The Perfect Christmas Present for Every NFL Team

It is true that some NFL teams are in much better shape than others. This doesn't mean that they aren't going to ask Santa for something as the season comes to a conclusion. It just means that their wish list is going to be completely different from a team that is out of contention.

It is like when you were a kid and asked for a Nintendo Entertainment System for Christmas, while your sister asked for world peace. We all know that one is easier to attain and more realistic, but it didn't stop her from asking for something.

It is a similar situation when it comes to football teams. The wish list for a downtrodden Indianapolis Colts franchise might be a little longer-term than for a San Francisco 49ers team that was prematurely thrown into the Super Bowl hunt. Indianapolis might want to look to 2013 or 2014, but the 49ers cannot look past the 2011 season.

With that in mind, let's take a look.

Oakland Raiders: Carson Palmer Returns to 2006 Form

The Oakland Raiders appear to be the most complete team in a weak AFC West division. Still, they have a lot of room for improvement on both sides of the ball.

If Carson Palmer can continue to get comfortable in their system and return to his 2006 form, it will make this team extremely dangerous as the rest of the regular season progresses and the playoffs begin.

Another Christmas present for Oakland that would enable it to contend for a conference championship would be a healthy return of Darren McFadden.

Denver Broncos: Tim Tebow Proves All the Skeptics Wrong

Tim Tebow still hasn't acquired a lot of supporters from the national media, but one thing is for sure: His teammates believe in him.

If the former Heisman winner can continue his progression in terms of passing the ball and win more games as the season comes to a close, John Elway and co. are going to have a difficult offseason decision to make.

Moreover, if the Denver Broncos somehow capture a playoff spot, that decision will have already been made for Elway.

San Diego Chargers: Norv Turner Gets Stocking Full of Coal

A lot of San Diego Chargers fans believed that Norv Turner should have been fired a couple years ago, and that is hard to disagree with.

Now in the midst of a six-game losing streak and completely out of the playoff race, it appears that Turner will not be back with the team in 2012.

Well, at least San Diego fans have that to look forward to.

Kansas City Chiefs: Young Players Step Up

The Kansas City Chiefs acquired the perfect storm of misery when Matt Cassel went down. They had no viable backup option and were forced to throw Tyler Palko to the wolves against the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers.

For all intents and purposes, their season is over.

Now it is up to young skill players such as Dexter McCluster and Jon Baldwin to take that next step and show the Chiefs what they have. This will help the front office decide what needs to be done in the offseason.

Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco Shows More Consistency

Joe Flacco is still extremely hard to figure out. He will follow up a great performance with one that reminds many why no Division I football program recruited him.

Over the course of his career, Flacco has been more up and down than any quarterback in the NFL. Now with Baltimore prepared to take that next step to elite status, he needs to show that he can be the quarterback to lead it there.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Running Game Starts to Help Big Ben

Ben Roethlisberger has been playing lights-out football this season but hasn't gotten much help from his running game. Rashard Mendenhall has struggled to build on a strong 2010 performance and needs to step it up for the Steelers offense to have more balance heading into the playoffs.

One thing is for sure: Pittsburgh will not win the Super Bowl if Ben is forced to pass 40 to 50 times a game.

Cincinnati Bengals: Andy Dalton and Co. Continue to Progress

Yesterday I made a surprising prediction that the Cincinnati Bengals would make the playoffs as the final wild card from the AFC. Although this drew some criticism, they haven't proven me wrong so far.

Even if Cincinnati doesn't make it to the postseason, it has had a really strong 2011 season and will need to build on that moving forward.

This means that Andy Dalton and A.J. Green continue their progression and the rest of the Bengals' talented young core improves as well. If this happens, Cincinnati looks to have an incredibly bright future.

Cleveland Browns: Don't Have to Go Quarterback Shopping

Colt McCoy has had a subpar 2011 season, but it is hard to figure out if he is the Browns' quarterback of the future. Cleveland doesn't have the necessary skill players for any quarterback to succeed moving forward. Thus, the Browns have a decision to make.

In a perfect world, McCoy would progress over the final five games and prove to their front office that a quarterback will not be a necessity in the offseason. However, we don't live in a perfect world, and that is far from a certainty.

Houston Texans: Run Game and Defense Carry Load

I have a hard time believing that T.J. Yates will be able to lead the Houston Texans deep into the playoffs. That is too much to ask of a young quarterback with little NFL experience. That said, the Texans have the best running game in the NFL and an equally impressive defensive unit.

If they can continue to impress in those two areas, Yates won't be asked to do too much—and if that happens, anything is possible.

Tennessee Titans: Chris Johnson Proves His Worth

Believe it or not, the Tennessee Titans still have a shot at the playoffs and even the AFC South division title, especially with the injuries Houston is incurring on offense.

