Top New Year’s resolutions for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017

With January 1, 2017 marking the end of the Bengals’ 2016 season, boy are we excited to turn to the future. This season was an ugly one, filled with more disappointment than anything else.

With so much that went wrong this year, there’s a lot to hope for to go right next year.

New Year’s resolutions are a common way in which people resolve to change an undesired trait or behavior in the new year. While many people will resolve to lose weight, spend less money, see family more often or simply enjoy life to the fullest, those wouldn’t be good New Year’s resolutions for the Cincinnati Bengals.

My No. 1 resolution for the Bengals would be for the team to rebound with a strong 2017 season and to grab their first playoff win of the last quarter century.

Another New Year’s resolution idea would be for the Bengals to be less stubborn and to start using free agency as a way to improve the team.

How about a New Year’s resolution to trust rookies more and let them actually play during their rookie seasons? All of these could be good resolutions for the Bengals.

ESPN came up with a New Year’s resolution for every NFL team, and here’s what Katherine Terrell came up with for the Bengals:

Fix their offensive line.

The Bengals need to make re-signing left tackle Andrew Whitworth and guard Kevin Zeitler a priority, and look to the draft -- again -- to assess the future needs at tackle. Whitworth, 35, won't be around forever, but the Bengals won't be able to keep Andy Dalton healthy if they go forward with Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher at left and right tackle.

The Bengals’ offensive line was a huge issue this year and at times, the source of all offensive problems. So fixing the line and getting it back to be a reliable unit for the team is highly necessary. It would be difficult to get back to the playoffs without first fixing the offensive line.

What’s on your list of resolutions for the Bengals in 2017?