The Green Bay Packers are entering the postseason with one of the worst special teams groups in the NFL. Shawn Mennenga’s unit finished 29th in Rick Gosselin’s annual special teams rankings and 25th in special teams DVOA.
Amazingly, the Packers might still have a special teams advantage on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round.
The Rams, led by first-year coordinator John Bonamego, ranked 30th in Gosselin’s rankings and 30th in special teams DVOA.
It’s possible the fears of the Packers losing a playoff game because of the special teams can be quieted for at least one week. At the very least, there’s an equal chance the Rams will have a game-changing error on special teams on Saturday.
According to Gosselin, the Rams had the NFL’s worst opponent net punting (43.9 yards) and tied for the most blocked kicks (four). Like the Packers, they struggled returning kicks and punts and covering kicks and punts. Opponents averaged 12.9 yards per punt return (30th) and 28.9 yards per kickoff return (30th), while the Rams averaged only 6.9 yards per punt return (23rd) and 20.6 yards per kickoff return (23rd).
The Rams and Packers are two of just six teams to allow a punt return touchdown. The Packers gave up an NFL-high two, while the Rams allowed one.
Like JK Scott, Rams punter Johnny Hekker had one punt blocked. The Rams also missed six field goals and four extra points, although new kicker Matt Gay has missed only two kicks total.
Much of the focus entering Saturday’s game has been centered on the Packers’ No. 1 scoring offense facing the Rams’ No. 1 scoring defense, and who will play quarterback for the Rams. But the special teams can’t be overlooked. The Packers once lost a chance to go to the Super Bowl (see: 2014) because of special teams breakdowns.
Mennenga’s special teams are among the NFL’s worst, but the visitors coming to Lambeau Field on Saturday won’t have a meaningful advantage in the third phase. The Rams, amazingly, are just as bad and are just as prone to making a big special teams mistake.
