Better Luck Next Time

Less than two weeks from today, the Saints and Colts will kick off what is expected to be a very exciting Super Bowl(a Super Bowl that could have been much more exciting had both teams played a bit harder in December and ended up at this point both at 18-0). We have more than enough time to get to the Super Bowl, but what about the other playoff teams that had to leave with some nice parting gifts?

Ask no more. Here's a detailed look at what should be on the agenda for the ten playoff teams who couldn't make the big dance(starting with the recently eliminated first).

1. Minnesota Vikings

How It Ended: The same way any big Brett Favre playoff game seems to end these days: With The Riverboat Gambler's uncanny knack for completing passes to the guys in the wrong colored shirts in the most inopportuned times. Favre wasn't alone wearing the goat horns, as guys like Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson fumbled the ball the way Carlos Menica fumbles another comedian's jokes.

What Happens Now: Obviously, who quarterbacks this team next year is first and foremost. Favre says he's unlikely to come back next year, but how many times have we heard THAT this decade? Backup Tarvaris Jackson is a free agent and you have to think he's not returning if he thinks he'll be Favre's caddy again. That's why the Vikes need to harden their stance and impose a deadline for Favre's decision. If Favre agrees to come back, the team can move on to their other big need: Finding an heir apparent for one half of the vaunted Williams Wall, Pat Williams(who says he is 50-50 on whether he's hanging them up). If Big Pat decides to give it one more go, the team can focus their first rounder on a QB whether Favre comes back or not. The fact of the matter is, if the team had faith that Jackson or Sage Rosenfels could run the show, they wouldn't have spent last summer making the googly-eyes at Favre.

Oh, and if you can find a solid RBs coach who can teach AP how to be a bit more careful with the football, that might be great for Minny's long-term future. Other than that, this team is set to contend for quite some time.

2. New York Jets

How It Ended: They showed some spunk on the road against the Colts, but inevitably became another victim of The Peyton Manning Show. The Colts also seemed to do a better job in the second half running the ball, Gang Green's trademark, which made stopping Number 18 that much harder.

What Happens Now: Like the Falcons last year, the team has the luxury of knowing it has a capable, playoff-tested young QB in Mark Sanchez. The team also has a great young runner in 3rd-rounder Shonn Greene. However, there are questions. Starting RB Thomas Jones, who quietly had a solid season, has been rumored to have played his last down in Jersey as the team looks to save some money. The same might also be true for injured and since long-forgotten RB Leon Washington, who was hoping for a big contract before he was lost for the season and Greene decided to break out. Two other big decisions involve WR Braylon Edwards, whom the team traded for midseason, and LB Vernon Gholston, the #6 pick of the 2008 Draft. The Jets need to decide whether they want to move forward with the stone-handed Edwards, who will probably want a contract along the lines of what the Cowboys paid fellow hands of concrete wideout Roy Williams, as their top guy. Edwards showed flashes of his ability in the AFC Championship with his 80-yard catch and run against the Colts. That also came two weeks after a potential TD catch hit right off his mitts against Cincinatti. If the Jets wave bye-bye to Braylon, they could try to make another move for a guy like Arizona's Anquan Boldin or sign problematic wideout Brandon Marshall OR they can go the draft route and look at a guy like Notre Dame's Golden Tate.

As for Gholston, two years removed from all of the Lawrence Taylor hype he had coming out of a productive career at Ohio State and an impressive combine, he's still yet to record an NFL sack. Perhaps it's his inability to play in the 3-4 or perhaps he's not really the goods. Nevertheless, he's making a nice paycheck for zero production, and that's something that's sure to not sit right with GM Mike Tannenbaum or coach Rex Ryan. Other needs for Gang Green include finding a solid corner to play opposite Darrelle Revis and perhaps a change-of-pace back for Greene if they decide to part with Jones and Washington.

3. Dallas Cowboys

How It Ended: The Cowboys got a thorough lesson in defensive dominance at the hands of the Vikings as Leslie Frazier's boys routinely found ways to smack Tony Romo and company in the mouth.

What Happens Now: We can debate for days whether keeping Wade Phillips as head coach was the right move but, at the end of the day, Phillips is still the coach. The team would probably love to cut ties with drop-prone loud mouth Roy Williams, but that would be very costly. For now, they'll have to settle on improving on a team that seems to be thisclose every year. First things first has to be the offensive line. When left tackle Flozell Adams isn't a holding penalty waiting to happen, he's showing every bit of his 34 years of age. The time has come for the Cowboys to make a concerned effort on protecting its pretty boy star quarterback. Next up, the team needs to continue to bolster their secondary, especially at the safety position. SS Gerald Sensabaugh was decent in his first year in Big D, but he's hardly a franchise guy(he's also a restricted free agent). As for FS Ken Hamlin, when it comes to tackling, he swings and misses more often than Mike Cameron. The team can consider itself lucky if freakishly athletic safety Taylor Mays of USC is still available in Round 1, but that's probably wishful thinking.

Last, but certianly not least, this team needs a kicker. Nick Folk came and went and the late season addition of Shaun Suisham only served to make Folk look like Gary Anderson. This team needs a kicker who can consistantly put it through the uprights. Pronto!

