NFL Week 1: 8 Players Who Did Not Show Up on Sunday

The first Sunday of the new NFL season is complete, and there were plenty of ups and downs across the league. For some players, they struggled and couldn't make an impact for their team.

Whether it came through boos at the stadiums or on social media, football fans expressed their frustration at how some of their favorite players performed.

In this slideshow, we will look back and see who had a hard time helping their team in their season debuts.

Chiefs QB Alex Smith

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One big reason the Kansas City Chiefs extended Alex Smith’s contract is because of his ability to protect the football. However, he did not do that this past Sunday.

Smith got little help from the offensive line—four sacks are evidence of that. But that is not an excuse for throwing three interceptions. Smith went 30-9-1 in the three years prior to the 2014 season opener. Now, he faces a season in which he may have more losses than wins after a discouraging game.

Jaguars QB Chad Henne

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Chad Henne did show up, but he only did so for part of the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles. When the Jaguars took a 17-0 lead, Henne had the hot hand as he went six-of-nine passing for 115 yards and two touchdowns.

After taking a 17-0 lead with 14:14 to go in the second quarter, Henne did not make a lot of noise from that point forward.

Following the 14:14 mark in the second quarter, Henne went 18-of-34 and threw for 151 yards and no touchdowns as the Jaguars were shut out the rest of the game.

Cowboys QB Tony Romo

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It was a coarse way to kickoff the regular season for Tony Romo. Even though he has tight end Jason Witten and wide receiver Dez Bryant on his side, Romo couldn’t get into a rhythm.

Although he completed 62 percent of his passes and threw for 281 yards, Romo threw three picks, and his lone touchdown pass came with less than two minute to go in a game which was already decided by that time.

Two of Romo’s interceptions came at crucial moments: one while the team was in the red zone, the other when the Cowboys were at their own 12-yard line.

Raiders RBs Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew

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The Oakland Raiders appeared to be going into the season with a strong 1-2 running back duo. However, it proved to be the other way around in the team's season-opener.

Darren McFadden is looking to rebound in 2014 after an injury-plagued season last year, during which he missed six games. So far, McFadden is off to a rough start; he rushed for 15 yards off four carries.

Maurice Jones-Drew, added to Oakland’s rushing attack after spending eight years in Jacksonville and earning three Pro Bowl honors, struggled as well. Jones-Drew ran nine times for 11 yards.

McFadden and Jones-Drew averaged two yards per carry together. Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson will want his running backs to be more productive, as rookie quarterback Derek Carr was the main leader on offense.

Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles

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The Chiefs had a pair of Pro Bowlers struggle during the season-opener. As for Jamaal Charles, he was non-existent against the Titans.

The Titans had very little to worry about due to the 11 touches Charles got. In fact, four of Tennessee’s running backs single-handedly outrushed Charles. He rushed seven times for 19 yards, his longest run going for six.

Rams DE Robert Quinn

L.G. Patterson/Associated Press

Last season, Robert Quinn was second in the league in sacks with 19, just half of a sack behind Robert Mathis of the Indianapolis Colts. This past Sunday, Quinn was not in his 2013 form and had a hard time against the Minnesota Vikings.

Quinn recorded just two tackles and no sacks against the Vikings while committing two penalties in the first half. Vikings left tackle Matt Kalil had an easy time containing Quinn in the passing game as well as the running game any time the Vikings attacked the left side.

Browns CB Joe Haden

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Joe Haden is coming off an impressive season with the Cleveland Browns during which he picked off four passes, which helped him punch his first Pro Bowl ticket. But he looked the opposite in Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

While working against Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, Haden was picked apart and Ben Roethlisberger was comfortable throwing to Brown.

The Browns gave the Steelers a run for their money. Had Haden played a little bit better, they could have pulled off an upset in Pittsburgh.

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