News Article: Five AFC Quarterbacks Under the Most Pressure in 2023
The AFC conference has established itself as the dominant conference in the NFL, thanks in large part to its talented quarterbacks. With Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Josh Allen as the favorites for the MVP race, the AFC is stacked with talent at the quarterback position. Lamar Jackson, who became the highest-paid player in NFL history this offseason, further strengthens the conference’s quarterback roster. Additionally, rookies like C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson have shown promise and are worth keeping an eye on.
However, despite the depth of talent, several AFC quarterbacks are under immense pressure heading into the 2023 season. Here are five signal-callers who face significant expectations and scrutiny.
First on the list is Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins. Although he had a career year in 2022, leading the NFL in passer rating and showing great potential, there are still doubts about his long-term future with the team. Tagovailoa faces the pressure of staying healthy after missing six games due to concussions last season. He must prove that he can not only stay on the field but also build on his flashes of brilliance from the previous year.
Mac Jones of the New England Patriots is another quarterback facing pressure in 2023. After a promising rookie campaign, Jones struggled in his sophomore season, regressing in key statistical categories. The Patriots’ offense struggled as a whole, with Jones often bearing the brunt of the criticism. He needs to prove that he is the quarterback of the future for the Patriots and elevate his game in a competitive division.
Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns is under pressure due to both his on-field performance and his off-field issues. Watson served an 11-game suspension last season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy and had a lackluster performance when he returned. Despite the serious accusations against him, the Browns gave him a record-breaking contract, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history. Watson must prove that he deserves this contract and show significant improvement on the field.
Aaron Rodgers, who just joined the New York Jets, shoulders immense pressure as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. If Rodgers hopes to add to his legacy, he needs to lead the Jets to a Super Bowl victory, emulating Tom Brady’s success with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Additionally, Rodgers faces the challenge of defying NFL history, as few Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks traded to another team have found similar success. The expectations are sky-high in New York, and Rodgers must deliver to satisfy the demanding fan base.
Lastly, Russell Wilson of the Denver Broncos faces pressure to bounce back after a disappointing 2022 season. Wilson had the worst season of his career, and the Broncos had the worst scoring offense in the league. With a new head coach in Sean Payton, Wilson’s performance will be closely scrutinized. If he fails to improve, the Broncos may consider moving on from him at 35 years old.
Overall, the AFC is stacked with talented quarterbacks, but these five individuals face the most pressure in the 2023 season. Each quarterback must overcome their respective challenges to excel and prove their worth in a highly competitive conference. The success or failure of these quarterbacks could have a significant impact on their teams’ playoff chances and future decision-making.