4. San Diego Chargers

How It Ended: The Bolts continued their string of January lumps in the throat with another postseason no-show against the Jets.

What Happens Now: When you're one of the worst rushing teams in the league, the running game needs addressing. LaDainian Tomlinson was given a reprieve of his horrible season last year and was allowed to come back so he can continue to look washed up this season. The buck probably stops here this offseason. By cutting the 31-year old Tomlinson, the team saves $4 million, which it can use to lock up jitterbug back Darren Sproles or even linebacker Shawne Merriman. Sproles is clearly not an every down back and the decision to pass on "Beanie" Wells will continue to haunt them. With so many young stars on this team, adding a franchise RB has to top the list if this team is going to challenge the AFC's big three(Indy/Pittsburgh/New England...though NE's time might be over). One name that could be interesting is Titans FA back LenDale White. White was a star at Southern Cal and with the emergence of Chris Johnson in Tennessee, he's clearly not coming back to Nashville. With so few openings for starting RBs in the NFL, White might find his free agent options limited and may pounce at the idea of being a star in the Golden State once again.

If they can nab a guy like White, the team can shift its focus to finding some more beef on the interior defensive line(Texas A &M's Terrance Cody comes to mind) or on the interior offensive line(Idaho guard Mike Iupati would be nice). A new coach would help, too, but that's a whole 'nother story.

5. Arizona Cardinals

How It Ended: After giving up 45 points in a thriller against the Packers, the Cards decided to do it again against the Saints.......only this time, Arizona couldn't drop 51 to advance.

What Happens Now: All signs point to former Heisman winner and 10th overall pick Matt Leinart taking the reigns from the retiring Kurt Warner. That's an obvious step back, and the eventual departure of WR Anquan Boldin certianly doesn't help matters. While the team can use some more help protecting its new QB with an infusion of talent on the offensive line, you clearly need to address the defense first when you give up 90 points in two games. The team already lost pass-rusher Bertrand Berry to retirement and have to make some free agent decisions on top guys like Karlos Dansby, Gabe Watson, and Chike Okeafor. The team might decide to keep Dansby(the hero of the Packers win) and Watson(a valuable big body inside) and let Okeafor find greener pastures elsewhere. That would mean the team needs to grab a couple pass rushers and perhaps find an upgrade in the middle of the linebacking core opposite Dansby(if he's retained). Alot will ride on what the team can get for Boldin if and when he's dealt and whether the team can have more solid talent fall to them much like Beanie Wells did last year.

6. Baltimore Ravens

How It Ended: The Colts quieted a one-dimensional offense and beat up an aging defense so bad, Ed Reed might retire.

What Happens Now: Age and a lack of depth could give the Ravens the grimest outlook of all the playoff teams. If Reed decides to hang them up, there would be no replacing him. Add that to the fact that the team already needed help in the secondary after watching their corners get burnt to a crisp all season. Legendary MLB Ray Lewis came back with authority this season, but how many great seasons does he really have left at 34?

On offense, if QB Joe Flacco is going to be a star in this league, he's going to need weapons other than RB Ray Rice. Top wideout Derrick Mason is thinking retirement and the guys behind him, Mark Clayton, Kelly Washington and Demetrius Williams, are free agents. That could mean the team doubles up in the offseason with a combination of Marshall/Boldin and a first rounder like USC's Damien Williams or LSU's Brandon LaFell. The team also needs to lock up LT Jared Gaither to shore up a much improved offensive line.

7. Green Bay Packers

How It Ended: In a blaze of glory. The Packers came back from down 21 at the half to force overtime and get their heart broke by a Cardinals team that was on the ropes at home.

What Happens Now: Like the Chargers, the Packers have enough young talent on both sides of the ball to be downright dangerous the next few years. QB Aaron Rodgers has proven to be a top 3 QB. RB Ryan Grant has come on as a franchise back, and the recieving core is four deep with Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones and Jordy Nelson. Plus, the team found a potential stud in young TE Jermichael Finley. On defense, Clay Matthews Jr. was absolute steal at the end of the first round last year and they have the reigning Def. POTY in aging Charles Woodson.

That being said, even with the improved performance down the stretch, the offensive line needs work. The Packers need to snag one of the top left tackle prospects, be it Oklahoma's Trent Williams or Iowa's Bryan Bulaga. The team can also use some depth on the interior as well as injuries forced them to do some shuffling throughout the season.

On defense, longtime franchise pass rusher Aaron Kampman will probably be allowed to walk as he's not a fit for the team's 3-4 scheme. The same might also be said of former Pro Bowl corner Al Harris, who was lost for the second straight year with an injury and is a bit long in the tooth at 34. If Harris goes, locking up backup Tramon Williams becomes a priority, as does signing Pro Bowl S Nick Collins long-term(and hard-hitter Atari Bigby, as well). The Packers will enter next season with potentially only four starters over 30(Woodson, Driver, Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton), but even with all the fresh legs, depth is going to be a huge concern.

