NFL 2010 Cleveland Browns kick returner-wide receiver JOSHUA CRIBBS
Joshua Cribbs

A kick return-touchdown is one of the most dynamic plays in the NFL. One score can quickly shift the momentum of a game.

"It's an answer," says Cleveland Browns kick returner-wide receiver JOSHUA CRIBBS, who has 10 career combined kick return-touchdowns, including an NFL-record eight career kickoff return-touchdowns. "A kick return-touchdown brings momentum in your favor because their offense just scored, so they are kicking it off to you. For you to answer right back, it gives them the feeling that they have to score again, which shifts the momentum to you."

Buffalo Bills rookie kick returner-running back C.J. SPILLER, who registered a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown in Week 3, certainly agrees.

"It brings a lot of excitement," says Spiller. "The main thing you're trying to do is get field position for your offense, and trying to swing the momentum for your team. I think that's why returners can be known as game-changers."

Through four weeks of the 2010 NFL season, there have been 11 combined kick return touchdowns (8 KR, 3 PR). The 11 total kick return touchdowns can challenge for the most combined kick return-touchdowns through the first five weeks of a season since 1970

Among the keys to being a great returner are speed, quickness, instincts and a good special teams unit.

"If you have great blockers and everybody is on the same page, it makes the return guys, job a whole lot easier," says Spiller.

New York Jets special teams coordinator MIKE WESTHOFF knows the necessity of a good return unit. Westhoff is now in his 10th season with the Jets and has led a consistently productive return unit on special teams during his tenure.

"A good return specialist is really a must in the NFL today," says Westhoff. "There are some great return specialists in the NFL that contribute to teams winning and losing, particularly teams winning every single week. You are very blessed if you've got one, and if you don't, you better get one, because most teams do."

2010 WEEK 5 schedule (october 10-11)

Byes: Miami, New England, Pittsburgh, Seattle

(All times local)

Sunday, October 10

Denver at Baltimore, 1:00 PM

New Orleans at Arizona, 1:05 PM

Jacksonville at Buffalo, 1:00 PM

Tennessee at Dallas, 3:15 PM

Chicago at Carolina, 1:00 PM

San Diego at Oakland, 1:15 PM

Tampa Bay at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM

Philadelphia at San Francisco, 5:20 PM (NBC)

Atlanta at Cleveland, 1:00 PM

St. Louis at Detroit, 1:00 PM

Kansas City at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM

NY Giants at Houston, 12:00 PM

Green Bay at Washington, 1:00 PM

Monday, October 11

Minnesota at NY Jets, 8:30 PM (ESPN)

2010 WEEK 4 results (october 3-4)

Byes: Dallas, Kansas City, Minnesota, Tampa Bay

ATLANTA 16, San Francisco 14

Houston 31, OAKLAND 24

NY Jets 38, BUFFALO 14

Washington 17, PHILADELPHIA 12

CLEVELAND 23, Cincinnati 20

SAN DIEGO 41, Arizona 10

GREEN BAY 28, Detroit 26

NY GIANTS 17, Chicago 3

NEW ORLEANS 16, Carolina 14

Baltimore 17, PITTSBURGH 14

Monday, October 4

ST. LOUIS 20, Seattle 3

New England 41, MIAMI 14

Denver 26, TENNESSEE 20

JACKSONVILLE 31, Indianapolis 28

2010 WEEK 3 results (SEPTEMBER 26-27)

BALTIMORE 24, Cleveland 17

Philadelphia 28, JACKSONVILLE 3

Cincinnati 20, CAROLINA 7

ST. LOUIS 30, Washington 16

Dallas 27, HOUSTON 13

ARIZONA 24, Oakland 23

KANSAS CITY 31, San Francisco 10

Indianapolis 27, DENVER 13

MINNESOTA 24, Detroit 10

SEATTLE 27, San Diego 20

NEW ENGLAND 38, Buffalo 30

NY Jets 31, MIAMI 23

Atlanta 27, NEW ORLEANS 24 (OT)

Tennessee 29, NY GIANTS 10

Pittsburgh 38, TAMPA BAY 13

CHICAGO 20, Green Bay 17

NFL 2010 week 2 results

ATLANTA 41, Arizona 7

DENVER 31, Seattle 14

Tampa Bay 20, CAROLINA 7

OAKLAND 16, St. Louis 14

CINCINNATI 15, Baltimore 10

NY JETS 28, New England 14

Kansas City 16, CLEVELAND 14

SAN DIEGO 38, Jacksonville 13

Chicago 27, DALLAS 20

Houston 30, WASHINGTON 27 (OT)

Philadelphia 35, DETROIT 32

INDIANAPOLIS 38, NY Giants 14

GREEN BAY 34, Buffalo 7

Miami 14, MINNESOTA 10

Pittsburgh 19, TENNESSEE 11

New Orleans 25, SAN FRANCISCO 22

NFL 2010 week 1 results

Thursday (September 9)

NEW ORLEANS 14, Minnesota 9

Sunday (September 12)

TAMPA BAY 17, Cleveland 14

TENNESSEE 38, Oakland 13

Green Bay 27, PHILADELPHIA 20

Miami 15, BUFFALO 10

Arizona 17, ST. LOUIS 13

CHICAGO 19, Detroit 14

SEATTLE 31, San Francisco 6

HOUSTON 34, Indianapolis 24

WASHINGTON 13, Dallas 7

JACKSONVILLE 24, Denver 17

NEW ENGLAND 38, Cincinnati 24

NY GIANTS 31, Carolina 18

PITTSBURGH 15, Atlanta 9 (OT)

Monday (September 13)

Baltimore 10, NY JETS 9

KANSAS CITY 21, San Diego 14

 

NFL 2010 Week 5: Kick Return TDs Emerge as Game Changers