Oakland Raiders, Charles Woodson earn OT win in home finale

The Raiders (7-8 overall, 3-2 AFC West) were never really in control in this game, and it took some last game heroics by their kicker, a backup receiver, and a fumble recovery for them to really secure this victory tonight.

The Goats: The Chargers’ Denzel Perryman will get some heat for his personal foul against Michael Crabtree on the Raiders’ overtime drive. Rivers threw for 277 yards and a TD for San Diego, also possibly on the move to the Los Angeles area. The veteran – wrapping up his 18th National Football League season – didn’t want to leave a stone unturned. But Lambo missed this time from 48 yards, and the Raiders were still alive.

Woodson even got a snap on offense inside the 10-yard line as the Raiders tried to get Woodson to throwback to Derek Carr for the game-winning score.

The sloppy play continued in the fourth quarter when San Diego was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after an incomplete pass on third down. Murray has had only four games with 20 or more carries this season, and he rushed for at least 100 yards only twice. While complaining about the lack of a pass interference penalty, the Chargers were hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty call.

Later the Chargers turned the ball over.

Cooper caught six passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday in the Raiders’ 30-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers. As usual, his production dropped significantly in the second half.

The Chargers roared back, quickly marching into Oakland territory. Hayden committed a costly penalty to put the Chargers in position to kick the game-tying field goal.

Yes, the Raiders won a sloppy, mistake filled game 23-20 over the San Diego Chargers on Christmas Eve, but it is what happened after the game that showed the world why Woodson is so respected and loved by football fans. It’s going to be my last time running out here in the Coliseum, getting a chance to run out there in that smoke and so I just wanted to take my time and hear all the cheering and all the fans yelling.

Fireworks are launched from the field as Eddie Money sings the national anthem before the Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers game at O.Co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015.

Facing second-and-5 from Oakland’s 36, Carr tried to hit fullback Marcel Reece with a short pass, but defensive end Kendall Reyes deflected the ball at the line of scrimmage and made a diving interception.

In the extra period, the Raiders survived numerous penalties to emerge with a 31-yard Janikowski field goal. Carr completed all five of his passes for 58 yards on the drive, while Murray carried three times for 33 yards.

Sebastian Janikowski booted a 50-yard field goal in the second quarter, his 52nd from 50-or-more-yards in his career. Rivers fell to 14-6 all-time against the Raiders and 4-3 in Thursday night games. Crucial points that sent the game into overtime after the Chargers drove down the field in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.