The perfect holiday gift for every NFL team

There aren't many brights spots surrounding the Cardinals at the moment. Reportedly, Arizona is "likely to fire" coach Steve Wilks after just one season. This team is a far cry from the one that advanced to the NFC championship three years ago. That's all the more reason Cardinals fans want their future Hall of Fame receiver back for one more season. Fitzgerald is already second on the all-time list in receiving yards, and he would move into second place on the receptions list as well if he played one more year.

More than anything, the Falcons just need a healthy defense next season. Losing both safeties and linebacker Deion Jones in September placed Atlanta in a position every game to rely heavily on its offense. But it didn't help Devonta Freeman also suffered an injury in Week 1. That's a big reason why Atlanta has the 31st ranked rushing offense this season. While the 26-year-old has always had trouble staying healthy, this was the first time he didn't play at least 14 games. Freeman is two years into a big five-year deal, so it's unlikely the Falcons cut him and move on with a younger back. Atlanta needs Freeman healthy in 2019 to establish more of a ground game.

Heading into Week 16, the Ravens own the last AFC wild card spot and sit half a game back in the AFC North. However, Las Vegas expects them to lose on the road this Saturday against the Chargers, which could knock Baltimore out of contention for the division title and outside the playoff picture with one game left. An upset victory, though, would be absolutely huge. Unless the Steelers beat the Saints on the road in Week 16, a win over L.A. would move the Ravens into first place of the AFC North. It would also put pressure on the Titans and Colts to win Sunday to keep pace in the wild-card race.

Despite only making the playoffs only once in the last 19 years, the Bills have earned a top-five pick just twice. Buffalo has traded up to make draft-day splashes, but the Bills took players in the top five with their own selections in only 2002 and 2011. Buffalo is going to have a ton of cap space this offseason. While that will certainly help, the best way to add a significant piece would be for the Bills to draft a legitimate playmaker on either side of the ball with a top-five selection. 

In the first eight games this season, Newton averaged 7.2 yards per attempt, posted a 67.3 completion percentage and threw 15 touchdowns vs. four interceptions. During that stretch, the Panthers went 6-2. Since then, Newton's yards per pass average and completion percentage have actually improved, but he has been unable to push the ball downfield in large part because of a hurt shoulder. He has nine touchdowns and nine interceptions in the last six games, all of which have been losses for Carolina. This development has led to the Panthers shutting down Newton for the rest of the season, and it could also result in the former MVP undergoing offseason surgery. Whether he gets that or not, Carolina needs a healthy Newton to be a Super Bowl contender again.

With Mitch Trubisky back, the Bears are getting better every week. They have a 7-1 record at Soldier Field, and they also possess some of the best home-field advantage in the league. That makes earning a first-round bye extremely important for Chicago's playoff efforts. No matter what, the Bears will play one home game in January, but if they can catch the Rams — whom they just beat at home two weeks ago — in the standings, Chicago would get a home game in the second round. In that scenario, just one home victory would place the Bears in their first NFC championship since 2010.

This wish could go in multiple ways. Whether it's moving on from coach Marvin Lewis, quarterback Andy Dalton, injury-prone wide receiver A.J. Green or a combination of all three, real change is needed in Cincinnati. Since making the playoffs five straight years, from 2011-15, the Bengals own a 19-26-1 record.

At the top, we said we weren't going with generic wishes such as a playoff appearance, but with just one playoff berth since 1995, one makes an exception for the Browns. And there's still an outside chance Cleveland can get to the postseason this season. If the Browns win their final two games, they will finish 8-7-1. That record will be good enough to make the playoffs if the Ravens, Titans, Colts and Dolphins all lose this weekend and then the Titans and Colts tie in Week 17. OK, that's not going to happen, but Cleveland is moving in the right direction, and a playoff berth is a legitimate Christmas wish in 2019.

The Cowboys can clinch their third division title in the last five years with a victory against the Buccaneers this Sunday. But despite semi-regular playoff appearances, Dallas hasn't advanced to the NFC championship game since winning the Super Bowl in 1995. Jason Garrett and Dak Prescott won't truly silence their doubters until they end this long drought.

