Yesterday the Chiefs had an opportunity to beat the San Diego Chargers and crush their playoff hopes. But Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop missed a 41-yard field goal attempt with four seconds left in regulation sending the game into overtime where the Chargers beat the Cheifs 27-24, clinching the last AFC playoff spot. Now, the NFL is saying that Succop should have been given another chance to kick the field goal, and this time five yards closer because of an illegal formation by the San Diego Chargers.
Via ESPN:
“On the play, San Diego lined up with seven men on one side of the snapper,” the NFL said in a statement released Monday morning. “This should have been penalized as an illegal formation by the defense.”
Had the penalty been assessed, this would have resulted in a 36-yard field goal for the Chiefs. If they would have made it, the Pittsburg Steelers would have clinched the No. 6 seed in the playoffs based on conference tiebreakers. Instead, they will be at home watching the San Diego Chargers take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC’s wild card round.