San Diego Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders
The players saluted their fan bases who fear their squads are moving to the Los Angeles area.
National Football League owners have a special meeting next month to discuss relocation, which could see the Raiders and Chargers share a new Los Angeles stadium.
It was a night of goodbyes as Woodson played his final home game with the Raiders after announcing his retirement earlier in the week. They are the third best secondary during that time period, allowing 175 yards per game to opposing quarterbacks.
The decision to take those three points off the board will cause some second-guessing in San Diego.
But it took a couple of crucial turnarounds in the fourth quarter to put Oakland in position to win. The veteran defensive back serenaded the crowd with “Raiders” chants after the victory. By the way, that was Brown’s first touchdown run of the year and also his first touchdown run since December 29, 2013 when he was a member of the Indianapolis Colts.
Cooper played sparingly in this game, catching just two passes for 10 yards. While complaining about the lack of a pass interference penalty, the Chargers were hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty call. After Woodson lost 3 yards on a reverse and Oakland committed a delay of game, Janikowski hit the go-ahead field goal.
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.
On first down, Carr hit Crabtree in the left corner of the end zone, giving Oakland an 18-17 lead with 4:42 left.
The Chargers roared back, quickly marching into Oakland territory. The third quarter was particularly bad with the teams combining for seven punts and one safety when Denico Autry sacked Rivers in the end zone on eight drives.
The Chargers held a 17-10 halftime lead after rookie kicker Josh Lambo booted a 47-yard field goal with 31 seconds remaining.
But Oakland did move the ball in overtime after winning the toss.
Woodson took the handoff, but the Chargers played it well. If the Redskins lose Saturday and then next weekend at Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles-Giants game at the Meadowlands could decide the division. Latavius Murray capped it off with a 22-yard touchdown run.
Carr finished 23-of-38 for 204 yards and a TD. That strategy failed, however, when a Philip Rivers to Ladarius Green pass that appeared to be a TD was ruled incomplete on review, and the Chargers failed to score at all. Rivers went 4-for-4 for 35 yards on the drive.
Despite six three-and-out possessions in the second half, the Raiders managed to rally to take a 20-17 lead.
Fans wait in line at the security gate before the Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers game at O.Co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015.
Part of the reason the game was tied was a fourth-quarter sequence that was just silly. Dontrelle Inman started in his place….
The Chargers vs Raiders live tonight at 1:25 GMT.