Ideal gifts for AFC teams — even those 'needy' 12-1 Chiefs, 10-3 Steelers

Even the 12-1 Kansas City Chiefs and 10-3 Pittsburgh Steelers have major needs.

In the spirit of the holiday season, Yardbarker NFL writers identify the perfect gift for all teams in the AFC.

AFC East

BUFFALO BILLS (10-3) | A domed stadium | Fans watch NFL games to see the world’s greatest athletes compete at the highest level, not fall about in snow as the Bills and 49ers did in Week 13. A new Highmark Stadium is under construction next to the original, but it will not have a dome, something that should come standard for a project with a $2.1B price tap (h/t Associated Press).

MIAMI DOLPHINS (6-7) | More sacks | Under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the Dolphins had the third-most sacks (56) in the NFL last season but currently have the second-fewest (24) in the league. Meanwhile, the Eagles (where Fangio is DC this season) are tied for the seventh-most sacks (37) and allow a league-low 284.2 yards per game.

NEW YORK JETS (3-10) | A lump of coal | Thanks to a 32-26 overtime loss to the Dolphins in Week 14, the Jets will miss the playoffs for the 14th season in a row, the longest such streak in major American professional sports. Even with future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers at the helm, New York made the "naughty list" by averaging the sixth-fewest yards (299.8) and eighth-fewest points (19.3) per game. Plus, it has 99 penalties, the third most in the league.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-10) | A true No. 1 receiver | The Patriots haven’t had a top-20 wide receiver since Julian Edelman finished 18th with 1,117 receiving yards in 2019. Tight end Hunter Henry leads the team with 610 yards receiving. With a league-high $138M in projected cap space for next season, the team must put a high-end receiver (Missouri's Luther Burden III? Cincinnati's Tee Higgins?) — either high in the draft or in free agency — on its wish list. — Bruce Ewing

AFC West 

DENVER BRONCOS (8-5) | A playoff trip | Denver has won five of its past seven games and could end its eight-year postseason drought if it keeps rolling. As of Wednesday, ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the Broncos a 72.5 percent chance to make the playoffs.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (12-1) | Improved pass protection for QB Patrick Mahomes | The Chiefs have started three left tackles (D.J. Humphries, Wanya Morris and rookie Kingsley Suamataia), but each has struggled to protect Mahomes’ blind side. Through his first 13 games, Mahomes has been sacked 35 times, tied for the sixth most in the league.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-11) | The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft | Vegas probably doesn’t feel merry or bright amid a lost season, but landing the No. 1 pick would give the franchise hope. If the Raiders do obtain it, they could take Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, who ranks second in the FBS in touchdown passes (35 in 12 games).

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (8-5) | A guide on how to win close games | The Chargers hoped head coach Jim Harbaugh would help them win more nail-biters, but they’re still faltering in these matchups. L.A. has lost four one-possession games, including two to K.C. — Clark Dalton

AFC North

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-3) | No. 1 seed in the AFC | This feels unlikely considering their brutal schedule down the stretch (at Eagles, at Ravens, vs. Chiefs, vs. Bengals), but the Steelers could win out and hope the Chiefs lose two of their last four games and the Bills lose once. The good news for the Steelers is that they play Kansas City on Christmas Day in what will be a massive result for AFC playoff seeding.

BALTIMORE RAVENS (8-5) | Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed to come out of retirement | The Ravens won’t win the Super Bowl unless their passing defense goes through a miraculous transformation down the stretch. Baltimore ranks last in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (264.9) and 24th in opponent third-down conversion rate (42.9 percent), so it could use prime Reed — the former Ravens star who retired in 2015 — back in uniform.

CINCINNATI BENGALS (5-8) | A new defensive coordinator | Joe Burrow is playing at an MVP level, and Ja’Marr Chase leads the NFL in catches (93), receiving yards (1,319) and receiving touchdowns (15). The Bengals should be fighting for the AFC North title, but they likely won’t make the playoffs due to their 29th-ranked scoring defense (27.7 PPG) under coordinator Lou Anarumo.

CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-10) | A paper shredder for Deshaun Watson’s contract | Watson has turned into one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL, and it’s hard to see him improving coming off a ruptured Achilles. As if that isn’t bad enough for the Browns, Watson still has two years left on his $230M contract. — Jack Dougherty

AFC South 

HOUSTON TEXANS (8-5) | A better offensive line | Houston has underwhelmed this season largely due to its offensive line, which ranks 26th in ESPN’s pass-block win-rate rankings and 30th in run-blocking situations. As a result, QB C.J. Stroud has been sacked 41 times, three more than all of last season.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (6-7) | A dart board for Anthony Richardson | Richardson, selected No. 4 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, has well-documented accuracy issues (47.4 percent completion rate) this season. Maybe someone should give him a dart board to practice his accuracy — if he can hit a bullseye, he can hit his receivers in the hands. 

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (3-10) | New GM/HC | Head coach Doug Pederson could be on the way out after a second consecutive losing season, and he should take GM Trent Baalke with him. As for a replacement, if only there were a Super Bowl winner with GM and coaching experience looking for a job… 

TENNESSEE TITANS (3-10) | The No. 1 overall pick | The Titans might already be in the market for a replacement for second-year quarterback Will Levis, who is piloting one of the league’s worst offenses. There’s arguably no better way for Tennessee, which currently holds the No. 6 pick (h/t Tankathon), to improve at the position than by landing the first pick in April’s 2025 NFL Draft. — Eric Smithling