Raiders rally for win in Woodson’s home finale
Defense stops Chargers after FG in overtime
OAKLAND, Calif. — Philip Rivers’ last pass fell incomplete near Charles Woodson’s feet and the celebration began. Woodson got a Gatorade shower and then led the fans in a chant of “Rai-ders! Rai-ders!”
What was Woodson’s final game in Oakland and might have been the last for the Raiders as well was far from pretty but it ended in a victory.
Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 31-yard field goal in overtime and the Raiders got a defensive stop to seal a 23-20 victory over the San Diego Chargers on Thursday night.
Derek Carr threw a touchdown pass and led the winning overtime drive for the Raiders (7-8), who could be moving to the Los Angeles area after the season. It also made Woodson a winner in his final home game with the Raiders before retiring after his 18th NFL season.
“This is my last game in the Coliseum but just know I’ll never leave you,” Woodson told the crowd. “Go Raiders!”
The Raiders won despite 15 penalties, including five on their overtime drive, and despite getting their only first down of the second half on a 3-yard touchdown drive.
But Oakland did move the ball in overtime after winning the toss. Three straight penalties left the Raiders with a second-and-29 but San Diego’s Denzel Perryman bailed them out when he was called for a personal foul for hitting a defenseless Michael Crabtree in the head.
Seth Roberts then made a juggling 33-yard catch and run to put the Raiders on the 10. After Woodson lost 3 yards on a reverse and Oakland committed a delay of game, Janikowski hit the go-ahead field goal.
The Chargers (4-11) were unable to muster a first down on their possession. Rivers threw for 277 yards and a TD for San Diego, also possibly on the move to the Los Angeles area.
The Raiders had done nothing offensively for most of the night when the defense gave them a needed spark. Malcolm Smith forced a fumble on a catch by David Johnson, and Benson Mayowa returned it 41 yards to the 3.
Carr hit Crabtree on the next play for the go-ahead touchdown with 4:42 to go. Carr added a 2-point conversion to Roberts to make it 20-17.
The Chargers tied it on Josh Lambo’s 47-yard field goal with 55 seconds to play.
It was a night of goodbyes as Woodson played his final home game with the Raiders after announcing his retirement earlier in the week. Woodson got a loud ovation as he was introduced last with the defensive starters and was the only Oakland captain for the pregame coin toss.
While Woodson’s future is determined, the team’s remains in flux. Raiders owner Mark Davis and Chargers owner Dean Spanos are seeking to partner on building a stadium in Carson. St. Louis is looking to build its own stadium in Inglewood as well and the league will likely decide in January which teams — if any — will be allowed to move.