Through the first 10 weeks of the NFL season, there have been 13 punt-return touchdowns, including seven of at least 80 yards. The seven 80+ yard punt-return touchdowns are the most through the first 10 weeks of a season since at least the 1970 merger.

Arizona rookie PATRICK PETERSON leads the NFL with three punt-return touchdowns and became the first player in NFL history to return three punts for touchdowns in his first eight career games. All three of Peterson's PR-TDs have been at least 80 yards (99, 89 and 82 yards) and he joins JOHNNIE LEE HIGGINS (2008) as the only players in league history with three punt-return touchdowns of at least 80 yards in a single season.

"I love to carry the ball and the feel of the football in my hands," says Peterson, the Cardinals' first-round selection (No. 5 overall) in the 2011 NFL Draft. "It's like my child. You want to take care of your child. It's fun to have the ball in your hands."

It took Peterson just eight games to return three punts for TDs, tying Pro Football Hall of Famer OLLIE MATSON and VAI SIKAHEMA for the franchise career record. His third PR-TD was a 99-yarder in overtime, the second-longest punt return in NFL history and the second ever game-winning PR-TD in OT.

"Patrick's a special young man," says Cardinals head coach KEN WHISENHUNT. "I'm glad that we have him on our football team. He's got such a great feel and he's definitely a force. He doesn't drop balls. He's so sure-handed catching the football and he's got great hand-eye coordination."

Peterson's three punt-return touchdowns are tied for the fourth-most in a single season and he is just the second rookie with three PR-TDs, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer JACK CHRISTIANSEN (1951) and DEVIN HESTER (2006).

"Patrick is just blessed and makes really good decisions," says Arizona special teams coach KEVIN SPENCER. "I'd like to take credit for that, but that's all Patrick. He's a disciplined kid."

Chicago's Hester had an 82-yard punt-return touchdown in Week 10 to add to his NFL-record total. In his career, Hester holds league records for most punt-return touchdowns (12) and combined kick-return touchdowns (17).

"He's a special player," says Bears head coach LOVIE SMITH. "Every time he touches the ball, you think he can score. We've won a lot of games around here because of our special teams. We say Devin Hester is the greatest returner of all-time and the record books back that up."

Including the postseason, Hester has 19 combined return touchdowns (12 punt, six kickoff, one missed field goal) and is tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer DEION SANDERS for the most in NFL history.

"Best returner, period," says Sanders, now an analyst for NFL Network. "Of all-time."

Hester has five punt-return touchdowns of at least 80 yards, tied with ERIC METCALF for the most in NFL history. Peterson, in just nine career games, is already tied for sixth all-time with three.

"I don't know what it's going to take for a returner to get voted into the Hall of Fame," says Hester, "but I'm going to make sure that it'll be a hard decision to pass me up. There's a first for everything and I want to be the first."

So what makes a great punt-returner? Here are some of the keys from two of the league's best:

Hester: "The first thing you do is see where the punter aims the ball. Then it's all about vision, seeing holes open up before they actually open up. It's being able to set guys up. I feel like I make it easier on my guys that are blocking by the way I take angles. I lure guys in to slow down and break down. And you want to keep your speed while making moves. It's hard to do that and I don't think everybody can do that."

Peterson: "First of all, you want to see where the punter is aiming. You want to beat him to the spot, get up under the ball, then scan the field a little bit. You always want to look at the gunners first, because they're the guys that can get down there. Once you see those guys taken care of by your blockers, the interior has to wait until the ball is punted and they're not as fast, plus there are guys in front of them blocking. So once I see those gunners taken care of, I know I have a legitimate shot at making something happen."

And, of course, a dynamic punt-returner can't do it all himself.

"Success comes from those 10 other guys," says Hester about the punt-return unit. "I love them. All the glory goes to them."

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