The 5 Worst NFL Defenses Through Week 9

San Diego Chargers

Adjusted Defensive NEP/P: 0.149 (29th)
Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP/P: 0.194 (24th)
Adjusted Defensive Rushing NEP/P: 0.076 (29th)

Poor Philip Rivers. The San Diego Chargers quarterback is having one of his best seasons of his career with a 69.0% completion rate, a 19:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio, a top-10 Passing NEP per drop back figure, and a 500-yard, 2-touchdown performance against the Green Bay Packers under his belt.

And yet, he and the Chargers own a 2-7 record going into their bye. Their defense ranks as the fourth worst unit in the NFL according to our metrics.

After performances that include giving up 30 points in a single half to the Raiders, 29 points to a Ravens team playing without their best wideout in Steve Smith for a good part of the second half, and 22 points to a mistake-prone Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears, San Diego's defense has allowed the fifth most points in the league at 27.7 per game.

Brandon Flowers has been notorious in leading the way for this underperforming secondary that has given up a 16:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 249.2 yards through the air per game. The run defense hasn't done this team any favors either, letting opposing running backs gain 122.9 yards per game and 9 total touchdowns on the ground. They have also surrendered the most points to running backs in fantasy football.

Rivers is on pace to put up some huge totals and set a few records before this season is done. Unfortunately for him, he'll also rack up a lot of losses next to those gaudy numbers, all thanks to his defense.