Kaeding can handle the pressure

You would think it was an easy job - watch the ball, kick the ball in the right direction and make sure it goes through those posts about 40 yards away from you.

You would think it was an even easier job if you were rated as one of the best, if not the best, kicker in the NFL, but what a bad day it proved for Nate Kaeding in the AFC Divisional playoff clash with the New York Jets.

In his six seasons in the league, Kaeding had established himself as the most accurate kicker around, never hitting less than 80 per cent of his field goals and only twice missing an extra point in 305 attempts.

So what occurred at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday was so far out of character it has to be put on one side and forgotten about despite its importance to a franchise that was looking for a 12th straight win and hoping to be one more good performance away from the Super Bowl.

But unlike Nick Folk over in Dallas, don't expect the Chargers to go out and fire Kaeding on the back of one bad day at the office. Coach Norv Turner said he should not feel like the whole defeat was on his shoulders.

Two key interceptions at the wrong time, and a set of stupid penalties helped the Jets defy the half-time betting odds and mount a comeback.

However, because the failings of a kicker are all the easier to see Kaeding will probably head into 2010/11 hearing it from the fans.

But he knows what is coming and is the type of character who can overcome a little negativity, telling the Chargers website: "The other side of it definitely beats this side of it but like I said if you play this game and you can only accept when things go well, then you're in the wrong business.

"Especially in my position because you're going to miss some and unfortunately some days like this will come and my really bad days have been untimely ones. It's tough to deal with but you have got to deal with it, it's part of the deal."

Kaeding now has to focus on getting his head straight for the 2010/11 season.

Meanwhile, the NLF betting markets make the Jets rank outsiders to win this year's Super Bowl.