This wish isn't aspiring to high levels, especially for a proud franchise such as the Broncos. But Denver has its own reason for why an 8-8 record this year would be significant. The Broncos haven't suffered consecutive losing seasons since 1971-72. Denver came close to ending this streak a few times, but the team has always been able to pull out at least an 8-8 record. The Broncos need to win their last two games to finish 8-8 and avoid back-to-back losing seasons.

While the Lions did make the playoffs the year after Calvin Johnson retired, the offense has lacked a consistent true No. 1 playmaker over the last three years. At times, Golden Tate, Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay have been that No. 1 receiver, but Tate is now in Philadelphia, Jones is ending this season on IR, and Golladay has been unable to consistently produce on his own. Normally, the Lions need help in the running game, but Detroit appears to have its answer in that area with rookie Kerryon Johnson. He is also finishing the season on IR, but assuming he returns healthy, an impactful receiver is Detroit's biggest offensive need.

Mike McCarthy wasn't the only problem in Green Bay. Poor drafting has decimated the Packers roster, and now the franchise is dealing with managing Aaron Rodgers' big contract. That's why it's crucial the Packers get the most out of Rodgers during the rest of his career. Hiring an offensive coach with innovative ideas could rejuvenate Rodgers. This is obviously easier said than done, but Green Bay wants to find the next Sean McVay this offseason.

The Texans haven't showcased the same home-field advantage the Bears have, but a first-round bye would be nearly as important for Houston. The bye would allow the Texans an extra week of rest, and it could potentially mean playing the Patriots in Texas rather than Foxboro.

Not to mention, Houston has never earned a first-round bye in their franchise history. The Texans can do so if they win their final two games. 

Despite not holding a playoff spot heading into Week 16, Indianapolis' path to the postseason is pretty simple. Win out and hope for a Ravens loss.

They could very well get that with Baltimore visiting the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday. Indianapolis will know before facing the New York Giants whether it can jump into a playoff spot just before Christmas.

The Jaguars regressed across the board in 2018, but the team's biggest need remains the same -- quarterback. Blake Bortles wasn't able to duplicate his strong postseason showing and lost his job to Cody Kessler. That's quite incredible considering Kessler ran for more yards (68) than he threw for (57) last week. 

Jacksonville doesn't need a Hall of Fame quarterback to be a contender, but the franchise certainly needs a competent one.

The Chiefs are headed for their fourth straight playoff appearance. Regular season success has become the norm in Kansas City, but the franchise has yet to experience success in January.

Despite one of the best home-field advantages, the Chiefs have lost seven straight home playoff games. Ending that dubious streak is a priority in Kansas City.

Of course, the Chargers have other plans, and that would be to ensure the Chiefs don't play any home playoff games. Los Angeles can still win the AFC West and thus earn home-field advantage with two wins and at least one Kansas City loss.

The Chargers haven't won a division title since 2009.

The Rams have lost two straight during the regular season for the first time under Sean McVay. Everyone is asking why, but really, it's quite simple -- Goff hasn't been himself since the bye. 

In the last three games, he's completed 55.4 percent of his passes for one touchdown and six interceptions. Against the Eagles, Goff missed several opener receivers so badly it looked a bit like his rookie season.

There are other things the Rams can correct, but most importantly, they need Goff playing again like he did in September.

As exciting as the victory was against the Patriots two weeks ago, the Dolphins suffered a very playoff-damaging loss to the Vikings last Sunday. In order to make the postseason now, Miami needs major chaos. In addition to winning their last two games, the Dolphins need the Ravens, Titans and Colts all to lose this weekend. Miami also needs the Ravens to lose to the Browns and the Titans to beat the Colts in Week 17.

The Vikings already received their wish for a new offensive coordinator. In his first game as play caller, Kevin Stefanski emphasized the running game much more, and it paid off, as Dalvin Cook rushed for a season-high 136 yards. Now Minnesota just needs Cook to stay healthy. If he can and the Vikings return to running the ball as they did last season, this team still has the pieces to go on a deep postseason run.

