Devin Hester: See The Punt Return TD That Changed Bears-Packers Game

Last night, the play of the game was Devin Hester's 60-yard punt return for a touchdown. The Bears took a 14-10 lead, and the return ignited the crowd. The Bears went on to beat the Packers, 20-17, and take control of the NFC North.

Inside, we thoroughly break down the play from beginning to end, and answer the question whether it was the best return of the year.

Circumstances

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 27: Devin Hester #23 of the Chicago Bears returns a punt 62-yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on September 27, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Trailing Green Bay by three as the fourth quarter got underway, the Bears had the Packers pinned deep in their own territory and forced a punt.

Normally, this would just be a great swing of field position and a great situation for Chicago to try and tie or take the lead. However, Green Bay outkicked its coverage and gave Hester plenty of room to run.

While Hester hadn't taken a punt or kick back in over two years, you don't want to give him space and that's exactly what happened.

Film Study

The key moment of this play is at 23 seconds into the video. Hester runs right at four Packer defenders,  splits two of them, and he's gone.

Hester didn't get many solid blocks, but enough tiny blocks here and there to get the space. Once through there he's got only the punter to beat, and he just easily hopped over him into the end zone. It was almost too easy.

Having gone through the two-year return touchdown drought he was on, you could see him hit that second gear once he realized he had a shot to house it.

Best Return of the Year?

I think Hester's best competition for that is Leon Washington's second return of the day against San Diego this past Sunday.

Washington had already taken one back to the house, so you know the Chargers had to be keying on him and worried about it happening again. Washington takes the kick and bounces off a couple of guys before finding the seam and running all the way to the end zone.

I'm taking Washington's because he had to fight off a couple of defenders and keep his balance before finding the end zone. I'd also probably take C.J. Spiller's kick return touchdown as well, as he just bounced off defenders and then just burned them with his speed.