Raiders win OT thriller in Woodson’s home finale

The Bolts were working on Christmas Eve just four days after beating the Miami Dolphins because America can not get enough football. Our fans showed up, a tremendous showing tonight. Not only did he once again do a good job of keeping his players in the fight – even when it seemed dim – but the fact that he tried to punch the game-winner into the end zone by using Charles Woodson on offense was priceless.

“It means so much because of how much he’s helped me, how much he’s pushed me, how much he’s taught me about being a pro and about being great”, Carr said after the win.

The Oakland Raiders needed to work overtime Thursday night, but they got a win for safety Charles Woodson in his final career home game and a victory in what could well have been the team’s final game ever in Oakland.

Woodson, 39, announced earlier this week that he will be retiring following this season and his final game at O.co Coliseum was a chance to express mutual appreciation.

Woodson is in the third season of his second stint in Oakland. “You guys welcomed back with open arms as if I never left”.

“This team is going to get so much better, really, really soon”, Woodson told the crowd afterward. “I want people to know that I left it all on the field”. Until overtime on Thursday night.

For the Raiders, Carr threw for 209 yards with one touchdown pass and an interception.

If it weren’t for a valiant defensive effort by the Raiders, Woodson’s farewell game would’ve been a catastrophe.

This granted the Chargers an automatic first down, and they initially appeared to capitalize with a touchdown as tight end Ladarius Green was awarded a 30-yard touchdown catch. Chargers put three receivers to the right and Inman simply ran a slant underneath the two inside routes and waltzed into the end zone. “But C-Wood, he’s a great player”. “You see the lights and camera around him constantly, and you know how he’s loved around here and this is a big deal that it’s his last game”.

Oakland had to settle for the Janikowski field goal, and the defense made it hold up.

That was until Malcolm Smith forced a timely fumble that was returned by Benson Mayowa all the way to near the Chargers endzone, setting up a Michael Crabtree goahead touchdown and a 20-17 lead after a Seth Roberts two-point convert catch. The Raiders went for two, and Carr converted with a pass to Roberts, extending Oakland’s lead to 20-17.

That was a rare blip for a Raiders defense that had another strong outing, particularly in the second half. San Diego was swept by Oakland in the season series for the first time since 2010. But it also featured a safety on a sack by Denico Autry.

Rookie Josh Lambo missed a 48-yard field goal. “This was just one where we were going on the fly”. The Chargers (4-11) lost 23-20 in overtime to the Raiders.

The Raiders bounced back with their only full touchdown drive of the game. Latavius Murray capped the nine-play, 77-yard possession with a 22-yard touchdown run.

Derek Carr’s passes weren’t crisp, wide receiver Amari Cooper was hampered by a foot injury and Oakland was outgained by the Chargers 343 total yards to 286.