Connelly: Odd day for Steelers

Things were going all too well for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon.

A team that began the season 0-4 was 41 yards from an improbable playoff berth.

But before it came down to a field goal in San Diego, there were two other games, in two separate cities, that had major postseason implications on the wacky final day of the NFL regular season.

For more than six hours Sunday, everything went the Steelers’ way. That was until the kick heard ’round the world. OK, maybe not quite, but those who love the black and gold and those who love to hate the black and gold might agree.

1 p.m.

3 percent

Games in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Miami all start with must-win scenarios for the Steelers and Dolphins (the Ravens would’ve made it if all teams involved lost).

1:58 p.m.

3 percent

Nearly an hour into the early schedule of games, the Steelers’ percentage remained unchanged.

While Pittsburgh extended its lead over the Browns to 14-0 thanks to a 5-yard touchdown run from Le’Veon Bell, the Bengals had a four-point lead over the Ravens and the Dolphins were up 7-0 on the Jets.

2:22 p.m.

7 percent

The first signs of life happened just before halftime at Paul Brown Stadium, 290 miles west of Pittsburgh. The scoreboard read Cincinnati 17, Baltimore 6 until Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton decided to throw the ball to the other team.

3:10 p.m.

5 percent

Now trailing by jusr eight, the Ravens’ Joe Flacco found threw an 8-yard touchdown. Ray Rice converted the 2-point conversion to tie the game.

To make matters worse, Jets kicker Nick Folk missed a 35-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, leaving Miami with hope and a one-possession game.

3:30 p.m.

40 percent

Flacco does his best Dalton impression and threw three fourth-quarter interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, giving the Bengals a comfortable lead — and eventual win.

Just more than 942 miles south at Sun Life Stadium, the Dolphins’ Ryan Tannehill thew a costly interception late in the fourth quarter to ice the game for the Jets.

With the first three matchups all falling the Steelers’ way, a decision made by a locked-in playoff team was about to give Pittsburgh’s chances a major hit.

4:13 p.m.

18 percent

As Ben Roethlisberger and company hustle out of the locker room at Heinz Field, 2,407 miles southwest in California, the Chiefs announced their inactive players for their game against the playoff-hopeful Chargers.

Coach Andy Reid, with his team already assured the fifth seed, decided to bench 20 of his 22 starters.

So as the entire city of Pittsburgh has no choice but to get behind career backup quarterback Chase Daniel, their playoff percentages spike downward just before kickoff in Qualcomm Stadium.

5:06 p.m.

42 percent

The first 15 minutes in San Diego provided plenty of reason for optimism for Steeler Nation. Spurred on by a group of second-stringers, Kansas City had a 14-7 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

5:45 p.m.

58 percent

Each team traded a pair of touchdowns before the half and as they headed to their locker rooms for halftime, all of the sudden the improbable seemed very possible. The Steelers held a slight percentage advantage over the Chargers and if televisions in Pittsburgh weren’t fixated on CBS before, they were now.

6:30 p.m.

76 percent

As the third quarter came to a close, the Chiefs extended their lead to 24-14. This seemed to have been the time where almost all football fans began saying to themselves, “Is this really happening?”

6:42 p.m.

61 percent

The first domino falls. San Diego scores a touchdown to close the gap to 24-21 with nearly 12 minutes to go in the game.

6:53 p.m.

33 percent

After Kansas City’s offense stalls out, Sand Diego quarterback Philip Rivers throws for a huge first down on third-and-2 with under five minutes remaining. Odds flip back in San Diego’s favor as the Chargers now sitting pretty with a first-and-goal at the 8-yard line.

6:57 p.m.

57 percent

The Chiefs defense holds forcing the Chargers to a field goal. The game is now tied with 3:21 left — plenty of time for Kansas City’s high-powered second-team offense.

7:03 p.m.

78 percent

Just before the two minute warning, Daniel finds a receiver open downfield. The Chiefs are now in field goal range — or so everybody thought.

7:13 p.m.

76 percent

After more than six hours of scoreboard watching and nail-bitting, the Steelers’ fate rests on the right foot of Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop.

On a day where everything seemed to be going all too well, the Steelers’ playoff hopes are pushed wide right.

And from then, I think everybody knew what the end result would be.

Kevin Connelly is a sports writer for The Vindicator. Write him at kconnelly@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @Connelly_Vindy.