SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 24, 2011
David Akers booted four field goals and set an NFL single-season record as the San Francisco 49ers edged the Seahawks 19-17 in Seattle on Saturday.
Akers connected from 53, 29, 44 and 39 yards on the day. His final field goal came with 2:57 to play and erased Seattle’s short-lived 17-16 to cap the scoring.
Akers has 42 successful field goals for the season, eclipsing the previous record of 40 set by Neil Rackers with Arizona.
Heath Farwell blocked a San Francisco punt and Marshawn Lynch scored a 4-yard rushing touchdown on the next play giving Seattle the fourth-quarter lead. But San Francisco (12-3) quickly marched down the field and Akers capped the drive with his fourth field goal.
Seattle had two more chances to reclaim the lead but quarterback Tarvaris Jackson fumbled on one possession and the Niners stopped the Seahawks on downs on the next.
Lynch gained 107 yards on 21 carries and scored the first rushing touchdown against San Francisco all season.
The Seahawks (7-8) were eliminated from the playoffs with Detroit's victory over San Diego.
With Green Bay likely to claim the NFC’s best record, the 49ers are
trying to hold off New Orleans for the No. 2 seed. The Saints host
Atlanta on Monday.
Seattle led 10-3 at the half, getting a touchdown pass from Jackson to Doug Baldwin from 13 yards out in the first quarter and a short Steven Hauschka field goal just before intermission.
San Francisco, which got a 53-yarder by Akers in the second quarter, tied the game on a 4-yard run by Frank Gore on its first drive of the second half to tie the game.
The Niners took their first lead of the game when Akers booted a 29-yard field goal late in the third quarter.