The NFL has acknowledged that referees made a mistake in not penalizing the San Diego Chargers for an illegal formation on a missed field goal attempt by Ryan Succop of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Succop missed a 41-yard field goal, but the Chargers were in an illegal formation that should have resulted in a five-yard penalty and another field goal attempt.

"On the play, San Diego lined up with seven men on one side of the snapper," the league said in a statement released Monday morning. "This should have been penalized as an illegal formation by the defense."

The Chargers eventually won the game to secure the final AFC playoff bid, but the Pittsburgh Steelers would have advanced had the penalty been called and Succop made the second attempt.

NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND 

Saturday, January 4

Sunday, January 5

NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS 

Saturday, January 11

Sunday, January 12

The NFL announced the rosters for the 2014 Pro Bowl, which is "Unconferenced" for the the first time.

Offense

Quarterback: Tom Brady, Patriots; Drew Brees, Saints; Peyton Manning, Broncos; Cam Newton, Panthers; Philip Rivers, Chargers; Russell Wilson, Seahawks.

Wide receiver: Antonio Brown, Steelers; Dez Bryant, Cowboys; Josh Gordon, Browns; A.J. Green, Bengals; Andre Johnson, Texans; Calvin Johnson, Lions; Brandon Marshall, Bears; Demaryius Thomas, Broncos.

Tackle: Branden Albert, Chiefs; Jason Peters, Eagles; Tyron Smith, Cowboys; Joe Staley, 49ers; Joe Thomas, Browns; Trent Williams, Redskins.

Guard: Jahri Evans, Saints; Ben Grubbs, Saints; Mike Iupati, 49ers; Logan Mankins, Patriots; Louis Vasquez, Broncos; Marshal Yanda, Ravens.

Center: Ryan Kalil, Panthers; Alex Mack, Browns; Mike Pouncey, Dolphins; Max Unger, Seahawks.

Tight end: Jordan Cameron, Browns; Vernon Davis, 49ers; Jimmy Graham, Saints; Julius Thomas, Broncos.

Running back: Jamaal Charles, Chiefs; Matt Forte, Bears; Frank Gore, 49ers; Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks; LeSean McCoy, Eagles; Adrian Peterson, Vikings.

Fullback: Marcel Reece, Raiders; Mike Tolbert, Panthers.

Defense

Defensive end: Greg Hardy, Panthers; Cameron Jordan, Saints; Robert Quinn, Rams; Cameron Wake, Dolphins; J.J. Watt, Texans; Mario Williams, Bills.

Interior lineman: Gerald McCoy, Buccaneers; Haloti Ngata, Ravens; Dontari Poe, Chiefs; Justin Smith, 49ers; Ndamukong Suh, Lions; Kyle Williams, Bills.

Outside linebacker: John Abraham, Cardinals; Ahmad Brooks, 49ers; Tamba Hali, Chiefs; Justin Houston, Chiefs; Robert Mathis, Colts; Terrell Suggs, Ravens.

Inside/middle linebacker: NaVorro Bowman, 49ers; Vontaze Burfict, Bengals; Luke Kuechly, Panthers; Patrick Willis, 49ers.

Cornerback: Brandon Flowers, Chiefs; Brent Grimes, Dolphins; Joe Haden, Browns; Patrick Peterson, Cardinals; Darrelle Revis, Buccaneers; Richard Sherman, Seahawks; Aqib Talib, Patriots; Alterraun Verner, Titans.

Free safety: Jairus Byrd, Bills; Earl Thomas, Seahawks; Eric Weddle, Chargers.

Strong safety: Eric Berry, Chiefs; Kam Chancellor, Seahawks; Troy Polamalu, Steelers.

Special Teams

Punter: Brandon Fields, Dolphins; Johnny Hekker, Rams.

Placekicker: Matt Prater, Broncos; Justin Tucker, Ravens.

Punt returner: Antonio Brown, Steelers; Dexter McCluster, Chiefs.

Special teamer: Justin Bethel, Cardinals; Matthew Slater, Patriots.

Keenan Allen leads the San Diego Chargers with 957 yards and is a frontrunner for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, but he very nearly quit football before the start of the season.

"'I need help. I'm losing. I'm about to quit,'" Allen recalled Wednesday in the locker room. "(I wasn't) living up to my expectations of starting. I've never been a role player-type guy. Not easy at all. ... I've never had to do it before. I never had to adjust."

Allen's productive three-year career at Cal ended in October 2012 with a knee injury.

