For most of the past few years, adequate special teams play has seemingly been good enough for the New York Giants. as long as the special teams groups did not hurt the Giants -- which they sometimes did -- that seemed to be acceptable.

This season, though, the Giants' special teams have truly been special.

-- David Wilson is averaging 30.2 yards per kickoff return, which is the best average for any kick returner with double-digit returns this season. As a team, the Giants are sixth in the league with a 27.2 yards per return average. Last season, the Giants finished 22nd in the NFL, with an average kickoff return of 23.3 yards per return.

-- The Giants are averaging 9.0 yards per punt return, up from the 6.1 yards per return they averaged a season ago. Rueben Randle is averaging 9.7 yards per return in six chances.

-- Lawrence Tynes is 11-for-12 in field goals and kicking as well as he ever has. Is anyone really going to criticize the guy for missing a 54-yarder at the end of Sunday's game against Philadelphia? The Giants never should have put him in that position.

-- The Giants are first in the NFL in punt coverage, allowing an average return of just 3.1 yards. Last year they were 17th, allowing an average return of 9.9 yards per return.

All of this is enough to give a long-time Tom Quinn-basher pause. For now.