Akers' misses were crucial

Andy Reid did the math.

"Hey, we can all count," the Eagles' coach said.

Everybody did the math.

The Eagles lost by five, and their Pro Bowl kicker missed two field goals from well within his range.

But it wasn't arithmetic that perplexed David Akers and doomed the Eagles in Sunday's 21-16 wild-card playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.

It was meteorology, and maybe some loose turf, too.

Things were so bad that a visibly emotional Akers, who this season set the team record for most games played as an Eagle, sounded as if he did not expect to return next season.

"Looking back now, over 12 years, it's been a nice run. But it's really not the way I wanted to go out," Akers said.

Safety Quintin Mikell hinted that factors off the field had affected Akers but declined to discuss specifics.

"He's gone through a lot this week, and he has some stuff going on, and for him, even being out here was big," Mikell said. "I'll let him handle whatever he has to handle, but I love Dave, and he fought through a lot today, a lot today and this week."

Akers did not address the situation.

On a cold and blustery day at Lincoln Financial Field, Akers said he "guessed wrong" on the wind on his first miss, a 41-yarder in the first quarter.

Eagles holder Sav Rocca said Akers "slipped" on his approach to his second miss, a 34-yarder in the fourth quarter.

"Sometimes you guess right and sometimes you guess wrong," Akers said. "I guessed wrong on the 41-yarder - that's for sure."

Akers' miss from 41 yards would have given the Eagles a 3-0 lead with 10 minutes, 49 seconds remaining in the first quarter. His miss from 34 yards would have cut the Packers' lead to 21-13 with 13:05 remaining in the fourth quarter.

"Our kicking game left a lot to be desired," Reid said. "Those points would have helped."

The Eagles were facing a fourth and 1 at the Green Bay 16 when Reid elected to have Akers try the 34-yard field goal rather than going for a first down.

"You kick it, it's an eight-point game," Reid said. "My guy's a Pro Bowl kicker. I was thinking he was going to make it."

Akers said the 34-yarder felt "weird" coming off his foot.

"It didn't feel right," Akers said. "It came off a little weird."

Rocca said the wind was a factor the whole game.

"It was a very hard night for kicking and punting - I'll tell you that," Rocca said.

Rocca said the wind kept changing direction.

"In pregame, it would be blowing toward our tunnel, then it would be blowing away from our tunnel," Rocca said.

Akers said the wind was "all over the place" but said that it was his job to read the elements in his home field.

"It's Lincoln Financial Field, and I've played here for many years," Akers said.

Rocca said Akers slipped with both his "take-off foot" and his "plant foot" on the miss from 34 yards.

"Dave didn't have really good footing," Rocca said.

Akers, 36, a 12-year veteran, had one of his better regular seasons. He was 32 for 38 in field-goal attempts, including 25 for 27 in the final 10 games. He made his fifth Pro Bowl.

Akers was asked if the game represented the toughest moment of his career.

"Football-wise, yes," Akers said. "It's the playoffs. You've got to do your job."