Allen unexpectedly became a third round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Allen saw zero offensive snaps in a season-opening loss by the Chargers to the Houston Texans.

"After I didn't play after that first game, I was about another snap away of not playing from quitting," Allen said.

Allen would have returned to Berkeley to finish his degree.

The official Pro Bowl rosters will be announced on Friday, but Pro Football Focus offered their picks on Thursday.

Offense

Quarterback: Peyton Manning (DEN) and Philip Rivers (SD)

Backups: Russell Wilson (SEA), Drew Brees (NO), Matthew Stafford (DET) and Tom Brady (NE)

Running Back: LeSean McCoy (PHI) and Jamaal Charles (KC)

Backups: Eddie Lacy (GB), DeMarco Murray (DAL), Adrian Peterson (MIN) and Marshawn Lynch (SEA)

Full Back: Anthony Sherman (KC) and Mike Tolbert (CAR)

Wide Receiver: Antonio Brown (PIT), Calvin Johnson (DET), Brandon Marshall (CHI) and Andre Johnson (HOU)

Backups: DeSean Jackson (PHI), Alshon Jeffrey (CHI), Jordy Nelson (GB) and Josh Gordon (CLE)

Tight End: Jimmy Graham (NO) and Vernon Davis (SF)

Backups: Jason Witten (DAL) and Tony Gonzalez (ATL)

Defensive End: Robert Quinn (SL), J.J. Watt (HOU), Calais Campbell (ARZ) and Cameron Jordan (NO)

Backups: Greg Hardy (CAR) and Cameron Wake (MIA)

Defensive Tackle: Gerald McCoy (TB), Ndamukong Suh (DET), Jurrell Casey (TEN) and Kyle Williams (BUF)

Backups: Dontari Poe (KC) and Marcell Dareus (BUF)

Inside Linebacker: NaVorro Bowman (SF) and Patrick Willis (SF)

Backups: Derrick Johnson (KC) and Karlos Dansby (ARZ)

Outside Linebacker: Lavonte David (TB), Justin Houston (KC), Robert Mathis (IND) and Vontaze Burfict (CIN)

Backups: Brian Orakpo (WAS) and Thomas Davis (CAR)

Cornerback: Darrelle Revis (TB), Brent Grimes (MIA), Richard Sherman (SEA) and Patrick Peterson (ARZ)

Backups: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (DEN), Keenan Lewis (NO), Vontae Davis (IND) and Joe Haden (CLE)

Strong Safety: Eric Berry (KC) and T.J. Ward (CLE)

Free Safety: Devin McCourty (NE) and Earl Thomas (SEA)

Special Teams

Kicker: Nick Folk (NYJ) and Justin Tucker (BAL)

Returner: Cordarrelle Patterson (MIN) and Golden Tate (SEA)

Punter: Shane Lechler (HOU) and Johnny Hekker (SL)

Special Teamer: Justin Bethel (ARZ) and Jeremy Lane (SEA)

Ken Whisenhunt could be the next head coach of the Detroit Lions should they fire Jim Schwartz.

Schwartz is widely expected to be fired after another disappointing season.

Whisenhunt was a teammate of general manager Martin Mayhew for two seasons with the Washington Redskins.

The Houston Texans are also interested in Whisenhunt.

Whisenhunt led the Arizona Cardinals to a Super Bowl and is currently the offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers.

Manti Te'o has played better as his rookie season has progressed.

Te'o came into Thursday's game against the Denver Broncos with 46 combined tackles in 10 games.

"I've made that big jump," Te'o said. "I still have to think about what I have to do; I still have to think a little bit. But I'm not thinking half as much as I was. There's where it becomes fun, and that's where you're able to make plays. A lot of guys, it takes a while. It takes a while as a rookie. ...

"Now, it's about refining things and remembering the small details. As far as the big picture, I think I have the understanding of what it looks like now. That's kind of why I've been able to have a little more success now on the field, just that comfort level and trust in my teammates that they have for me and the trust that my coaches have for me."

Eli Manning forced the San Diego Chargers to trade him in a draft day deal with the New York Giants in what was an embarrassing moment.

Manning was visibly upset when he had to take a picture with a Chargers' uniform when he was drafted.

"I forgot, I think," said Manning. "I just can't remember; it's been 10 years. It slipped my mind."

The NFL was honoring the late Pat Tillman during that draft as he was killed in action just weeks earlier, further embarrassing Manning.