Once again, the Green Bay Packers fielded one of the NFL’s worst special teams groups during the 2020 season.
According to Rick Gosselin’s annual special teams rankings, which combine a large swath of important statistics to rank each team’s special teams, the Packers finished 29th in the NFL on special teams in 2020.
Last season, the Packers finished 26th during Shawn Mennenga’s first year leading the special teams. It was viewed as a slight improvement over the dead last finish in 2018 under Ron Zook. However, the group fell by three spots and finished above only three other teams this season.
The Packers were last in the NFL in kickoff return average (18.9 yards) and punt coverage (17.1 yards), but they did finish tied for first in field goal percentage (100 percent) and third in special teams penalties (six for 40 yards). This follows a similar path as last season, when the Packers also struggled to return and cover kicks and punts but finished in the top five in field goal percentage and penalties.
Kicker Mason Crosby made all 16 of his field goal attempts in 2020, setting a new franchise record for field goal percentage.
However, the Packers lost a fumble on both a kickoff and punt return, had a punt blocked, allowed two punt returns for touchdowns, botched an onside kick recovery and finished among the league’s worst in many punting categories.
A franchise that perpetually underperforms on special teams, the Packers have now finished 26th or worse in Gosselin’s final rankings five times since 2012:
2020: 29th
2019: 26th
2018: 32nd
2017: 16th
2016: 29th
2015: 17th
2014: 32nd
2013: 20th
2012: 12th
