The 5 Worst NFL Defenses Through Week 9

New Orleans Saints

Adjusted Defensive NEP/P: 0.200 (32nd)
Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP/P: 0.313 (32nd)
Adjusted Defensive Rushing NEP/P: -0.038 (9th)

The worst defense in the league? None other than the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints rank at the very bottom of the league in terms of efficiency according to our adjusted NEP metrics thanks in large part to a 0.313 defensive Passing NEP per drop that ranks them dead last in the league.

All in all, the team has surrendered the second most points per game in the league (29.8), the third most passing yards per game (292.2), and a mind-boggling 24:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Translated into fantasy football terms, this team has allowed the first, fifth, and second most points to quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends, respectively.

With their defensive ineptitude on full display over the last two weeks, the Saints' defense has seemingly bottomed out, giving up 83 points to their last two opponents.

And while perhaps giving up seven touchdowns to the New York Giants in Week 8 may be somewhat forgivable -- few teams, if any, can really contain Odell Beckham, Jr. when he's hot, and he accounted for three touchdowns himself in this game -- this same defense also went on to give up 34 points at home to a Titans team featuring a rookie quarterback and whose best wide receiver, Kendall Wright, was sitting on the sidelines for the entire game.

If that's not a picture of a bad defense, I don't know what is.