Akers after missed kick: ‘I just feel horrible'

ST. LOUIS -- Kicker David Akers missed a 51-yard field goal in overtime that would have provided the winning points Sunday for the 49ers.Instead, the St. Louis Rams scored the winning points on rookie Greg Zuerlein's 54-yard kick with :26 remaining in overtime for a 16-13 victory at the Edwards Jones Dome.
On Nov. 11 at Candlestick Park, Akers missed a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and Zuerlein later missed from 58 yards, in a 24-24 tie.MAIOCCO's INSTANT REPLAY: Rams 16, 49ers 13
"It's a game of inches and I probably missed it by 3 or 4 inches to the right," Akers said Sunday. "And I just feel horrible for letting my teammates, organization, fans down."Akers, a 14-year pro who set the NFL record with 44 field goals last season, has fallen on rough times this year. After making 7 of 9 attempts from beyond 50 yards last season, Akers has converted on just 1 of 5 tries from that distance this year.Akers was listed this week on the 49ers' injury report with an unspecified pelvis condition. The 49ers brought in veteran free agents Nate Kaeding and Billy Cundiff for tryouts. Both kickers have missed important kicks in the playoffs in their careers.MAIOCCO: Miscues lead to overtime loss to Rams
Akers downplayed the injury. He had plenty of distance on his field-goal attempt, and he repeatedly drilled his kickoffs deep into the end zone.
"I don't put anything on injuries," Akers said. "I should've made it."And Akers said he felt as if he would make it."I hit it great. You're going from 51, if it's off a little bit or turns a little bit, it doesn't take much to be off. Got a good shot into it and good power into it . . . just frustrating."Akers has made 21 of 30 field-goal attempts this season. He hit from 33-yard out with 1:34 remaining in regulation to give the 49ers a short-lived 13-10 lead. But Zuerlein made a 53-yarder on the final play of regulation to force overtime.