Philip Rivers and the 16 Most Disappointing NFL Players

We see it every year. After watching the NFL for a few years, you are taught to expect the unexpected. However, the unexpected ends up surprising all of us in the end. This year is no exception.

I put together a list of 17 players who haven't been themselves this season.

As always, let me know what you think!

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QB Philip Rivers

At the pace he is going, Philip Rivers will have a career high for most interceptions thrown in a single season. He currently has thrown nine interceptions. He threw 15 in 2007, which was the most he has ever thrown in a season.

The Chargers barely pulled out a win against division rivals in the Chiefs and the Broncos. In those games combined, Rivers threw for one touchdown pass and three interceptions.

Even with Antonio Gates being out for part of the season, it doesn't give Rivers an excuse to be performing at this level.

Rivers cannot afford to have a bad game on Monday night in Kansas City with the lead for the AFC West on the line.

QB Matt Ryan

Fortunately, Matt Ryan's ankle injury isn't as severe as it appeared to be in Sunday's game against the Lions.

The Falcons came away with a huge win in Detroit and hope to continue improving after a slow start to the season.

Like Rivers, Ryan is on pace to throw for more interceptions than he has before in a season. If he does not turn things around soon, his inability to take care of the football could cost them a spot in the playoffs.

The Falcons are in a competitive division with the Saints and the Buccaneers in the NFC South and hope to climb their way to the top and win the NFC South for the second consecutive season.

With the bye week coming up, Ryan hopes to redeem himself the following week against the winless Colts.

QB Matt Cassel

Matt Cassel is another quarterback who is showing a different side of him after a good 2010 season.

With the league not even at the halfway point yet, Cassel already equated his interception total this season with last year's total.

Now that the Chiefs are 3-3 after an 0-3 start, Cassel must find a way to improve his individual performance with team's performance to keep them in the hunt to win the AFC West.

Cassel has eight touchdowns passes and seven interceptions going into a critical Monday Night Football game.

QB Donovan McNabb

Donovan McNabb must step aside, as the Vikings have declared rookie Christian Ponder as the starter.

McNabb was not horrible by all means, but he certainly is not the quarterback that he was in Philadelphia. He was not getting the job done for the Vikings.

Minnesota has lost many games due to fast starts but incredibly poor finishes in games this season.

Unless Ponder suffers an injury that wraps up his rookie season early, McNabb will be on the sidelines for the remainder of the season.

QB Michael Vick

I know I'm going to sound like a broken record, but with eight interceptions on the season, Michael Vick is on pace to shatter a personal career high for interceptions in a single season.

Vick threw six interceptions last year and is trying to dig the Eagles out of last place in the NFC East.

With many people projecting the Eagles to be in the Super Bowl, things have gone the exact opposite.

If Vick can carry his team to victory this Sunday over the Cowboys, they will no longer be in last place in the NFC East.

RB Peyton Hillis

As if a poor performance isn't bad enough, Peyton Hillis has been dealing with a contract situation, a strep throat and hamstring injury this season.

Hillis is now practicing with the Browns and is expected to start on Sunday against the 49ers. Hillis knows his concentration must be on football to keep the Browns in the division race.

Although the Browns are in last place, they are the only team in the league in last place in a division where the worst team has a winning percentage of .500.

Now that Hillis is back with the Browns, let's see if he can help the team stay on track in a competitive division.

RB Chris Johnson

It is hard to believe what Chris Johnson is going through this year after rushing for 2,000 yards two seasons ago.

Johnson has 268 yards on the ground off of 93 carries with one touchdown on the season.

Can Johnson redeem himself when the Titans host a Colts team that is ranked 31st in stopping the run?

A win this Sunday will place the Colts over .500 and could give Johnson some momentum the following week when the Bengals come to visit.

WR Chad Ochocinco

It's hard to put your finger on why Chad Ochocinco is not doing well when he has Tom Brady passing to him.

Does Ochocinco's celebrity status set him back from being a great player? It is clear that Ochocinco has more success on Twitter than he does on the gridiron.

Ochocinco only has nine receptions for 136 yards. While playing in every game this season for the Patriots, he has started in only two games this season.

Luckily, the Patriots are not suffering from his slow start, with Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Deion Branch and Aaron Hernandez contributing, as the Patriots are 5-1 this year.

TE Zach Miller

While the Raiders were not the most explosive team on offense, quarterbacks under center had an easy time connecting with Zach Miller. The move to Seattle was in hopes to repeat as NFC West champions, but it hasn't.

Although the Seahawks have issues at quarterback, Miller has been one of the least targeted players on the team.

Miller has gone from being one of the most underrated tight ends to a non-factor.

NT Albert Haynesworth

Perhaps Albert Haynesworth's struggles being carried over to New England is not a surprise to many people.

Despite not playing well in Washington, Haynesworth had the chance to turn his career around with the Patriots under one of the most respected coaches in the game today.

But it doesn't matter if it is Mike Shanahan or Belichick as his head coach.

OLB Jason Taylor

Having Jason Taylor for a third stint isn't going well right now.

The Dolphins recently dominated the Broncos for nearly 56 minutes before allowing Tim Tebow to torch the Dolphins defense and put together a comeback win.

Taylor has had some great moments in Miami, but it was far from necessary to have him for a third time. Taylor is not making a difference for the Dolphins, hence why they are winless and in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes.

OLB Joey Porter

As one of the biggest trash talkers in the league, Joey Porter has been very silent this season.

Porter has made little contributions for the Cardinals this season. Along with several other factors, Porter being an non-impact player has caused the Cardinals to win only one game this season.

At the age of 34, Porter could be seeing his last days as a player in the league.

CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha

The cornerback project in Philadelphia has been a disaster. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha were set to play a role in the Eagles "dream team."

So far, it has been a nightmare for the Eagles.  Rodgers-Cromartie and Asomugha have combined for only one interception, coming from Asomugha.

Surprisingly, the Eagles are in last place in the NFC East and cannot afford anymore errors if they want to come back and turn their season around.

Although Vick has to do his job, the newcomers on defense must step up before it is too late.

CB Cortland Finnegan

The Titans are not in a bad spot, but it could be better if Johnson had stepped up.

Another player who has regressed is Cortland Finnegan. Finnegan has been the key defensive back for the Titans since 2008 and has gotten off to a very slow start.

Unlike most teams, the Titans are 3-3 and are lucky to find themselves in second place, only one game behind the Texans.

If Finnegan can play well on defense and get some takeaways in critical moments, that could be the difference between a win and a loss at the end of the day.

K Jay Feely

This list isn't limited to only offensive and defensive players. Kickers play a big role as well.

The Cardinals have lost in three games this season where the score was different by only four points or less.

Jay Feely has attempted seven field goal attempts and has missed three, making only 57 percent of his field goals.

At this pace, not only will Feely have a career low in field goals made in a season, but it could also continue to keep the Cardinals in the bottom half of a very weak NFC West division.