1 Thing All 30 Non-Super Bowl Teams Must Do to Get to Next Year's Big Game

Winning the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal for every team in the NFL, and for the 30 teams that didn't make the big game, changes must be made.

For teams like the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers, they came within a field goal of reaching that goal and only need a few pieces to add to their puzzling quest for a championship.

As for teams like the St. Louis Rams and Indianapolis Colts, well, the laundry list gets hefty.

Every team not named the New York Giants and New England Patriots need to go back to the drawing board and figure out a way to play for the Lombardi Trophy in 2013, and these are the changes that must be made.

Buffalo Bills: Draft Courtney Upshaw

The Buffalo Bills are one of those teams that needs to fix a lot of holes in their game, but let's start with the defense.

Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bills offense made strides in 2011, and the potential for points in 2012 is certainly there. Where the Bills failed last season was defense, and more specifically it was a rush-defense that ranked 28th in the league.

That's why the Bills should select Alabama's Courtney Upshaw, who will not only shut down opposing running backs, but can get after the quarterback as well.

Miami Dolphins: Bring in Matt Flynn

This makes a whole lot more sense after the Miami Dolphins hired former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.

When Aaron Rodgers was either resting or hurt, Flynn stepped in for him and showed glimpses of greatness. Just recently, Flynn—not Rodgers—set a franchise record with 480 yards and six touchdowns passes against the Detroit Lions.

The Dolphins are searching for a franchise quarterback, so who better than Flynn to fill that hole?

New York Jets: Trade for Peyton Manning

All the pieces are there for the New York Jets to reach the Super Bowl in 2013. Well, except for Mark Sanchez at quarterback.

I was one of those few that thought Sanchez could be the future for the Jets, but he's just not panning out. In 2011, Sanchez threw 26 touchdowns, with 18 interceptions and four fumbles, and he wasn't the most clutch quarterback in the league either.

If the Jets pick up Peyton Manning, that would instantly make them Super Bowl contenders.

Baltimore Ravens: Draft an Offensive Lineman (Peter Konz or Kelechi Osemele)

Sorry Ravens fans, but thank god Joe Flacco can shave that thing.

The Ravens are one of those teams that I believe have the pieces to go out and play for a Super Bowl right now. They're good enough, and they proved that yesterday.

Now moving forward, the Ravens best bet is to add some depth to their offensive line by drafting either Peter Kenz or Kelechi Osemele, should they be available.

Cincinnati Bengals: Replace Johnathan Joseph

Andy Dalton is a future star.

Now, let's build around that star. The Cincinatti Bengals have good playmakers surrounding him, like A.J. Green, Jerome Simpson and Jermaine Gresham, so let's address the defense and the gaping hole that Johnathan Joseph left.

The 2012 NFL draft is full of great cornerbacks, and should they land a Stephon Gilmore, Janoris Jenkins or Alfonzo Dennard, it will make this team that much better when fall rolls around.

Cleveland Browns: Use That Fourth Pick for Tradebait

The Cleveland Browns are in a tricky spot with the fourth pick in the draft.

There are teams that really want Robert Griffin III, and with the Browns having a chance to draft him, they should trade the pick away and invest in more picks.

The Browns have a future quarterback in Colt McCoy, so picking RG3 makes no sense for them. The Browns should take advantage of the situation, or they could draft that freak named Justin Blackmon.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Youth on Defensive Front

The Steelers are getting old, and they need to develop some youth on the defensive side of the ball.

Defensive tackle Casey Hampton will turn 35 in September, so a pick like Devon Still in the draft would make a lot of sense and add stability to an aging defense.

Houston Texans: Stay Healthy

The 2011 NFL season left the Houston Texans hanging their head wondering what could have been.

If Andre Johnson, Matt Schaub and Arian Foster could have stayed healthy all season, who knows what could have been the result.

Easier said than done, but the Texans have to keep those players on the field next season.