Chris Johnson, who has stepped it up over the last couple of games, needs to be a primary reason why the Titans squeeze into the playoffs. If he plays like he did over the first two months of the season, they will have no shot.

More so, Tennessee may actually have a decision to make in the offseason in regards to retaining his services or releasing the talented back outright.

Jacksonville Jaguars: New Owner Shahid Khan Is All About Winning

Jacksonville Jaguars fans deserve a lot more than what they have gotten over the course of the last couple of seasons. Talk about the franchise moving to Los Angeles has really hurt the morale of the fanbase.

Enter into the equation a new owner that seems hell-bent on returning this franchise to prominence in Florida. If Khan proves to be the owner that many think he will be, the Jaguars will have a bright future in Jacksonville. If not, they won't!

Indianapolis Colts: Peyton Manning Retires

This may sound downright crazy on the surface, but let me explain. The Indianapolis Colts roster doesn't currently have the talent to contend in the AFC, even with Peyton Manning at the helm.

Many have concluded that Manning makes his teammates much better when on the football field, and that cannot be discounted. Still, you have to wonder if he has the talent around him to contend in the next couple of seasons.

Wouldn't it make much more sense to move on from the Manning era and draft Andrew Luck? Some good things just have to come to an end, and good organizations understand this.

New England Patriots: Defense Continues to Step Up

Tom Brady and co. are elite—that is hard to argue against. Still, in order to win in the playoffs a team must have a defensive identity. Right now the New England Patriots don't.

It seems that they are built to win in October and November, not January. In order for the Patriots to capture a fourth Super Bowl with Brady, their defense will have to step up.

New York Jets: Mark Sanchez Proves ME Wrong

Despite throwing four touchdown passes against the Buffalo Bills last week, Mark Sanchez was still hearing the boo birds out in full force in New Jersey. It doesn't seem that the fanbase is behind the former USC star right now.

And for good reason.

He just hasn't played like an above-average quarterback this season, and his progression has been stifled. In order for the Jets to make the playoffs, they need him to take his game to the next level.

Buffalo Bills: Defense, Defense and More Defense

How does a defense give up four touchdown passes to Mark Sanchez? It is really simple, if you ask me: The defense just isn't that good.

Buffalo's defensive unit has been torn apart by mediocre offenses over the duration of its losing streak, and it needs major upgrades during the offseason.

As a Bills fan, your wish list should be multiple upgrades on that side of the ball because their offense is pretty damn good.

Miami Dolphins: Front Office Doesn't Buy into Matt Moore

I sure hope that the performance of Matt Moore hasn't changed Jeff Ireland's mentality of going after a quarterback in the offseason. Simply put, Moore is better than Chad Henne, and that is about it.

Miami needs to address the quarterback position in the draft; it really is that simple. In order to do so, it must not buy into Moore as its quarterback of the present and/or future.

San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith Shows He Can Win When It Counts

At some point in the playoffs Alex Smith is going to have to be the reason why the San Francisco 49ers win a game. He has done that a couple times this season, but it hasn't been all too consistent.

This means taking the training wheels off the improving quarterback and allowing him to prove all the skeptics wrong.

If this happens, the 49ers stand a decent chance to go deep in the playoffs and challenge the Packers for the NFC title.

Seattle Seahawks: Get a Quarterback As Soon As Possible

I think it goes without saying that Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst are probably not in the long-term plans of the Seattle Seahawks franchise.

This is a team that really does have some good talent across the board but is just missing it at this vital position.

If Seattle can get a Matt Barkley or Landry Jones in the draft, it will make this team competitive with the San Francisco 49ers over the course of the next five seasons or so. If not, the Seahawks will be stuck behind the division favorites for a while.

Arizona Cardinals: Kevin Kolb Proves His Worth

The Arizona Cardinals appear to be playing out the stretch, but at least they are going to have their "franchise" quarterback on the field.

While I am not sold on Kevin Kolb being anything more than a mediocre quarterback in the NFL, the Cardinals have placed their bet on him and need to ride it out. The reason for this is because they have invested players, strategy, money and draft picks in him.

Now it is up to Kolb to prove us all wrong.

St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford Gets Some Help on Offense

We can all question whether Sam Bradford is going to ever be the quarterback that many of us expected him to be when he came out of Oklahoma.

That said, he needs to be put in a position to succeed, and that isn't happening right now. The Rams have a horrible offensive strategy under Josh McDaniels, and Bradford has no weapons outside of Brandon Lloyd in the passing game.

The Rams need to upgrade at the skill positions and even find a future replacement for Steven Jackson this offseason.

