All QBs face some measure of pressure. It's put on them by their teammates, their coaches, the owners, and of course the fans. Expectations are soaring right now, as theoretically every team has a chance (even if its slim to none) of success. So, who are the top 10 QBs under the most pressure? 10. Chad Pennington, New York Jets. Look, the whispers are out there - no arm strength to begin with, and now recovery from a major shoulder surgery. A new coach, and a new regime. Pennington is in one of those years where it's probably succeed, or be benched. He doesn't have the high expectations of some other quarterbacks in the league, but he does play in New York, where the media pressure is far higher than in most places. But the simple fact remains: either he gets it done, or he's done. 9. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals. Why him? He's entrenched as a starter, and is surely moving towards super-stardom in the NFL. The reason is simple - he's returning from a devastating knee injury, and the atmosphere of the team suggests they need a strong field general. Palmer will succeed - he's just too talented not to - but the pressure is there to return to his previous form from the injury, and someone help the coaching staff keep that band of misfits in line. Finally, Cincinnati expects to win this year. Every time a traditional losing team has the additional expectations of a successful season, the pressure gets ratcheted up. 8. Eli Manning, New York Giants. Finally, the big 3 of the 2004 draft class will all be on the field. Eli plays in New York, so like Pennington is under tremendous media pressure. His pedigree ensures that everyone has massive expectations of him. His team was in the playoffs last year, and expect to do so again in a very competitive NFC East. Plus, Eli still shows signs of needing improvement, and Giants fans and players won't tolerate mistakes for a long period of time. No doubt about it - Eli Manning is facing his toughest year yet when it comes to pressure. His 3rd full year, last year a playoff year, opening the season against older brother Peyton's Colts...yes, Eli had better find some grace under pressure if he expects to find success in the NFL. 7. Drew Bledsoe, Dallas Cowboys. Had just one player not be imported to the Cowboys, Drew wouldn't have made this list. The book is out on Drew - everyone knows exactly what they'll get out of him, how he'll perform, and should feel safe in the knowledge that he's a solid passer and a good field general. And then the Cowboys import the one player that can either lift a team on his broad shoulders, or absolutely devastate one. Terrell Owens will be a handful for Bledsoe - the insistence of getting him the ball, and his notorious thin skin. Bledsoe acknowledges the fact he yells at receivers when they screw up - hence the sideline blowup last year between him and another headcase Keyshawn Johnson. But Keyshawn in bush leagues compared to TO's antics. So this is an interesting, pressure-packed situation that bears close attention all year. 6. Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons. Mike Vick has been in the league now for 5 years, yet has not shown a whole lot of improvement in his passing skills. At some point, that has got to change, and this year may be the high water mark for Vick. If he doesn't figure out how to deliver the ball with at least modest accuracy, the Falcons are going to face tougher and tougher defenses. Their division is arguably the best in football, and he doesn't get any free passes, plus the NFC South has to face perhaps the AFC's strongest division in the AFC North. He'll see some of the game's best defenses, and the only way to loosen up some of those defenses is to become a passing weapon. He'll never fail to stun with his legs; if he doesn't learn to stun with his arm, then things are going just get worse for him. 5. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints. Drew Brees left a pretty solid job in San Diego after one great year, and one very solid one. His shoulder injury, and big contract - plus having the likes of Reggie Bush on his team - puts a big microscope on Brees. Many people have also looked at the Saints talent on paper for the past few years and have wondered how that paper talent didn't translate to on-field success. Unless Brees can get his Saints out of the gate quickly, the groans will soar, and he'll be under more pressure than ever. 4. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks. How can Hasselbeck be under great pressure? Simple - he was the losing quarterback in Super Bowl XL. Regardless of what you think of the game, that's the fact, and now he has to start the 2006 campaign with the double burden of more Super Bowl expectations, and the knowledge of the loss. Unless the 'Hawks can completely shake off the bitter taste from the XL loss, they will be pressing all year. And if Hasselbeck presses, things could come apart. 3. Philip Rivers, San Diego. The last of the Big 3 in the 2004 draft hits the year as the starter for the Bolts. This is a solid football team - offensively and defensively. And Rivers will be expected to lead them back to the playoffs after missing them last year. But can a true first-year starter really be expected to take a solid team and move it to the next step? That's the issue facing Rivers this year. His teammates expect him to play like veteran Brees did. He has weapons - Antonio Gates and LT. He has a strong defense, that will probably keep the Chargers in every game they play this year. But if Rivers falters, the pressure he'll face internally on the team and externally through the fan base will be excruciating. Finally, he'll face a certain other type of pressure, having to live up to the high standards already set by his draft mates Eli Manning in New York, and Super Bowl-winning Ben Roethlisberger...not to mention the Chargers swapped Manning and Rivers on a draft-day trade... 2. Jake Plummer, Denver Broncos. Things looked so good for Jake last year, only to come completely apart at the worst possible moment, in the AFC Championship Game. All that did, however, was to make all those doubts, worries and concerns trickle over into this year. 2 fumbles and 2 interceptions in the team's biggest game of the year will absolutely ensure that Plummer faces tremendous pressure from his teammates, coaches and fans. Oh, and then Denver went and drafted the franchise's "next" starter in Jay Cutler. The message is quite simple - screw up again, and you're done. Denver has high expectations again, and should Plummer blow it for them... 1. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts. My goodness, but is this guy facing massive scrutiny. As perhaps the game's best pure QB, the spotlight is instantly upon him to start. But then, after starting 13-0 in 2005, the Colts fumbled and got basically manhandled by the Steelers in the playoffs. The thing about Manning is that he hasn't won any titles in the NCAAs, and his Colts have been beaten soundly four years running in the playoffs. To be fair, over the past 3 years, they've eventually lost to the Super Bowl champions. But, at some point, Colts brass and fans are going to expect Manning to figure it all out and lead the Colts to the fabled title. Oh, and there's one more little thing Peyton has to face this year: the preception that he threw his offensive line under the bus with his comments following the Pittsburgh loss in the playoffs last year. Think they've forgotten that little line? No matter what, Peyton Manning is facing the most pressure of his career. The window of opportunity is going to start closing on this edition of the Colts, and will do so soon. If he doesn't win it all now, the Colts may not get a taste of real success for a long time. And that won't bode well with the fans in Indy. This isn't to say that the pressure machine isn't in operation for all QBs in the league. Ben Roethlisberger, for instance, is facing scrutiny first as the youngest QB to win a Super Bowl, and then he went and wrecked his motorcycle for good measure. Jake Delhomme is expected to lead Carolina back to the playoffs and the Super Bowl. Tom Brady faces a relentless media pressure and relentless expectations in New England. But the bottom line here is that these 10 guys are facing some extra measure of pressure, above and beyond what most QBs feel. Whether its fans, family or coaches, the ten men listed there have heavy burdens upon their shoulders. Good luck to them.