For the first time since 2009, the Patriots will finish with a losing record on the road. Unless the Texans trip up, New England will be on the road in the second round of the playoffs assuming the Patriots can win on wild-card weekend. Still, the Patriots will be back in the AFC championship for the eighth straight season if they can win a road playoff game. With that, all the road blues from the regular season would be gone.

During the Drew Brees-Sean Payton era, the Saints are 5-0 in the playoffs when they play at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. But in road playoff games, the same quarterback-coach combination is 1-5. Of all the teams vying for home-field advantage this Christmas season, it may be most important to the Saints.

Head coach Pat Shurmur has repeatedly supported Eli Manning, so it's likely there won't be a change. But with Manning set to turn 38 in January, the Giants need at least a future plan behind center. Manning has been better of late, but even with a mostly healthy Odell Beckham Jr. and the addition of Saquon Barkley, Manning has just 18 touchdowns and is averaging only 7.3 yards per pass.

Mostly, the Jets need a healthy Sam Darnold, but a new coach to mentor the young quarterback would be good too. Todd Bowles has missed the playoffs all four years as head coach of the Jets. In his first season, he led the Jets to a 10-6 record, but they missed the playoffs after a Week 17 loss to the Bills. He shouldn't get the benefit of the doubt again after a third straight losing season.

There's a lot of things on Oakland's wish list, but the No. 1 item has to be a home stadium. The Raiders may play their final game at the Oakland Coliseum on Monday night, and with their new Las Vegas stadium not set to open until 2020, the Raiders could be nomads during the 2019 season.

An 8-8 record isn't exactly what defending Super Bowl champions aspire to, but one more win would ensure the Eagles aren't the first defending champion with a losing record since the 2002 Buccaneers. Philadelphia will close the season with Houston and Washington.

Chris Boswell has gone from one of the best kickers to one of the worst in the league remarkably fast. After going 1-for-2 vs. the Patriots, Boswell is 11-of-18 this season, which makes the Steelers last in field-goal percentage, at 61.1 percent. He's also missed five extra points. Boswell has arguably already cost the Steelers three games. Pittsburgh must get better kicking if it's going to go on a deep playoff run.

The 49ers have a plethora of players injured, but Garoppolo is obviously the most important. He led San Francisco to a 5-0 record down the stretch last season, and the excitement surrounding him couldn't have been higher. Then he tore an ACL in Week 3 this year. San Francisco needs Garoppolo healthy in 2019, so the organization can properly evaluate him and the head coach-general manager combination of Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch.

The Seahawks will likely have to take care of business in these final two weeks and win on wild-card weekend to make this wish come true. But Seattle would love a third matchup with the Rams. In the first two meetings, Los Angeles won both games by a combined seven points. The third matchup will probably be in Los Angeles, but the Seahawks beat Sean McVay's Rams there last season.

Is it Jameis Winston or Ryan Fitzpatrick? Fitzpatrick or Winston? Starting with Winston's suspension, these two signal-callers have seemingly been on a giant carousel all season long. While Fitzpatrick led the Buccaneers to an impressive 2-0 start, Tampa Bay has fizzled to the tune of 3-9 since then. Whether or not coach Dirk Koetter stays, the Buccaneers must figure out their future at quarterback.

A Ravens loss and two wins is the most obvious Christmas wish Titans fans have this December. To achieve those goals, Tennessee needs more Henry. The former Heisman Trophy winner has been fantastic the last two weeks, rushing for 408 yards and six touchdowns. If he continues carving up defenses, no one will want to play the Titans in January.

Early in the seasson, Peterson proved to be a great late-summer signing. But during the second half, he's shown his age. The 33-year-old is averaging 3.6 yards per carry in the last seven games, and that includes a contest in which he posted an average of nearly 11.0 yards per attempt. Through the first seven games, Peterson averaged 4.6 yards per carry. With major issues at quarterback, Washington needs that kind of production from the future Hall of Fame back to stay alive in the playoff chase.