Deshaun Watson says media is fueling high expectations for him ahead of Week 2 start

After a lengthy offseason quarterback battle, the Cleveland Browns opted to start Deshaun Watson in Week 1. It went exactly the way everyone expected .

Watson turned the ball over twice and was sacked five times in the Browns' 34-10 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars . Despite those struggles, however, Watson was named the team's quarterback for its Week 2 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .

It's a crucial game for Watson, who will have to battle the narrative of taking on former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield during the contest. It's also Watson's last chance to show Browns fans something before he — presumably — makes his first home start of the season.

When asked whether Watson feels pressure to put up big numbers in Week 2 to soften the blow of playing in front of the home crowd in Week 3, Watson said he believes the high expectations being placed on him are a creation of the media .

"Personally, I think all that is for the media. I think the media has this expectation that I'm supposed to throw for 400 yards and five touchdowns every week. Until that happens, I guess it's going to be the same situation. My job is to make sure I'm operating well so we can try to get a win and keep moving forward from there."

While Watson was quick to write off the idea, it wasn't long ago that he was booed by hometown fans. Watson should remember that well, as he was not happy with the way the fans greeted him during the team's second preseason game. Browns fans booed as Watson took the field. Fans booed even harder after he threw an interception in the game.

Given that response, there's some pressure on Watson to get it together ahead of the Browns' first home game in Week 3. If he enters that game as the team's starter after two straight duds, Browns fans might turn on Watson the moment he steps foot on the field.

Watson's off-the-field issues — which include accusations of sexual misconduct by a number of women — combined with his on-field struggles have put a spotlight on the team's decision to ride with the veteran starter over the much younger Shedeur Sanders .

Watson was — in part — picked for the starting role due to his ability to run the team's offense without issues. That didn't come to fruition in Week 1, however.

Following Watson's struggles in that game, there was a question as to whether the team would turn to him again in Week 2. But head coach Todd Monken gave Watson a vote of confidence Monday, saying there " were some really good things on film ."

Despite that vote of confidence, Watson's grasp on the starting role is likely tenuous. Another rough start could put the Browns at 0-2 ahead of the team's first home game. If fan boos affected Watson in the preseason, it's tough to imagine the quarterback will handle things better once the games actually mean something.

And if he can't give Browns fans something to cheer in Week 2, those boos are going to rain down at a raucous level in Week 3.