Drew Stevens won the starting kicker job comfortably this offseason. But as far as regular-season debuts go, things couldn't be much more intimidating for the Washington Commanders' rookie.
Heading to Lincoln Financial Field to take on the Philadelphia Eagles is typically toxic. No love is lost between the two bitter division rivals, and the fans aren't exactly welcoming. That makes the task even more difficult for Stevens in a proverbial cauldron.
It won't take long to figure out what Stevens is really made of.
Drew Stevens couldn't have asked for a tougher Commanders debut
The Commanders saw something in Stevens, giving him a contract instead of a rookie minicamp tryout when interest arrived from elsewhere. This was a shrewd move by general manager Adam Peters, with the Iowa product almost flawless over the summer to pull well clear of veteran Jake Moody to secure the No. 1 job.
But the hard work is just getting started.
Stevens has a shot to become Washington's long-term kicker — something this team has been craving for years. There will be times of struggle, but he played in big college games, and he has the leg strength and accuracy to make the difficult look routine.
However, pressure breaks pipes.
And there are very few more pressurized settings than kicking in the NFL when the stakes are highest.
Staying composed is crucial. Stevens has the mentality to cope with the heat, and he's got plenty of experience kicking outside. But until the Commanders see it for themselves when things matter more, there will always be some slight doubts.
Drew Stevens has the tools to become Commanders' long-term kicker
Stevens came in at No. 29 league-wide in Kicker Value Added during the preseason, which is FanSided's innovative way of evaluating the kicking spot. His -1.08 KVA score was solid but unspectacular. It's also worth remembering that it was an extremely small sample size, given how Washington's offense struggled to get much going over the final two warm-up contests.
The Commanders are confident. They need to ride the rookie wave with Stevens, but he's got the tools typically associated with productive modern-day kickers, and he should improve with more experience.
Unfortunately for Stevens, there is no bedding-in period.
Philadelphia's hostile atmosphere is the first test, and it's a big one. Then, it's another road game at the Dallas Cowboys before returning home to take on the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. And with the margins expected to be razor-thin, the first-year pro has to deliver.
It's a lot to ask, of course. But if Stevens wants to prove beyond all doubt that he deserves his place, it's the only option.
Nerves of steel will be needed. Good field position would be nice, but Stevens has the booming leg to hit from almost anywhere if the conditions are in his favor.
It won't be flawless. But if Stevens can hold his own, the Commanders might just have a shot at pulling off a major upset in Philadelphia to begin their potential bounce-back campaign.
That is how important Stevens is. And it starts now.
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