BelichickFan

I can see why Football Outsiders ranks our ST 8th and Indy's 19th :

Punt Returns :
We average 11.7 and allow 11.1 (11.1 is really bad, btw). +0.6
They average 9.0 and allow 13.1. -4.1.

Kickoff Returns :
We average 26.8 and allow 22.8. +4.
They average 23.6 and allow 26.0. -2.4.

So net per pair of kicks, we average a gain of 4.6 whereas they average a loss of 6.5. That's 11 yards per kick. Hidden yardage, baby.

SVN

wilkins had good return game against us last time i believe

BelichickFan

He's fine, Indy is 7th in the league on KO returns (we're first) but when you look at the season as a whole, it tells a story.

For comparison SD allows 21.8 on KO and 8.0 on punts compared to Indy allowing 26 and 13.1. Big difference.

In a small sample size in the playoffs, Indy's KO return coverage has been better (20.2) but punt coverage has been about the same (slightly better but still bad 12.7).

FilPats

With Manning, considered by many the best pure passing QB in the NFL, the advantage may not be much. But still, GO Pats

stinkypete

Our punt return numbers are heavily skewed by a few crazy Pacman Jones returns in the Tennesee game.

Take those out and I bet the number is closer to 9.

unoriginal

Every team's punt numbers are skewed by crazy touchdown returns. That's why teams try to STOP THEM.

You don't win football games by consistantly averaging two yards more than your opponent on punt returns. Special teams is a big-play arena.

BelichickFan

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of extracting plays. But even with all our numbers, the stats give us a sizable ST edge.