NEW YORK, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Game officials missed a formation penalty Sunday that, if called, could have affected the San Diego Chargers' playoff hopes, the NFL said Monday.
Kansas City kicker Ryan Succop missed a 41-yard field goal attempt with 8 seconds to play in regulation. A good kick would have given the Chiefs a 27-24 win. Instead the Chargers eventually won in overtime and earned the final AFC playoff spot.
Had Kansas City won, the Chargers would have been eliminated and the Pittsburgh Steelers would have taken the sixth AFC playoff spot.
A check of video of the play showed the Chargers lined up with seven players on the right side of the ball, which should have been called as an illegal formation.
A statement from the NFL Monday cited Rule 9, Section 1, Article 3 (b) (1) as stating that the no more than six defensive team players may be on the line of scrimmage on either side of the snapper at the snap.
San Diego scored 10 points in the fourth quarter -- and the missed Succop field goal try -- to get to overtime. Nick Novak kicked a 36-yard field goal with 5:30 to go in overtime for the win. That advanced the Chargers into Sunday's AFC wild-card game at Cincinnati.