Another underlying issue will be the return game. Return specialist Will Blackmon is a free agent but, like Harris, has had his injury woes. The team can hope to find a guy to replace Blackmon in the draft but will more than likely try to keep him.

8. New England Patriots

How It Ended: Bad karma came back to sting the overly-aggressive Patriots in the form of the punishing Ravens defense in one of the most embarressing playoff losses in New England history.

What Happens Now: The team gets Tom Brady a full year recovered from ACL surgery, so perhaps that goes a long way to helping the offense. What won't help the offense will be the recovery of Brady's top target, Wes Welker, who tore his ACL and MCL in a meaningless Week 17 loss to Houson. With Welker not being completely right and continued concerns about Randy Moss' effort, the once electrifying Patriots passing attack looks like it might be grounded. Speaking of the ground, the team will probably cut ties with RB Laurence Maroney who subconciously tried his best to get booted out of Beantown. That means going back to the drawing board and bringing in a new rusher as current holdovers Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris are a bit too old to carry the load. That could mean a guy like Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer or Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart. The offensive line is going to need some adjusting, especially if Brady continues to develop happy feet in the pocket.

As for the defense....well, it doesn't look good. The Leigh Bodden/Shawn Springs experiment didn't work so well and the team has yet to develop a young corner through the draft the way it did with guys like Asante Samuel and Ellis Hobbs. The front seven is a mess, with the only real standouts being ILB Jerod Mayo, DE Ty Warren and NT Vince Wilfork(whose a free agent). Adalius Thomas is probably on the next thing smoking out of Belichick-ville, and one has to wonder if that means the team will take a look at free agent pass rusher Julius Peppers. With the Jets and Dolphins nipping at their heels, this offseason more so than any other, leaves very little room for error for The Boston Hoodie and company.

9. Philadelphia Eagles

How It Ended: Philly laid down to division rival Dallas in back-to-back weeks, first in Week 17 in a game for the division title and then in the Wild Card round. Both losses should have been the end of the Andy Reid Era, but alas, we get one more year of Big Red.

What Happens Now: Time to decide on a QB. Is it going to be embattled starter Donovan McNabb? Annointed heir apparent Kevin Kolb? Or the wild card, ex-con Mike Vick? We can probably take Vick out of the equation, as his starting days will probably not be in Philly(Washington, perhaps?). Reid has said that McNabb's his guy but you have to wonder just when Donovan is going to ask to get out of Philly, where he's constantly under fire. The same goes for Kolb. After showing flashes of competence in relief, it has to be irritating for him to continue to play McNabb's caddy. Reid knows his fate lies with McNabb, which is why this will be the final show for both if they can't produce on all the promise that has been generated since their arrival in '98.

Beyond the signal caller issue, there's the possible retirement of RB Brian Westbrook(which is somewhat padded by the presence of "Shady" McCoy) and a newfound focus on fixing the defense after years of adding offensive weapons. After addressing their big needs on the offensive line last year with Jason Peters and Stacy Andrews, the team now needs to fix some holes on the D. The team really missed Brian Dawkins in centerfield and will have to fight Dallas as well as others for a guy like Taylor Mays. The team is also hoping to get better health from the linebacking core as things went downhill once Stewart Bradley went down in camp. The Eagles have solid depth at corner and on the defensive line and, on paper, they will be once again considered a threat for the Super Bowl. The biggest issue, though, will be how dangerous the formidable Eagles will be to themselves if they make another postseason run.

10. Cincinatti Bengals

How It Ended: Like the Eagles, the Bengals held their hands behind their back facing an opponent for the second time in as many weeks. First, the Bengals pulled out quicker than a kid on prom night in their shutout loss to the Jets. Then, Gang Green beat on the Bengals once again in Cincinatti in the Wild Card game.

What Happens Now: After finding their franchise back in the most unlikely of places(former Bears castoff Cedric Benson), the Bengals need to breath some life into their once powerful air attack. Head coach Marvin Lewis put the shackles on former #1 pick Carson Palmer, playing it safe all season to avoid injury to his franchise QB. The result was a offense that lacked a punch beyond Benson's hard-nosed running. After spending three draft picks on wideouts in the event they'd lose star wideout Chad Ochocinco, the Bengals are now stuck in a quagmire where, not only is Ochocinco still present, but there is nobody around to complement him. The team lost Chris Henry to a tragic accident and the rest of passing game seemed to die with him. Andre Caldwell showed signs of promise, but is still wildly inconsistant and Missing Persons is still searching for youngster Jerome Simpson. Even if the team can find a viable partner for Ocho, that becomes moot if they don't lock up Benson to a long term deal.

On defense, the Bengals possess an underrated cornerback tandem in Jonathan Joesph and Leon Hall. They also hit home runs in the draft with linebackers Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga. The focus now will be shoring up the defensive line, where the team saw its pass rush zapped once sack leader Antwan Odom was lost for the season. Greg Hardy is an interesting prospect out of Ole Miss but a guy who could really bring a pass rush is USF's George Selvie. The team can also make a play for Packers' FA Aaron Kampman, who starred for years in the 4-3.