Indianapolis Colts: Develop Andrew Luck Fast

Andrew Luck must have ice in his veins.

For a senior in college, this guy has had an incredible amount of pressure on him for the past year, and it's only going to get worse.

He was supposed to win the Heisman this season, be the greatest prospect in the history of college football, and now, he'll have to replace Peyton Manning...well, most likely.

For the Indianapolis Colts to have any success next season, Luck will have to go above and beyond the call of duty.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Drop Blaine Gabbert

I'm sorry, but I never understood this pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

It's hard to see a future in the league for Blaine Gabbert, and the sooner the Jacksonville Jaguars drop Gabbert the better off they'll be.

But then again, they did waste their first round pick on the guy, and those 12 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and five fumbles aren't getting the job done.

Tennessee Titans: Target a Big WR in Free Agency

Kenny Britt's injury in 2011 showed just how thin the Tennessee Titans are at wide receiver.

The Titans are grooming a quarterback for the future in Jake Locker, and they're going to need to surround him with playmakers.

Signing the likes of Marques Colston, Dwayne Bowe or Mike Wallace would do wonders for this team's productivity on offense.

Denver Broncos: Unleash Tim Tebow

The Denver Broncos need to place their faith in Tim Tebow.

They did so in the playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it turned out great for them in a 29-23 overtime victory.

You can't protect a quarterback his entire career, and after some fine tuning in the offseason, Tebow should be ready to take the next step in his career.

Kansas City Chiefs: Keep Jamaal Charles Healthy

Jamaal Charles isn't Peyton Manning-valuable to the Kansas City Chiefs, but he's pretty close.

As soon as Charles went down with a torn ACL in 2011, the Chiefs never had a chance. Charles is the Chiefs offense, and if he can stay healthy, the Chiefs will win more than seven games next season.

Oakland Raiders: Play Better Defense in 4th Quarter

The Oakland Raiders defense was horrible in the fourth quarter last season.

It's almost as if the Raiders were playing against Eli Manning every week. In fact, the Raiders played terrible near the end in general, as they finished the season just 1-4.

The Raiders will have to buckle down and play better down the stretch.

San Diego Chargers: Get Rid of Norv Turner

How did Norv Turner salvage his job?

After underachieving the past three seasons, Turner remains as the San Diego Chargers head coach. Since losing to the New York Jets to advance to the AFC Championship Game, the Chargers have yet to make it back to the playoffs, despite having a talent-rich roster.

Dallas Cowboys: Draft a Defensive Stud

The 2012 NFL draft is full of great defensive prospects.

This is the Dallas Cowboys' chance to bolster the 24th-ranked pass defense in the NFL. With great cornerbacks across the board, the Cowboys could have a chance to land a stud like Dre Kirkpatrick.

Philadelphia Eagles: Play Like You Finished

It all started clicking for the Philadelphia Eagles at the end of 2011.

Nobody wanted to play the Eagles, and the "Dream Team" jokes decreased rapidly as the Eagles finished the season with four straight wins.

Now, it's up to the Eagles to build off of that and start 2012 with a bang.

Washington Redskins: Draft RG3

No more Rex Grossman, no more John Beck and no more washed-up Donovan McNabb. The Redskins must get Robert Griffin III.

Go all Atlanta Falcons with your draft picks if you have to, because this guy has the potential to turn this sinking ship around.

Chicago Bears: Keep Cutler and Forte on the Field

For the Chicago Bears, it's real simple—keep Jay Cutler and Matt Forte healthy.

Before Cutler was injured, the Bears were 7-3 and were on a five-game winning streak. Both of these players are crucial to the Bears' success, and for them to hold on to any hopes of winning a world championship, both players must be on the field.

Detroit Lions: Draft for Need, Not Best Available

The Detroit Lions have a knack for taking the best available pick in the draft, and that trend needs to stop this season.

