For the second time since 2018 and the third time since 2014, the Green Bay Packers finished dead last in Rick Gosselin’s annual special teams rankings for the 2021 season.
The Packers finished below the Los Angeles Chargers for the final spot in the rankings, which used a number of relevant special teams statistics to rank the 32 teams by performance.
Maurice Drayton’s group finished worst in the NFL in punt coverage and kickoff starting point. The special teams did have two takeaways, which ranked fifth in the NFL, the only time the Packers finished in the top five of a special teams category.
The rest was mostly a disaster. Green Bay was 21st in punt return average, 30th in kick return average, 31st in field goal percentage, 25th in touchback percentage, 26th in kickoff coverage, 19th in net punting. 28th in punts inside the 20-yard line, 23rd in total field goals made and tied for last in points scored.
The Packers also had two giveaways and a blocked field goal.
A few games stood out from the rest: Mason Crosby missed three field goals in Cincinnati and two more field goals in Kansas City, and a near total collapse of the special teams almost cost the Packers a win against the Bears at Lambeau Field.
The group did improve slightly over the final few games, but it wasn’t nearly enough to keep the Packers out of the last-place spot.
The Packers haven’t finished above 16th in Gosselin’s rankings just once (2017) since 2012.
In 2018, the Packers failed to make the playoffs with the worst special teams in the NFL. In 2014, the failures of the last-place special teams helped keep the Packers out of the Super Bowl.
Packers in Gosselin’s special teams rankings
2021: 32nd
2020: 29th
2019: 26th
2018: 32nd
2017: 16th
2016: 29th
2015: 17th
2014: 32nd
2013: 20th
2012: 12th
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