2018 resolutions for every NFL team
With the new year just days away, it's a good time for NFL players, teams, and fans to reflect on the year that was and try to learn from their mistakes.
Here's one resolution each NFL club should take to heart as they navigate through 2018:
Arizona Cardinals
Plan for the future ... offensively
The Cardinals have invested early-round picks on the defensive side of the ball heavily the last five years only to ask Larry Fitzgerald and Carson Palmer to continue to carry the offensive load at ages 34 and 37, respectively.
Atlanta Falcons
Focus on consistency
In each of Dan Quinn's three years as Falcons' head coach, the team has won at least five of six games while also going through a seemingly hopeless stretch at some point during the same season. They clearly have talent; they just need to figure out how to start and finish strong.
Baltimore Ravens
Admit what Joe Flacco really is
Publicly or privately, the Ravens need to face the music and admit that Flacco isn't worth the $22 million he'll be getting in each of the next two years (at least). Get creative with the salary cap and learn to win in spite of unreliable quarterback play.
Buffalo Bills
Establish an identity
Who are these Bills under Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane? Are they a re-creation of the Carolina Panthers? Is McDermott harkening back to his decade with the Eagles? Or is this a completely new style of team?
Carolina Panthers
Don't mess up the ownership search
Whether it be Michael Jordan, Diddy, Oprah, Mark Cuban, or some combination of celebrity billionaires, the Panthers have a chance to make a huge difference in ownership circles that they can't afford to mess up.
Chicago Bears
Be patient
There are some important pieces already on the Bears' roster, but plenty of holes to fill and likely a new coaching staff with which to adapt. It's going to take time for everything to come together, but the wheels toward success are in motion.
Cincinnati Bengals
End the Marvin Lewis era
It's unclear if Lewis really wants to stay in Cincinnati for a 16th season, but the Bengals have seen all they need to from him with no playoff wins in that span. Cut the cord and move along.
Cleveland Browns
Don't overthink things
Don't think outside the box. Don't try to reinvent the scouting game. Really, try not to repeat too much at all from the last three years. If you pass on a quarterback three times in the first round, don't pick him in the second because he has "good value."
Dallas Cowboys
Shut Jerry Jones up
We're all sick of hearing Jones' remarks about everything that happens in the NFL. No other owner holds postgame press conferences or weekly radio shows. Let Stephen Jones do more of the talking - it doesn't look like he inherited the "can't keep my foot out of my mouth" gene.
Denver Broncos
Stop drafting quarterbacks just because they're tall
John Elway was spotted on the sidelines of 6-foot-5 Josh Allen's bowl game with two tall-guy quarterbacks already on his roster: the failed Brock Osweiler and the underwhelming Paxton Lynch. He should've learned from Russell Wilson, Drew Brees, et al that short guys can play too.
Detroit Lions
Find a running game
Good quarterback. Three solid receivers. Veteran offensive line. There's just one thing missing from the Lions' offense, and Barry Sanders isn't coming back.
Green Bay Packers
Extend Davante Adams
Adams has emerged as the Packers' strongest receiver so they can't afford to let the pending free agent walk away for nothing.
Houston Texans
Plan the parade
Deshaun Watson is the real deal. Once he's healthy and the defense gets its injured stars back on the field, this team will be a championship contender in a conference lacking dominant clubs.
Indianapolis Colts
Don't dwell on 2017
Andrew Luck will be back. Chuck Pagano will (hopefully) be gone. Chris Ballard will have an entire offseason as general manager. It'll be an entirely new world for the Colts in 2018.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Be clear about Blake Bortles' future
Whether the Jaguars want to move on from Bortles or commit to him, they need to make it obvious where he stands within the organization.
Kansas City Chiefs
Give up the gimmick
The Chiefs' offense has resembled a collegiate spread system the past few seasons under Andy Reid without a typical No. 1 receiver or traditional pocket passing attack, and has gone through too many ups and downs to justify continuing more of the same.
Los Angeles Chargers
Search for a star
With the emergence of Todd Gurley and Jared Goff, the Rams have taken the lead in the popularity battle for Los Angeles. The Chargers need to bring in their own star (*cough* Baker Mayfield *cough*) to even imagine keeping up.
Los Angeles Rams
Keep up the good work
Sean McVay. Wade Phillips. Les Snead. Todd Gurley. Jared Goff. Aaron Donald. All you guys. Just keep doing your thing.
Miami Dolphins
Blow up the offense
Adam Gase hasn't been shy about his contempt for the way his offense has played this season. Ryan Tannehill's contract is easy to get out from under. Jay Cutler and Jarvis Landry will be free agents. Jay Ajayi is gone. Just start over.
Minnesota Vikings
Embrace Case Keenum
The NCAA's all-time passing leader has the Vikings in Super Bowl contention. Why let him go?
New England Patriots
Count your blessings
Things have been going well for the Patriots for an awfully long time. Who knows how much longer it'll last? Just be thankful for what you have.
New Orleans Saints
Keep on building the defense
Imagine how good Cam Jordan would be if he had another pass rusher with which to work? The Saints can't let 2017's defensive success be a flash in the pan.
New York Giants
Hire an experienced head coach
Prior to coming to the Giants, Ben McAdoo had never served as a coordinator, let alone a head coach, in the NFL. The team can't allow their next head coach to learn on the job.
New York Jets
Keep the underdog mentality
Despite the preseason guarantees made by everyone and their dog that the Jets would be absolutely terrible this year, they aren't that bad. The Jets need to keep the chip on their shoulder.
Oakland Raiders
Get Derek Carr's confidence back
What happened to the guy who was in the 2016 MVP race? If he could come back, that would fix a lot of issues.
Philadelphia Eagles
Stay positive
It's clear that Carson Wentz can be the franchise quarterback the Eagles drafted him to be. It sucks that he's hurt, but Eagles fans should keep their heads up high through the offseason.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Stop relying on Ben Roethlisberger so much
The Steelers have a solid offensive line, the NFL's best receiver, and arguably the best running back, yet injury-prone Roethlisberger has been the star of the show, throwing at least 30 attempts in all but two contests this season and over 40 attempts five times.
San Francisco 49ers
Make more Jimmy Garoppolo jerseys
This guy is already a stud, and the 49ers have one of the NFL's larger fan bases. Make sure there are enough No. 10 jerseys for everyone.
Seattle Seahawks
Give Russell Wilson some help
As entertaining as it is to watch Wilson put the entire Seahawks' offense on his back on a weekly basis, every man has his limits.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Get Jameis Winston a mentor
As much as he wants to be the Buccaneers' leader, Winston has some obvious maturity issues to overcome before the team can be trusted in his hands. Having someone to show him the way could do wonders.
Tennessee Titans
Find a head coach who won't waste Marcus Mariota's talent
Mike Mularkey is one of the blandest head coaches the NFL has to offer, yet he controls the fate of one of the league's most versatile, dynamic young quarterbacks. Mariota needs some help - perhaps from Josh McDaniels?
Washington Redskins
Change team name
It's (almost) 2018. This is getting ridiculous. Change the name already. "Redhawks" is fine.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)