Pittsburgh Steelers eliminated from playoffs after Chargers win over Chiefs
By Matt Shetler
After a 0-4 start to the season, the Pittsburgh Steelers were all but left for dead.
As it turned out, the Steelers 2-6 start to the season proved to be costly as thanks to the San Diego Chargers 27-24 overtime victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Steelers will be sitting out the postseason for the second consecutive season.
December 15, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop (6) kicks a point-after-touchdown out of the hold by punter Dustin Colquitt (2) against the Oakland Raiders during the first quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The Steelers entered the final three weeks of the regular season needing a lot of things to go their way to claim the AFC’s No. 6 seed and as Chiefs’ kicker Ryan Succop lined up for a 41-yard field goal to win the game in regulation, it looked as if lady luck was on the Steelers side once again. However the usual reliable Succop pushed the kick right, sending the game into overtime where Chargers’ kicker Nick Novak connected on a 36-yarder, which proved to be the game winner.
Three weeks ago the Steelers had less than a one percent chance of making the playoffs, but everything for the past two weeks went their way.
That included this week as well as in addition to taking care of business against the Cleveland Browns, the Steelers got help from both the New York Jets, who beat the Miami Dolphins, and the Cincinnati Bengals, who took care of the Baltimore Ravens.
All the Steelers needed to get in was a Chiefs victory over the Chargers.
That ultimately didn’t happen as the Steelers will have to watch the Chargers take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
For the Steelers, all attention will be turned to the offseason as some major changes are expected to take place after back-to-back 8-8 seasons.