The Lions finally have playmakers like Calvin Johnson, Ndamukong Suh and Matthew Stafford that can lead this team to a Super Bowl, and in the 2012 NFL draft, the Lions can start by drafting players that will help their 22nd-ranked pass defense.

Green Bay Packers: Sign a Game-Changing DE

The offense is there for the Green Bay Packers, but they need to upgrade their defense.

The Packers struggled when it came to getting pressure on the quarterback in 2011, and they were 27th in the league when it came to sacks, with just 29.

They need to sign a big-time defensive end, and while you can't expect them to grab a Mario Williams or Robert Mathis, the team could possibly grab a Cliff Avril.

Minnesota Vikings: Get Adrian Peterson Help

Drafting Matt Kalil will be a nice start, but you have to give Adrian Peterson some help on offense.

Peterson has been somewhat of a one-man band on offense, and getting the 28th-ranked passing offense in the league in gear with Christian Ponder is a must.

Peterson can only get this team so far, and in 2012, Ponder will have to grow up quickly.

Atlanta Falcons: Make Smarter Decisions in Critical Moments

Imagine one of those days that you wish you could just climb in bed and make tomorrow come, and you'll know exactly how Mike Smith felt this season.

Smith made a questionable fourth-down call against the New Orleans Saints during overtime in the regular season that lost them the game.

As if that wasn't bad enough, he made two critical decisions to go for it on fourth down rather than kick the field goal against the New York Giants in the playoffs, decisions that would ultimately be the downfall for the Falcons.

Carolina Panthers: Stop the Run

The Carolina Panthers have to a better job of stopping the run in 2012.

Of course, it didn't help when they lost linebacker after linebacker this season, including one of the best LBs in the league, Jon Beason.

Over the course of the season, the Panthers lost Beason, Omar Gaither, Thomas Davis and James Anderson, and giving up 130.8 rushing yards per game certainly reflected that.

New Orleans Saints: Re-Sign Drew Brees

For the New Orleans Saints to party with the Lombardi in New Orleans again, they must re-sign Drew Brees.

It would come as more of a shock if the Saints didn't re-sign him, and I believe they will do everything they can to get Brees back in a Saints jersey.

For the Saints, it's all about re-signing the players that they need like Brees, Marques Colston and Robert Meachem, and having some of their young defensive talent like Cam Jordan and Patrick Robinson develop.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rebuild Josh Freeman’s Confidence

What happened to Josh Freeman?

After throwing 25 touchdowns and only six interceptions in 2010, Freeman threw 16 touchdowns and 22 interceptions in 2011.

For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to make any noise in 2012, they have to restore Freeman's confidence.

Arizona Cardinals: Draft an NFL-Ready OL

The Arizona Cardinals need to address multiple needs, but the first thing they need to do is go with the safe pick.

The Cardinals need an NFL-ready offensive lineman, and that's just what they could get with David DeCastro in the 2012 NFL draft.

St. Louis Rams: Get Sam Bradford a Deep Threat

Is a Justin Blackmon sighting in St. Louis in the foreseeable future?

Despite throwing six touchdowns and six interceptions in 2011, I'm still a firm believer in Sam Bradford, and if he can stay healthy, he can carry this team to the playoffs.

It's up to the front office to give him a deep threat, and Blackmon would be a fantastic piece of the puzzle.

San Francisco 49ers: Give Alex Smith More Weapons

Is Vernon Davis Alex Smith's only target?

Like Bradford, Smith needs more weapons surrounding him, and if Kendall Wright is still on the board late in the first round, he would be a great pickup for the 49ers.

In the NFC Championship Game, of Smith's 196 yards, Davis accounted for 112 of them.

Seattle Seahawks: Get a Quarterback

Whether it's grabbing Matt Flynn from the Green Bay Packers or finding a way to draft Robert Griffin III in the draft, the Seattle Seahawks need an upgrade at quarterback.

Tavaris Jackson threw for 14 touchdowns with 13 interceptions this season, which makes a Ryan Tannehill first-round pick in the 2012 draft look believable.