If you take that same list I linked and then choose "2011 Season" you will see that David Akers was ranked 14th with an 84.6 percentage last season, right behind Adam Vinatieri. His percentage for the 2012 Season is 69.0 percent. So the topic of this conversation we have been having over the past few weeks has to do with that 15% drop. That's the margin we are talking about. As to what has caused this, we don't know, perhaps injuries, loss of confidence or something else. Its probably not the wind at Candlestick because there was probably wind at that park during both seasons.

My guess going forward into the playoffs - just a gut feel here - is whoever we have kicking will probably not have a percentage completion of 70% but more likely back up towards the 80-85% mark. Not because of any pressure of competition that Harbaugh is applying but just because that is a more reasonable percentage for a kicker to have.

The range of completion percentages this season and last is approximately 94% down to approximately 70%, the lowest last season being 74% and lowest this season being 63.6%. The odds of Akers or Cundlin kicking at the 70 percentile is just too low and kicking at least at the 80 percentile is more reasonable.

A successful kick where the game is on the line, especially one that is under 40 yards, is greater than 50%.

One more point that might give us some hope is that the kicker with the worst percentage is Mason Crosby of Green Bay at 63.6%. Let them lose the game to us in the final seconds of the divisional playoffs.

Let's not worry about the kicker until the game a week from Sunday at the Stick and hope that field goals, or missed field goals, are not the difference. We'll get our field goals, or at least most of them, and hopefully lots of touchdowns.