In today's DVOA ratings commentary, I mention that Chicago is on pace to finish with the second-best special teams rating since the start of DVOA in 1997. Here's a look at the top ten special teams of the last decade. The special teams method is described in detail here.

 1)      2002 New Orleans Saints: 10.0% DVOA. The Saints ranked fifth or higher in our ratings for all five aspects of special teams. Michael Lewis averaged 25.8 yards per kickoff return with two touchdowns, and 14.2 yards per punt return with one touchdown. John Carney was 31-for-35 on field goals. Toby Gowin averaged 65.6 yards per kickoff (third in the official NFL stats) and 36.9 net yards per punt (seventh). Special teams probably worth at least two wins to the 9-7 Saints, although it wasn't enough to put them in the playoffs.

 2)      2006 Chicago Bears: 8.2% DVOA through Week 15.

 3)      1998 Dallas Cowboys: 7.8% DVOA. Deion Sanders had six punt returns over 30 yards, including two touchdowns. Toby Gowin had 17 touchbacks on kickoffs, while the Dallas kickoff coverage forced four fumbles.

4)      2004 Buffalo Bills: 7.5% DVOA. Thanks to cornerbacks Terrance McGee and Nate Clements, who also returned kickoffs and punts, the Bills were first in our punt return ratings, and second in kick returns behind Dante Hall and Kansas City. Punter Brian Moorman also had a strong year, although kicker Rian Lindell was below average on field goals.

 5)      2000 Miami Dolphins: 7.5% DVOA. 2000 had three of the top eight special teams units of the decade, as well as the worst (Buffalo). Miami ranked in the top 10 in each aspect of special teams, with nobody in particular standing out except perhaps for kicker Olindo Mare (28-for-31 on field goals).

 6)      2000 Seattle Seahawks: 7.4% DVOA. Jeff Feagles was an average punter, and Rian Lindell an average kicker, but the coverage teams were awesome. Punt coverage forced three fumbles and three muffs, and allowed only one return over 15 yards (by Dante Hall, and only for 22 yards). Kickoff coverage forced two fumbles and three muffs, with only two returns ending past the 40-yard line. Charlie Rogers had 13 kick returns over 30 yards, with one touchdown.

 7)      2001 Philadelphia Eagles: 7.4% DVOA. Philadelphia was top 10 in all five aspects of special teams. David Akers had the league's best kickoffs and was 26-for-31 on field goals. Sean Landeta was excellent on punts.

 8)      2000 Baltimore Ravens: 7.2% DVOA. Matt Stover was 35-for-39 on field goals, and except for a block, the misses were all on kicks of 45+ yards. Jermaine Lewis was the top punt returner in the league and brought two back for touchdowns. Kyle Richardson also had a good year punting, once you consider the effects of cold weather.

 9)      2005 Buffalo Bills: 7.2% DVOA. Pretty much the same cast as the 2004 team.

 10)  1997 Dallas Cowboys: 6.6% DVOA. Pretty much the same cast as the 1998 team.

Post by Aaron Schatz