San Francisco kicker David Akers led the league in missed field goals in the regular season and missed his only field goal attempt in the NFC Championship Game. But Akers says his confidence remains high heading into the Super Bowl.
“Three inches to the right and I would have had a perfect game today,” Akers said after the 49ers beat the Falcons, via the San Francisco Chronicle. “All touchbacks, real deep balls so they couldn’t get returns. I felt really good going out and kicking the ball. I thought it would come in a little bit more. Again, it’s just one of those things I just keep scratching my head.”
In a sense, Akers is right: His missed 38-yard field goal bounced off the left upright, and other than that, he was perfect: You can’t do better than five touchbacks on five kickoffs, and he made his four extra points. But, really, so what? You don’t get points for being close.
And Akers has missed so many field goals that he faced questions after the game about whether he would even be the 49ers’ kicker in the Super Bowl.
“I’m here until they tell me otherwise,” Akers answered.
After a brief flirtation with Billy Cundiff, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has said he’s sticking with Akers. But he probably won’t feel confident if the Super Bowl comes down to one last-second field goal.