It could be worse: Special teams edition

After a decent start (at least compared to last year), the Jets' special teams unit has let them down in recent weeks.

Kaelin Clay's touchdown on Sunday wasn't the first breakdown in recent memory. The Jets also almost gave up a punt return touchdown in the previous game. In the five-point loss to the Falcons, Chandler Catanzaro missed two field goals and Jeremy Kerley lost a crucial fumble. Even in their most recent win, the Jets struggled to recover an onside kick. And the least said about the return game, the better.

Despite these recent issues, the Jets are only the 10th worst rated special teams unit according to Football Outsiders and they're in the middle of the pack according to Pro Football Focus.

So, who's worse? And why? Let's single out five teams that are worse off than the Jets in at least one area:

Tampa Bay. The Bucs began the season with longtime Jet Nick Folk as their placekicker, following a preseason flameout by former second round pick Roberto Aguayo.

Folk has since been released after he also struggled once the season got underway. While his replacement Patrick Murray has been slightly better, he's still missed two field goals.

Between them, Folk and Murray have missed a league-high nine kicks, including three by Folk in a game the Bucs lost by five to New England.

The Bucs have also had a punt blocked and returned for a touchdown against the Saints.

Los Angeles Chargers. While the Bucs have missed the most kicks, the Chargers - Football Outsiders' lowest ranked special teams unit - actually have the lowest percentage of field goals made in the NFL (63%), with their misses including one that cost them their home opener against Miami. They're also the only team to have had two field goals blocked.

In addition, the Chargers are the worst team in the league at returning kickoffs with a league-worst 17.6 yards per return average and no 30-yard runbacks so far. Rookie Desmond King is one of only two players in the league to have had more than 10 kick returns but an average of less than 20 yards per return.

New York Giants. The Giants are PFF's lowest ranked special teams unit and they are one of five teams to have given up more punt return yards than the Jets, even after Clay's touchdown last week.

The Giants' kicking game hasn't been much better, with five missed field goals and one missed extra point. They've also had a punt blocked, allowed another to be returned for a touchdown and are near the bottom of the league with an average punt return of 5.6 yards.

Denver. While the Jets have struggled on punt returns this year, it's Denver's Isaiah McKenzie who leads the league with five fumbles on punts so far this year.

Denver is also the only team in the NFL to give up both a kickoff and a punt return for a score so far this season and they've had two field goals and a punt blocked.

Minnesota. The Vikings punter is former Jet Ryan Quigley, who comfortably has the lowest gross average for the second season in a row at just 41.5 yards per punt despite having the benefit of playing for a dome team.

Interestingly, while he was with the Jets, Quigley's gross averages were much higher - over 45 yards per punt in 2013 and 2014 and 43.3 in 2015.

Also interesting is the fact that his net numbers are not that bad, partly due to the fact he leads the league with 22 of his punts being fair-caught. This is also his first season without a blocked punt and he has no touchbacks.

While Quigley's performance this year is an interesting study in what you may want or not want from a punter, at least Lachlan Edwards has improved significantly since last season and seems like a keeper. That's something hardly anyone ever said about Quigley while he was here.