They'll Take it to the House: The Top Five Punt Returners in the NFL

Every serious football fan knows that each game is invariably won or lost because of the performances of each team in three specific areas - offense, defense and special teams.

Each unit can either make or break a team - and many times, especially in the case of special teams, can win or lose any game depending on the outcome of both, kickoff and punt returns.

Having said that, I have decided to write this column focusing on the league's best punt returners. You know, that special breed of fearless players that can either jubilantly lift their teams to victory - or sink them to agonizingly new depths with losses, on one single play.

Here then, are the league's best punt return men.

Devin Hester: Chicago Bears: 2 touchdowns with a long of 84 yards and a 14.6-yard average.
I know Hester is a rookie, but you would never know it from the way he returns punts. Simply put, Hester looks like he was born to be a punt returner. Sure, he's got a long way to go as a cornerback, but as a punt returner, I think he is already the best in the league. It's scary to think how good he'll be when he actually starts to think about setting up his blockers and so forth. Then again, maybe he should just continue to do what he's doing right now - just catch the ball and go. As the only punt returner in the league with two touchdowns, it sure seems to be working.

Dante Hall: Kansas City Chiefs: 1 touchdown with a long of 60 yards and an 11.7-yard average
The only reason Hall doesn't perennially lead the league in touchdowns anymore is because every team in the league has figured out that it is better to kick the ball out of bounds or away from him, rather than risk losing a game because Hall burnt them. Simply put, Hall is a game-breaker of major proportions that is as dangerous as ever even if his statistics don't show it as much these days.

Antwaan Randle El: Washington Redskins: 1 touchdown with a long of 87 yards and an 11.7-yard average
Simply put, Randle El is the most versatile player in all of football - and one of the most dangerous return men. Whether catching the football, throwing it or running with it, Randle El knows how to make his presence felt - and the Pittsburgh Steelers are suffering for letting him walk in free agency.

Mwelde Moore: Minnesota Vikings: 1 touchdown with a long of 71 yards and a 12.4-yard average
Moore has catapulted himself into the upper echelon of punt returners and is a threat to go the distance every time he returns a punt. His 12.4-yard average is tied for second in the league with the Browns' Dennis Northcutt - impressive to say the least.
Terrence Wilkins: Indianapolis Colts: 1 touchdown with a long of 82 yards and a 11.6-yard average
I really like the growth Wilkins has displayed recently, not to mention the speed and ability to consistently gain positive yardage on nearly every return. As if the Colts didn't have enough weapons - now they have a returner who can do the distance on any punt return. Geez, talk about the rich getting richer.

Honorable mention:
Dennis Northcutt: Cleveland Browns: 0 touchdowns with a long of 58 yards and a 12.4-yard average
I just couldn't bring myself to leave Northcutt off of this list. He may not have the blazing speed of some of the other players on this list, but his 12.4-yard average shows that he may be the most consistent returner in the league. So what he hasn't taken one to all the way, Northcutt is a sure-handed returner who knows how to find the crease and hit it emphatically.