Nate Kaeding's three missed field-goal attempts killed the Chargers. Shaun Suisham's two misses were big before the Cowboys let the Vikings run away with the game.

Bad kicking is plaguing teams in an era where kickers have been as good as in any other.

In the first round, Cardinals PK Neil Rackers blew a chance to win the game in regulation against the Packers before his defense bailed him out. Bengals PK Shayne Graham missed two attempts against the Jets, which would have made it a one-score game and changed the Bengals' strategy at the end of that loss.

Will the division title games come down to kicking?

If so, who has the edge? Ryan Longwell, among the teams who already have advanced (there are fweer than three minutes remaining in San Diego as I write this), the Vikings' kicker has the best track record in game-winning and playoff situations.

Something to mull over.