January Doesn't Like Nate Kaeding, At Least Not At The Q

It's hard to say why a kicker like Nate Kaeding has so much success during the regular season - even in critical situations - but then falters with disastrous results in the postseason. The kid seems mentally tough. He had a reputation for being a clutch kicker in college and has become one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history. You don't acheive that level of success if you don't have at least a modicum of the proverbial ice water running through your proverbial veins.

But for some reason when Nate lines up for postseason field goals - especially postseason field goals on his home field at Qualcomm - all that mental toughness turns to squishy mush. Gone is the powerful and accurate right leg that has helped San Diego to so many regular season victories since 2004. In its place is a delicate and erratic pogo stick that pushes kicks left and right or drops them yards short of the goal posts.

It's not pretty.

It's tragic.

Here's a rundown of Nate's playoff field goals. Feel free to stop reading here if you can't bear the pain.

January 8, 2005: Jets at Chargers
Nate's rookie year, his first playoff game, his first playoff field goal attempts. In the 4th quarter, Nate nails his first ever field goal attempt to bring the Chargers within a touchdown on their way to a magnificent 10-point comeback. But then, with a chance to win the game in OT, Nate slides a 40-yard field goal attempt wide right. Maybe his most dagger miss because it would have directly led to a playoff victory.

January 14, 2007: Patriots at Chargers
The Chargers most dagger loss in history had to include a Nate miss. The Chargers blew an 8-point 4th quarter lead to the Pats and were down by 3 with a minute to play. Without a timeout (long story) Philip drove the Chargers into position for a Nate 54-yard attempt as the clock wound down. Though on target, Nater's kick fell a few yards short.

January 6, 2008: Titans at Chargers
The Bolts pulled this game out but don't forget that Nate missed a 45-yard attempt in the second quarter. He hit a 20-yarder in the third quarter to break his string of 3 straight playoff misses, but he was at that point 2 for 5 on playoff field goal attempts at the Q.

January 13, 2008: Chargers at Colts
One of the greatest wins in Bolts history. Though Nate hit all his extra point attempts, he also missed his lone field goal attempt: a 48-yarder in the second quarter. Thanks to Philip, Sproles and Billy V, it didn't matter.

January 20, 2008: Chargers at Patriots
The game when you thought Nate's problems might be behind him. The Patriots D kept the Bolts out of the end zone all afternoon, but Nate kept the game close by nailing all 4 of his field goal attempts, from 26, 23, 40 and 24 yards. Yes, most of them were chippys, but a make is a make is a make, as last Sunday's game against the Jets would prove in the absence.

January 3, 2009: Colts at Chargers
Maybe Nate's most clutch kick ever and further evidence (we thought) that his playoff troubles were a thing of the past. Nate banged home a 26-yard field goal to tie the game with :32 seconds on the clock. Minutes later Sprolesy galloped into Chargers lore.

January 11, 2009: Chargers at Steelers
A frustrating loss with a weird third quarter. Nate didn't play a huge role but did knock home his only field goal attempt - a 42-yarder in the second quarter that put the Bolts ahead 10-7. Nate's field goal record away from the Q is a respectable 5 for 6.

January 17, 2010: Jets at Chargers
My first live playoff game will not be a happy memory thanks in part to Nate. His first miss from 37 yards in the first quarter confirmed the uneasy feeling a lot of Chargers fans had all week. His second miss from 57 yards was understandable, though his career long is a 57-yarder and he hit a 53-yarder at the Q just weeks before. His third miss from 40 yards was the final dagger to the gut in a day of gut daggers.

So that is that. The Bolts will likely make the playoffs again next season, in part because Nate will knock home a record high percentage of field goals from September to December.

Here's just hoping January 2011 reverses his trend of dagger Januarys.