Something special

The average NFL game contains about 145 plays, only a dozen or so involving kicks or punts. But in a league where a quarter of the games are decided by three points or fewer, special teams cannot be overlooked. Think back to last season when Devin Hester helped the Chicago Bears to the Super Bowl by scoring five touchdowns on kick and punt returns. And consider the 14-year career of David Binn, the San Diego Chargers long-snapper who earned a spot in the Pro Bowl. Times staff writer David Wharton looks at a few of the league’s truly “special” teams:

Chicago

* Any discussion of special teams play has to start with Hester, who returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLI. The Bears also have Pro Bowl players in Robbie Gould, who led all kickers in scoring, and linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who has 95 special teams tackles over the last four seasons.

Buffalo

* Kicker Rian Lindell made 92% of his field-goal attempts last season and has yet to miss in 224 career extra-point attempts. Pro Bowl punter Brian Moorman averaged 39.2 net yards -- a testament to solid tackling on the coverage squads. Terrence McGee and Roscoe Parrish rank among the NFL’s most dangerous returners.

San Diego

* Everyone knows about Pro Bowl kicker Nate Kaeding, but two of his teammates -- Binn and Kassim Osgood -- accompanied him to Honolulu as special teams players. Michael Turner finished fourth among kick returners on a squad that should only get stronger with the return of Darren Sproles.

New York Jets

* The strength of this unit might be assistant Mike Westhoff, a 26-year veteran whose coverage and return squads annually rank among the best in the NFL. Firepower comes from kickoff returner Justin Miller, who led the NFL with an average of 28.3 yards last season.

Detroit

* Entering his 16th season, Jason Hanson is an elder statesman in the league but still had the leg to kick 29 field goals in 2006. Nick Harris was just as steady at punter, averaging 45 yards. Though the Lions released returner Eddie Drummond in the off-season, they will not skip a beat with the addition of Troy Walters.

Seattle

* Josh Brown means so much to the Seahawks that they slapped him with the franchise player tag -- no surprise for a kicker who last season had four winning field goals in the last minute of regulation or overtime.

-- David Wharton