Where Are Packers in NFL Special Teams Rankings?

The Green Bay Packers’ special teams, one of the worst units in the NFL, have shown signs of growth as the race for the playoffs has begun.

In our latest Packers On SI NFL Special Teams Rankings, the Packers are 26th. They were 24th after their Week 5 bye. However, they are coming off strong performances the past couple weeks against the Vikings and Lions, so could be ascending at the right time.

Before diving into the numbers in the chart below, here’s the methodology. Special teams, at their root, are about field position. So, that’s the focus. In the first column, it’s net punting average. It doesn’t matter how far Packers punter Daniel Whelan kicks the ball if the returner runs it back 20 yards every time. The second column is opponent net punting average or, in this case, the impact of the return unit against the opposing punter.

The third column is kickoff coverage. This is average starting field position after a kickoff and not kickoff-return yardage allowed. The fourth column is kickoff return, or the average starting field position supplied by the return unit. The final column is field-goal percentage.

The rankings are added together for a point total. The lower the score, the better.

NFL Special Teams Rankings