NFL Power Rankings: Which Players Face Most Pressure to Perform in Week 1?

There are many players in the NFL that are under no pressure to perform on opening weekend of this regular season based on their reputations.

However, there are plenty of players looking to establish their reputations from the onset or even repair ones that had been broken previously.

No player needs to rid himself of a stain on his reputation as much as Donovan McNabb. McNabb must show off from the start as he goes against one of the better defenses throughout the whole league in San Diego.

McNabb has been brought in to stabilize the offense this year and allow the Vikings to compete until Christian Ponder can take over. If he doesn't show that he can from the off, the fans in Minnesota will be looking to start the Ponder-era earlier than planned.

This is McNabb's last chance which is incredible when you consider it was only this time last year that he was starting off with his new team after being acquired for the same price as a Brandon Marshall.

While a lot of the focus in Houston this weekend will be on another elite quarterback who likely won't be playing, it is Mario Williams that must prove himself as a 3-4 outside linebacker after being a hand in the ground pass rusher over the past few years.

Matt Schaub and the Texans' stable of running backs will allow them to overcome the Colts defense, but defensively there will be no excuses for the team despite switching from a 4-3 to 3-4 defense. The Colts' offense hasn't been this weak in years so now is definitely the time for Williams to lead them with a big day.

Patrick Chung has been a good player for the Patriots in the limited time that he has been on the field for the team. However, he shifts even more into focus this weekend after the release of James Sanders and Brandon Meriweather.

Chung has gone from the young promising star to the veteran of the team's safeties. He and Sergio Brown are likely to be starting pair this weekend which makes for a potential weakness on a team that is considered not to have any weaknesses by many observers.

Should the safety spot become a problem early it won't be long before Bill Belichick attacks the problem aggressively and makes a move. Whether he needs to or not could be determined by Chung's ability to make plays and be the veteran of the safety position.