The San Francisco 49ers will ride the David Akers roller-coaster at least one more time.
One day after Akers missed a 38-yard field-goal attempt in the NFC Championship Game -- his 14th misfire of the season -- 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters Akers will be his kicker in Super Bowl XLVII.
"The decision's been made," Harbaugh said Monday. "David Akers is our kicker."
It's a somewhat surprising vote of confidence by Harbaugh, who previously brought Billy Cundiff off the street early this month to compete with his struggling veteran kicker. Akers held off Cundiff, who was released Friday.
Akers made a 36-yard attempt in the divisional-round win over the Green Bay Packers, but he hit the top of the left upright on his only Sunday attempt. The miss came with the 49ers trailing by three midway through the third quarter.
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All five of Akers' kickoffs went for touchbacks. After the game, he told the San Francisco Chronicle his day would have been "perfect" if his field-goal attempt finished "three inches to the right." Harbaugh said Akers had an "outstanding pregame" that included just one miss from 60 yards out.
The 49ers' matchup against the Ravens is even in many respects, but Baltimore holds a big edge at kicker. Rookie Justin Tucker has been nearly automatic, missing just three attempts all season.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.
