What’s next for the Cincinnati Bengals?

So as Andy Dalton committed three turnovers and the Bengals crashed and burned out of the wild card round yet again, you have to think that change is on the horizon in the Queen City.

Although he was not completely at fault in this game, I firmly believe that we are an elite QB and a healthy defense away from being considered a top 3, if not the best team in the NFL.

Here are three things that I believe will put us in a position to finally break this postseason win dry spell next season:

Jan 5, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson (right) interviews Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis during the 2013 AFC wild card playoff football game against the San Diego Chargers at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Time to move on from Marvin Lewis and Jay Gruden:

Yes, Marvin Lewis has done an infinite amount of good for this franchise, but now more than ever I think he has reached his maximum potential with this team. His regular season record as a head coach is 90-85-1 and his postseason record is now 0-5.

Although the regular season numbers do not accurately portray him as a coach, the postseason record certainly does. I think it would be a smart time to move on from Lewis and promote the man who has been holding this team together this year in the tune of the No. 3 ranked defense, Mike Zimmer.

What Mike has done with that group of players is remarkable. We lost Geno Atkins and Leon Hall to season ending injuries and still managed to finish top 5 in all major defensive categories. He gets the best out of every single player and his fire and passion for the game is something that this team would thrive on.

The team won’t move on from Lewis this offseason, but there may be a light at the end of the tunnel with Lewis’ contract set to expire next year. Bengals radio-man Dave Lapham thinks owner Mike Brown make ask Mike Zimmer to hang tight for another year to be the head coach next year: