run with success because of a Chris Snee-led blocking front.

G Steve Hutchinson

Minnesota

Hutchinson is one of the few free-agent signings worth every penny. His blocking helped Peterson lead the NFC in rushing in 2007 and the NFL in 2008.

C Todd McClure

Atlanta

Emmitt Smith said the key to any great run offense is the center. That was always his first read. Michael Turner read McClure enough in 2008 to gain 1,699 yards and score 17 TDs.

DEFENSE

SE Justin Tuck

NY Giants

How many teams can lose a seven-time Pro Bowler and upgrade the position? Tuck is bigger and younger than Michael Strahan, and he had 12 sacks compared with Strahan's nine in 2007.

WE John Abraham

Atlanta

Abraham obviously liked the scheme implemented by new head coach Mike Smith. He hit double figures in sacks for the fifth time in his nine years with a career-best 161/2.

DT Albert Haynesworth

Tennessee

Haynesworth missed two games with a sprained knee but still had a career-best 81/2 sacks. He led all NFL interior linemen with three forced fumbles, adding 51 tackles.

DT Kevin Williams

Minnesota

Williams anchored the NFL's best run defense with 60 tackles and matched Haynesworth with 81/2 sacks. The Vikings held opponents to 3.3 yards per carry.

SLB LaMarr Woodley

Pittsburgh

In Woodley and James Harrison, Pittsburgh has the NFL's best set of outside LBs. Harrison had 16 sacks from the weak side and Woodley 111/2 from the strong side.

MLB Jon Beason

Carolina

Beason became the linchpin of a rejuvenated Carolina defense. He finished third in the NFL with 138 tackles and excelled in pass coverage, intercepting three passes and breaking up 11 others.

WLB DeMarcus Ware

Dallas

Ware became the first Cowboy to collect 20 sacks in a season since Harvey Martin (23) in 1977. He forced six fumbles, recovered one and made 84 tackles.

CB Cortland Finnegan

Tennessee

Finnegan was drafted in the seventh round in 2006 out of tiny Samford, but inside of three seasons he has developed into a Pro Bowl corner. He intercepted five passes and broke up 22.

CB Charles Woodson

Green Bay

Woodson should have gone to the Pro Bowl in 2007, when he scored two TDs on takeaways. He removed all doubt in 2008, intercepting seven passes and again returning two for scores.

SS Troy Polamalu

Pittsburgh

Polamalu puts the "strong" in strong safety with his physical run support. He also led the NFL's best defense with seven interceptions.

FS Ed Reed

Baltimore

No defensive player gets to the Football like Reed. He led the NFL in interceptions (nine) and passes defensed by a safety (25).

SPECIAL TEAMS

K Stephen Gostkowski

New England

Gostkowski led the NFL in scoring with 148 points and, just as important, ranked in the top 10 in kickoffs with 17 touchbacks. He made 36 of his 40 field goal attempts.

P Donnie Jones

St. Louis

Jones became the first punter since Sammy Baugh in 1940 to average 50 yards per kick. His 41.1-yard net average ranked second in the league.

KR Clifton Smith

Tampa Bay

Smith is the only rookie on this team. An undrafted free agent from Fresno State, he finished third in the NFL in punt returns at 14.1 yards and fifth in kickoff returns at 27.6.

Cov Montell Owens

Jacksonville

Owens scored on a fake punt and a fumbled kickoff return. He also made 11 tackles on coverage units that ranked third in kickoffs and 12th in punts.