Football Has Three Facets, Who Has Best Special Teams

Everyone says that you have to win all three facets of the football game to win, you have to win special teams so that you can control the field position. These teams seem to be the haves and the have nots when it comes to special teams though. They are well equipped, or they have their problems in terms of special teams.

1. Chicago Bears

The Bears could be put number one in this ranking for one guy alone, the NFL career leader in return touchdowns, Devin Hester. He is the most dangerous player in the league, and he can always return a kick, no matter the coverage and the placement. He is a one man wrecking crew, and you simply should not kick it to him.

They also are a good coverage team on their own kicks, and they have maybe the best kicker remaining in the playoffs in Robbie Gould. Gould is among the best kickers in the NFL, and this year he went 25-30 kicking, and has made nearly 86% of his kicks in his career. This year he went three of four from over 50 yards as well, so he has the distance. He has only missed two kicks in the second half of the season on top of it, and throughout his career he has hit game winning field goals for the Bears, and at Soldier Field.

2. New York Jets

The Jets have a pretty good return game of their own, and they are able to throw numerous returners back there that can really get a great return, and even numerous guys scoring a touchdown for them.

Brad Smith is the main return guy, when healthy, and he is a feared return man throughout the league. He has returned three kicks in the last two years, including two this year, with a return average of over 28 yards. When Smith isn't in there they can then throw one of the fastest players in the NFL into the return game with Antonio Cromartie, who really was a big part in the win over the Indianapolis Colts, with his big kickoff return on the game winning drive for the Jets. Then they can throw Santonio Holmes out there, or Jerricho Cotchery, both of which that have kickoff returns in their careers.

Their punter, Steve Weatherford, averaged over 42 yards per punt this year and was able to get 42 punts inside the 20, with only four touchbacks, in a solid campaign. Then Nick Folk is a solid kicker, who will be remembered for that game winning kick against the Colts in that Wild Card match up to help get the Jets this far.

3. Green Bay Packers

The Packers return game is solid, with Jordy Nelson as a more than serviceable return man, but they are not exactly anything to write home about. The key for the Packers in the return games is to just make sure that they cover their own kicks well. They are a team that relies heavily on their offense to move the ball, and their defense to stop it.

Mason Crosby however is one of the better kickers in the NFL, with a big leg, which is why the Packers find themselves in the top three. While he had a slow year going only 22-28, his long was a 56 yarder, and he can kick it with anyone from distance. Though one of his misses did come against Chicago this year, his only missed field goal against the NFC North division this year.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers do not have the return game that they once had. They had Holmes returning kicks for them and they were dangerous. Back when Antwan Randle-El was there in his first stint, he was one of the better return men in the league. He has now gotten older and his dangerousness has left him a little bit. Like the Packers the Steelers more rely on their ability to cover their kicks, rather than returning them.

The kicking game is not up to par with the other three teams as well. Heinz Field took Jeff Reed and spit him out, leading them to bring in a new kicker after releasing their long time starter, in the middle of the year. Their kicking game has been fine, with Shaun Suisham coming in and going 14-15 this year, but the confidence can only go so far in a player who was brought in mid-year.

When it comes to these teams the Bears with Hester and Gould, and then the Jets and their plethora of return men, they are heads and shoulders above the others. In these conference championships those should definitely be advantages for those two.