Green Bay Packers: They Lose a Game in the Regular Season

Would you rather see your team go undefeated in the regular season or win the Super Bowl? Just ask the New England Patriots of four seasons ago this question.

If Green Bay goes undefeated during the regular season, it is going to be under much more pressure to win out in the postseason because of the Patriots' lack of success before.

It makes more sense for the Packers to get that one loss out of the way during the regular season and have a clean slate heading into a postseason where they promise to be huge favorites.

Chicago Bears: Caleb Hanie Does a Good Jim McMahon Impression

The Chicago Bears were on a roll when Jay Cutler went down against the San Diego Chargers two weeks ago. Now they find themselves in an unenviable position. This is a team that is extremely talented but doesn't have a quality quarterback to get the job done.

Remember the Bears of the 1980s. Jim McMahon was nothing special, but he was able to run a game-controlled offense and lead his team to the playoffs.

Chicago has a talented team, and it just needs Hanie to play smart football from here on out.

Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh Is No Longer Face of the Franchise

The Detroit Lions are an up-and-coming franchise in the NFL. They boast a multitude of talent across the board and have a bright future.

Ndamukong Suh's performance over the course of the last two seasons seems to be hindering this to an extent. It is time that the Lions get a new "face of the franchise." They have really good options in the likes of Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson.

Minnesota Vikings: Christian Ponder Continues to Improve

I have been really impressed by the play of Christian Ponder since he took over for the recently departed Donovan McNabb two months ago. The rookie quarterback has shown extensive poise in the pocket and a live NFL arm.

Now it is time for him to show that continued progression over the course of the last five games so that the Vikings can start concentrating on improving in other areas during the offseason.

New Orleans Saints: Defense Continues to Improve

The Saints have been playing incredibly well on both sides of the ball as of late, which looks good for their chances of success in the playoffs.

Still, their defensive unit must continue to improve, or it will be one and done in the postseason. Running games and defenses win titles, not offensive firepower.

The Saints' weaknesses will be exposed against the 49ers and Packers if this defense doesn't continue to improve.

Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan's Progression to Elite Status

In order for the Atlanta Falcons to capture a playoff spot Matt Ryan is going to have to continue his improved play as of late. He has made the right decisions, limited mistakes and played near flawless football.

This will have to continue if Atlanta looks to make a run at the playoffs and do some damage.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman Shows More Consistency

Josh Freeman has followed up an incredibly strong second year with a horrible performance thus far in 2011. He has been way too inconsistent over the course of the season and continues to make mistakes at crucial times.

Accordingly, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaching staff needs to work closer with him in order for his consistency to match that talent we already know he has.

Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton Continues to Limit Mistakes

Cam Newton is one of the most electrifying rookies that I have ever seen play of the game of football. In fact, his play has left me awestruck at times. Still, he has made a lot of boneheaded rookie mistakes in 2011.

Last week against Indianapolis, Newton limited those mistakes and played a great all-around game. Lets hope that he can continue this as 2011 comes to a close. If so, the Panthers are in great shape heading into the offseason.

Dallas Cowboys: Tony Romo Proves Himself to Be Mr. January

Tony Romo has been one of the most consistently good quarterbacks during the regular season in his career. In fact, his December quarterback rating during that span is the best in the NFL.

It is the postseason that has haunted the enigmatic signal-caller during his tenure with the Cowboys. They have won a total of one playoff game with Romo at quarterback.

It is time that he sheds that label of not being a big-game player and not only leads the Cowboys into the playoffs but wins a couple games as well. Tough task with the Packers, 49ers and Saints staring them in the face.

New York Giants: Rest of Team Picks Up Eli Manning

Eli Manning is arguably having the best season of his impressive career in 2011, but the rest of the Giants roster isn't helping out.

Their receivers have made crucial mistakes, the running game isn't going anywhere and the defense is underperforming.

In order for Tom Coughlin and co. to save face, they need players other than Manning to step up. If that doesn't happen, you are looking at another late-season meltdown from this talented team and another season of sitting at home in January.

Philadelphia Eagles: This Is Andy Reid's Swan Song

The season of the "Dream Team" is already pretty much over. From a late-game meltdown at home against the 49ers to falling from grace against the Arizona Cardinals, this team continues to underperform.

Andy Reid has been the most successful head coach in franchise history. That said, it might be time for the organization to move on. As I said with the Colts earlier, there just comes a point where the past is just that—the past.

It's time for the Eagles franchise and Reid to part ways. I am pretty sure most Eagles fans would agree with this assessment.

Washington Redskins: Get Us a Darn Quarterback Already

I don't care what the rest of your roster looks like. If Rex Grossman and John Beck are your two options at the quarterback position, you are in trouble.

The Washington Redskins need to bite the proverbial bullet and draft themselves a quarterback of the future ASAP.