Akers calls struggles a 'head scratcher'

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - San Francisco kicker David Akers calls his struggles this season a "head scratcher'' and says if the 49ers win the Super Bowl it will erase all of his 14 misses this season.

Akers missed an NFL-worst 13 field goals this season and then hit the upright on a 38-yarder in last week's NFC championship game at Atlanta. He says he feels like he is kicking the ball well and he's off by a matter of inches, which is frustrating because "an inch is a mile in our game.''

Coach Jim Harbaugh brought in Billy Cundiff earlier this month to challenge Akers. But the Niners stuck with Akers and released Cundiff last week. Harbaugh says he has complete confidence in Akers and dismisses the talk he is mired in a slump.