For many fans, special teams are nothing but a laughing matter. As the Detroit Lions can attest, they play a major role in the overall scheme of things for a football team.
Early in 2014, the Lions struggled with their kicking game, watching both Nate Freese and David Akers fail to grab the job and run with it, arguably costing the team key victories. Finally, Matt Prater was signed and steadied the ship despite his own erratic start.
Sam Martin, meanwhile, was steady most everywhere until an untimely shank harmed the team in the playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys.