On December 29, 2013, at roughly 7:30 p.m. ET, Ryan Succop, kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, lined up for what looked like a game-winning field goal with four seconds left in regulation against division-rival San Diego. With the score tied at 24, the kick could have given the Chiefs a win, a 12-4 season, eliminating the Chargers from playoff contention and allowing the 8-8 Steelers to get into the AFC playoffs with the No. 6 seed.
The snap was perfect, the hold was great, but Succop pushed the 41-yard kick wide-right, sending the game into overtime, where the Chargers would emerge victorious, eliminating the Steelers from post-season contention.
Succop's folly was a tremendous disappointment. Steelers fans were quick to express their rage toward the kicker on social media, peppering the Pro Bowler with some less-than-creative plays on his last name. The malice was misdirected, however, as the playoff hopes of a team in a city 850 miles away were hardly a concern of Succop's. The Steelers, a .500 team, were lucky to even have had a shot of making it to the post-season.
But that doesn't mean a little revenge wouldn't be nice.
This season, the 9-5 Steelers face no such problem, as they control their own playoff destiny. A win against the Chiefs this Sunday assures Pittsburgh a spot in the AFC Playoffs, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, per Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Likewise, a Pittsburgh victory would almost certainly put a significant dent in the 8-6 Chiefs' playoff chances.
Although Succop is no longer a member of the Chiefs, his missed field goal isn't forgotten amongst the Steelers faithful. This time around, however, it's the Steelers turn to do the damage and shatter the hopes of an opponent.