Matt Cassel’s stellar second half performance will likely steal most of the headlines, but it was a gritty performance by struggling kicker Ryan Succop that put the Chiefs in a position to win the game.
Succop had struggled early this season causing many, including this writer, to question whether or not it was time to replace him. Had Succop continued to struggle, he very well could have lost his job.
But Ryan Succop is evidently made of some strong stuff.
Succop helped the struggling Chiefs offense stay in the game Sunday, hitting all five of his FG attempts, accounting for 15 of the Chiefs’ 22 points.
Succop hit from 40, 24, 51, 22 and 54 yards before the Chiefs finally found the end zone early in the 4th quarter on a 52-yard pass from Matt Cassel to Dwayne Bowe.
This win should give the Chiefs hope for a number of reasons. Their defense played well for the second straight week but two players who had let them down thus far this season, Succop and Cassel, stepped up when it mattered and delivered the victory.
There will be a lot of talk this week about Matt Cassel, Dwayne Bowe and Steve Breaston but never forget that it was Succop’s nerve that led the Chiefs to their first victory of the year.
It would appear the Chiefs, like Succop, are made of some strong stuff.