NFL Analysis
9/6/24
6 min read
4 Players Under The Most Pressure In NFL Week 1
It’s hard to believe, but Week 1 of the 2024 season is here.
We have a full slate of incredible matchups and fascinating storylines. But a few players are under more pressure to succeed than others.
Here are four players that need to perform well in the first game of the year:
>> READ MORE: Picks, Predictions For Every Game
Players Under Most Pressure in Week 1
Deshaun Watson, QB, Cleveland Browns
It’s not fair to expect Deshaun Watson to play at a Pro Bowl level in Week 1 coming off a major shoulder injury. On top of that, he’ll play one of the league’s best defenses in the Dallas Cowboys, and he’ll do so without his starting left tackle (Jedrick Wills) and running back (Nick Chubb).
However, there isn’t much sympathy for Watson for various reasons. The Browns traded multiple first-round picks for him, and he has only started 12 games in two seasons. The Browns should feel a sense of urgency to get their money’s worth when it comes to Watson, and it needs to happen right away.
If Watson struggles in Week 1, which should be expected considering how much time he has missed, the heat will turn up in Cleveland. The fact that Joe Flacco was so successful down the stretch last season certainly doesn’t help matters.
If Watson can play well and lead the Browns to a victory against the Cowboys, he will certainly quiet some of Cleveland's concerns entering the season.
George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s no secret that the Steelers have been searching for a receiver to complement George Pickens all offseason. Pittsburgh traded away Diontae Johnson for Donte Jackson to get more depth in the secondary. Steelers GM Omar Khan has been aggressive in finding another receiver but has come up empty so far.
Pittsburgh tried to acquire Brandon Aiyuk for several months, only for him to sign an extension with the 49ers. Deebo Samuel was another target for Pittsburgh during the NFL Draft, but that failed to work out. DK Metcalf and Courtland Sutton were other names that were discussed, but none of the deals were finalized.
Now, the Steelers head into Week 1 with arguably the worst wide receiver room in the NFL outside of Pickens. Pittsburgh believes Pickens can be a bonafide No. 1 receiver, but that is a lot of pressure on Pickens, who has been pretty inconsistent thus far.
Pickens and the Steelers will face the Falcons in Week 1, which means A.J. Terrell will be the primary defender for Pittsburgh’s top receiver. Pickens will see more double-teams than ever before, and Atlanta’s elite safety pairing of Jessie Bates and Justin Simmons could make life difficult for him on Sunday.
For Pittsburgh’s offense to work this season, Pickens must take a major step forward. And it starts in Week 1 against a quality secondary. If he cannot win his matchup, it’s hard to envision Pittsburgh winning this game or many other contests in the future.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets
The stage couldn’t be any bigger for Aaron Rodgers in his return to the field in Week 1. Not only is he playing in primetime on Monday Night Football, but he’ll also face the 49ers, who were just a few plays away from winning the Super Bowl last year.
On top of that, Rodgers has an extensive history with the 49ers, as they’ve managed to knock him out of the playoffs several times when he was in Green Bay.
There is a lot of pressure on the Jets to make the playoffs this year, given all of their short-term investments. It’s pretty safe to say anything short of a playoff appearance will cost Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh their jobs. However, the playoffs can’t be made in Week 1 and a loss to the 49ers wouldn’t be the end of the world.
Still, Rodgers has to show he is healthy and still among the league's best quarterbacks. It’s been a while since Rodgers has played at a high level (2021), and a strong Week 1 performance against one of the top defenses in the league would go a long way. Rodgers has a lot of pressure on him heading into the final game of the weekend, but expect the old vet to find a way to be productive in this massive contest.
Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
After six years with the New York Giants, Saquon Barkley left in free agency and signed with the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. While it’s not known exactly what the final offer was for the Giants, he decided to leave New York in favor of a better football situation. And there is no denying that the Eagles have more talent on offense than the Giants heading into the 2024 season.
That puts pressure on Barkley to produce, which should be relatively easy, considering that Miles Sanders (2022) and D’Andre Swift (2023) produced Pro Bowl seasons in Philadelphia in the last two seasons. Jalen Hurts' rushing ability, combined with their offensive line, has made life incredibly easy for running backs.
If Barkley only posts numbers that are similar to what Sanders and Swift produced the last few years, it would likely be seen as a massive disappointment. Is that fair? Probably not. However, the expectation is he could have an impact like Christian McCaffrey had with the 49ers after being traded from the Panthers.
Barkley racked up more than 1,200 yards from scrimmage last year with the Giants, which is roughly the same production that Swift had last year with the Eagles.
Barkley will need to smash those numbers this season, and it starts with a big Week 1 performance against the Green Bay Packers in Brazil. It’ll be our first look at Barkley with the Eagles, and they’ll likely lean on him heavily to win that game. All eyes will be on the former Penn State star in Week 1.
>> READ MORE: Can Barkley Get Eagles Back to Super Bowl?
