10 Sports Franchises with the Most Pressure to Win Now
Certain franchises in sports are put under more pressure than others. That can be a product of media market or strictly because of dollar signs and cash-infused rosters.
No matter what sport we're talking about, there will always be teams that endure an extra sense of winning.
Organizing the current state of pressurized affairs, we've deemed the following 10 teams eligible for this list. Because of their market and the money they've spent to build a contender, the following teams are currently under the gun to win now.
Miami Dolphins
1 of 10
The Miami Dolphins face an eternal struggle playing in Tom Brady's AFC East.
They've spent money on big names like Ndamukong Suh and Mike Wallace—the latter of whom is no longer with the team. They constantly make hapless coaching changes, and to add insult to injury, they went ahead and violated of the greatest uniforms in sports.
Shifting blame to owner Stephen Ross is a natural reaction. The 75-year-old owner has been in charge of the team in some capacity since he first embarked on purchasing a 50 percent stake in 2008. Today, he owns a majority stake of the team.
Pressure to win comes from the dollars this club has spent and the fact it has a franchise quarterback in Ryan Tannehill.
None of that has amounted to anything this season. A tepid 1-3 start already cost head coach Joe Philbin his job, per Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel. Hopefully in the near future this team can finally get things straightened out. Remember, the Dolphins haven't shown face in the playoffs since 2008.
Why the pressure is on: The Dolphins front office has invested a ton of money into this team over the last few off seasons.
Cleveland Cavaliers
2 of 10
Having the best basketball player on earth means you're supposed to win games and lots of them.
LeBron James' return to the Cleveland Cavaliers prior to the start of last season turned this franchise from pretender to contender. The year before James arrived, the Cavs posted a 33-49 record. With James steering the ship, the franchise won 53 games and lost just 29.
An NBA Finals appearance with a depleted roster didn't bode well for the Cavaliers' championship hopes during James' first season. But this season is another year of the King, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. The trio will be pressed to close the deal and finally bring the city of Cleveland a ring.
No team in professional hoops is under more pressure than the Cavaliers to win an NBA title.
Why the pressure is on: Cleveland hasn't won any championships in a long time.
Dallas Cowboys
3 of 10
Being the owner of the Dallas Cowboys—and a provocative one at that—is a guaranteed way to put the weight of the world on your team's shoulders.
Jerry Jones being, well, Jerry Jones, is one component why people expect the Cowboys to win ball games. Along with the franchise's rich history, the Cowboys have become a staple on television and a fixture in our daily football consummation routine.
The Cowboys went 8-8 three seasons in a row before finally winning 12 games last season. That record resulted in a playoff berth, followed by a controversial exit in the NFC divisional playoffs.
Injuries to quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant have hampered the Cowboys' attempt at getting back to big dance this season. Still, even at 2-2, there's still hope and, of course, immense pressure to succeed.
Why the pressure is on: Dallas is a historic franchise that is known for winning championships. The fans have been waiting for a return trip to the Super Bowl since the Triplets retired.
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Los Angeles Dodgers
4 of 10
Is there any team in sports right now with more pressure on them to win than the Los Angeles Dodgers? Discussing this topic from a payroll perspective, the Dodgers have a ton of money invested in their roster.
Bleacher Report's Scott Miller mentioned that that team's "$272 million payroll this season is a record for a North American sports franchise in any of the four major sports." Money like that should turn into wins. You spend big money in order to facilitate victories.
This is their third straight season winning 90 or more games and making a postseason run. Will they fall short once again? In due time we'll all have an answer to that question.
Either way, it's World Series of bust for a franchise that sits in Los Angeles and spends money like Donald Trump.
Why the pressure is on: The Dodgers boast the biggest payroll in North American sports.
Green Bay Packers
5 of 10
There is no quarterback like Aaron Rodgers. As the fearless leader of the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers has turned a talented offense into a juggernaut of sorts.
Elite quarterbacks are a dime a dozen in today's game. Despite the world of inflated passing numbers we live in, not many guys can flat-out take over a game. Rodgers can do that and has been since he took over from Brett Favre in 2008.
Green Bay has always felt like a team on the cusp. Even with a Super Bowl victory in 2009, it keeps coming back and knocking on the door. Last year the team fell just short of returning to the big game, suffering a 28-22-overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.
