8 NFL Teams That Should Turn Their Attention to 2012

It isn't even the quarter turn in the 2011 NFL season yet and we already have a good idea of what is going on in most of the divisions across the board.

While there are teams that are surprising us (Buffalo, Detroit, Tennessee) with their play and poise, there are those teams that are equally surprising us with their ability to lose games by both tight and wide margins.

It appears things can only get better, but for the most part they probably won't.

Maybe the lockout is to blame (it will be the topic many will hang their hats on) or some other form of offseason woe. Some may say injuries have had a major affect on the team, which in some cases it has.

But the reality of it is that there were 32 teams who had a level playing field to sign free agents and their own players to new contracts. Each team had the same amount of days to practice and prepare.

In other words, the NFL is a league where going from worst to first and first to worst is easily done each year.

These teams, however, really need to look toward the 2012 season as the year they will prove that they can play with the big boys.

No. 8: Jacksonville Jaguars

The game on Sunday proved a few things.

First, Blaine Gabbert will be a good NFL quarterback in time. Second, this team is in need of receivers who can hold on to the ball. Third, that this team needs to open up its offense and score.

Head coach Jack Del Rio and offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter need to open the offense up more, but both figure to be lame ducks and probably will not be back next season.

If they look toward the 2012 with lots of salary cap room and a potential top five draft pick (Justin Blackmon), they could be better. But it will still take some time.

The defense looks improved, but it needs the offense to come around and play up to its "average" potential.

No. 7: Cincinnati Bengals

This is a team with a good quarterback (Carson Palmer) who won't play for them, a rookie quarterback who is learning on the fly and a head coach that may not be back next season.

Andy Dalton had a bad performance against San Francisco, throwing two fourth quarter interceptions in front of a two-thirds full Paul Brown Stadium.

It figures to get worse as the season goes on. Dalton will experience more growing pains and the fans will not come out to see a losing football team. The Bengals won their first game over Cleveland and have lost two straight.

Ironically, Cleveland has beaten the Colts and Dolphins since.

No. 6: Denver Broncos

No 1-2 team on the season (besides Indianapolis) gets more attention. Call it the "Tebow Factor" that makes them so special.

First year coach John Fox needs to infuse some kind of spark in this team. They lost to a Tennessee team that lost its star receiver to injury. Titan's quarterback Matt Hasselbeck only just found other pass catchers to help win the game.

Once the team figures out Kyle Orton is not the answer at quarterback, it will then realize that Tebow is a good athlete, just not the quarterback that can lead them to the promised land.

No. 5: Indianapolis Colts

This is a team that looked like it finally had a heartbeat against Pittsburgh. And then they lost.

Peyton Manning really is the MVP of the league as it shows every week that this team is built totally around him.  They need to find other components to fill gaps.

Kerry Collins is not the answer. As long as he is under center, this team goes nowhere. Even with another passer, this team is average at best.

No. 4: Miami Dolphins

Didn't you think the 'Fins would get their first win against the Cleveland Browns? This was a team playing against a team without its best player.

Come on, man! What do the Dolphins have to do to get a win? I personally think Chad Henne will surprise us all and play better down the stretch. But right now, the team is sinking in South Florida.

Running back Daniel Thomas looked good but it wasn't enough. They will most certainly be in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes at the end of the year.

No. 3: Minnesota Vikings

Adrian Peterson signed a new contract to make him a lifelong Viking. Do you think he wants out now?

Leslie Frazier is in his first full year as a head coach. I heard he may hear some grumbling. This team is better than its record, but it needs more consistent play from both offense and defense.

In a division where the Packers and the Lions are beating up on everyone, this looks like a lost cause on the Great Lakes.

No. 2: St. Louis Rams

Remember, they were 7-9 last season. They were not world beaters, but they figured to be better. They aren't.

Sam Bradford has a world of potential and he will be a great player for years to come, but this team is lacking and it looks like the offense and the defense forgot to shop up against Baltimore.

If Steven Jackson and Cadillac Williams can run through defenses, then this team can open up the passing game and score points.

But the defense still needs help after this past weekend.

No. 1: Kansas City Chiefs

Yes, go ahead and pencil this one in. The Chiefs are not making the playoffs.

Injuries have hurt them. They almost came back to beat San Diego Sunday, but they could not overcome the hole they were in.

Losing Jamal Charles really hurt this team offensively and mentally as well.

Coach Todd Haley appears to be on the hot seat, which may not be fair given the circumstances with which he is working.

Still, this team needs to realize it is only 14 weeks away from the end of the season and it can plan for 2012.