Jim Harbaugh sticking with kicker David Akers for Super Bowl
Although David Akers has been far from a sure thing lately, he will be the 49ers' kicker in Super Bowl XLVII.
"The decision's been made," coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday. "David Akers is our kicker."
After San Francisco beat Atlanta 28-24 despite Akers' 38-yard field-goal miss, the six-time Pro Bowler sounded as if he was campaigning for his job.
He noted all five of his kickoffs resulted in touchbacks. His only field-goal try hit off the top of the left upright and kept the 49ers from tying the game 24-all with 5:51 remaining in the third quarter.
“Three inches to the right and I would have had a perfect game today," Akers told the San Francisco Chronicle after the game. "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."
Akers has missed 14 of his last 38 field-goal tries. He did nail a 36-yarder against Green Bay in the divisional round.
“I'm here until they tell me otherwise,” said Akers, who nailed a 36-yarder against Green Bay in the divisional round.
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The 49ers brought in Billy Cundiff to compete with Akers before the playoffs, but Akers beat him out. The 38-year-old Akers underwent surgery in February for a double sports hernia.
Obviously relieved that his miss didn't cost the team the win, Akers described it as kind of fluky.
"It lands on top of the goal post," Akers said, which caused coach Jim Harbaugh to shake his head. "It's kind of a crazy thing. I'm just glad it didn't affect anything. It's just an awesome feeling for the guys to be going to the Super Bowl. [I've] been able to play there one time and came up just a little bit short."
Akers was on the 2004 Eagles team that lost 24-21 to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX.
Last season, Akers set NFL records for field goals in a season (44) and points for a kicker (166).
Although Akers has been shaky all season, Baltimore's Justin Tucker is nearly automatic. The 23-year-old kicker is 32 of 35 on field goals, including his 47-yard, double-overtime gamewinner in Denver in the divisional round.
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