The good: Detroit’s special teams have consistently been among the best in the NFL since Lions special teams coach Dave Fipp was hired in 2021.
They have been erratic in addition to constantly being good. In fake punt attempts since Fipp took over as coordinator, Detroit is 8 of 10.

Rushes have accounted for four of those conversions, while passes from punter Jack Fox (three of four) and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (one of one) have accounted for the remaining four.

Fox is fifth in the NFL in punting average (48.4) and sixth in net punting average (42.6) since joining the Lions in 2020. He’s among the league’s most reliable punters right now.

Since joining the team in 2021, wide receiver Kalif Raymond has been Detroit’s main punt return specialist. He has made 70 punt returns for 831 yards (11.9 average.) and one score, including a 48-yard long return. During that time, he was ranked second in punt return average (11.9) and third in return yards. Since 2021, only Devin Duvernay of Baltimore has had a higher average (12.9).

At 19 of 21 attempts, Detroit’s 90.5 field goal percentage this season ranks 11th in the NFL. Riley Patterson was 15 for 17 on field goals during the regular season and 35 for 37 on extra points before falling short of Michael Badgley in a practice kicking competition that lasted for several weeks before the season’s final month.

In the last four games of the season, Badgley was 13 of 15 on extra points and 4 for 4 on field goals. In the playoffs, he made all 11 of his extra-point attempts and went perfect for three on-field goals.