A 4-0 start this season has turned the Packers into must-watch TV. With No. 12 deconstructing defenses on a weekly basis, the pressure to win another Super Bowl title is now.
Why the pressure is on: Aaron Rodgers is in his prime but getting older (31). The Packers have to win before that narrative changes.
Chelsea
6 of 10
Jose Mourinho's tyrannical reign over Chelsea has been a roller coaster. The strategist and manager of the club has taken his team from Champion's League contender to barely surviving a brutal Premier League schedule early in '15.
We've discussed teams with lucrative payrolls already. Chelsea falls into that category. They are a robust financial endeavor that benefits from the owner Roman Abramovich, who according to Forbes is worth $8.0 billion.
When you loop that type of money into a club, you're expected to perform at a high level. Anything outside of that tends to cause a commotion. Right now, Chelsea is 16th in the standings. That's unacceptable, and it proves that pressure is one of the driving forces behind this team.
Why the pressure is on: Chelsea is loaded with talent and backed by a billionaire.
New York Rangers
7 of 10
New York City is built on a faster pace than most megalopolises. That type of pace brings exuberant amounts of pressure for any sports franchise that plays under the NYC moniker.
The Knicks have been dismal, and the Brooklyn Nets aren't much better. At least when it comes to city-based teams, the Rangers have always competed for the Stanley Cup.
Last time they were close to raising one of the sport's most coveted trophies was in 2014. Against the Los Angeles Kings, the Rangers lasted five games before losing the Cup.
They have the talent to get back and win it this upcoming season and Rick Nash—a key member of the team—knows it. "I think our window is right now," Nash told Jon Lane of NHL.com.
The tension will remain thick as long as the Rangers play in Madison Square Garden. But hey, New York City tends to do that.
Why the pressure is on: The Rangers play in New York City, which is the No. 1 media market in the country, via StationIndex.com.
Denver Broncos
8 of 10
Peyton Manning's second chapter as leader of the Denver Broncos has been a riveting tale. He's helped a gifted team get better and done it all with smarts, skill and focus.
Even in the midst of a perceived down year for No. 18, the Broncos remain unbeaten. Outstanding defense has been an early narrative of this 2015 season, which has kept the pressure to win on full blast.
Can Manning the Broncos finally get their paws on a Super Bowl? Will Manning walk away from the game of football on top of the world? With prominent players like DeMarcus Ware, Von Miller and Aqib Talib on the roster, this team certainly has a chance.
Why the pressure is on: Peyton Manning is headed toward the end of his career. The time to win with him is now or never.
Pittsburgh Penguins
9 of 10
Having superstars on your roster tends to turn the heat up on certain teams. Sidney Crosby has accomplished that for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Penguins already have a Stanley Cup victory with Sid the Kid. Remember the 2008-09 campaign? Since then, the team has gone out and repeatedly competed in the playoffs.
With Crosby healthy, they always have a chance. He's a Hall of Fame-worthy playmaker who facilitates the puck and creates chances for his teammates to put points on the board. Now that former Toronto Maple Leafs winger Phil Kessel has been looped into the squad, it should have an even better shot at achieving those winning ways.
Why the pressure is on: Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel give the Penguins serious firepower. Missing out on winning the Stanley Cup would have to be deemed a failed campaign.
Manchester United
10 of 10
Like Chelsea, Manchester United is a team that will forever be expected to win. Thanks to the club's impressive history and successful managers like Sir Alex Ferguson, United has been accustomed to victorious ways.
When Ferguson stepped away from his job in 2013, he had just won his 13th Premier League title. Since that departure, United has struggled to get back to those glory days.
The season after he dipped, United dropped to No. 7 in the Premier League standings. This season, under the control of Louis van Gaal, the Reds are in third place.
They have to get back to championship-level ways. You can't get around that fact. It's a franchise that recently signed a 10-year, $1.1 billion endorsement with Adidas—the particulars on the deal were presented by Forbes.
Shortcomings are not acceptable for Manchester United. There's been far too much success and money pumped in to settle for anything less.
Why the pressure is on: Manchester United has been one of the most decorated franchises in all of sports. It has talent, money and great fans. Winning is simply of its culture.
All stats and information provided by Sports-Reference.com unless noted otherwise.
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