In future Hall of Fame safety Charles Woodson's last home game as a Raider and as a player the National Football League, the Oakland Raiders defeated the San Diego Chargers 23-20 in overtime at O.co Coliseum on Christmas Eve.
The Chargers won the opening coin toss and deferred. The Raiders lone captain, Charles Woodson, chose to receive the opening kickoff. RB Taiwan Jones returned K Josh Lambo's opening kickoff to the Oakland 20. The Chargers took the ball away when they intercepted a batted pass at the line of scrimmage. San Diego took over at the Oakland 32.
The Chargers took advantage as a RB Donald Brown 1-yard touchdown run and subsequent extra point put San Diego up 7-0 with 9:09 left in the 1st quarter.
Jones returned the ensuing kickoff to the Oakland 23. RB Latavius Murray capped the 9-play, 77-yard drive with a 22-yard touchdown sprint over the right side. K Sebastian Janikowski's extra point was good and the game was tied 7-7 with 3:27 left in the 1st quarter.
TE John Phillips returned the ensuing kickoff 13 yards to the San Diego 25. The Raiders yielded one first down before forcing a P Mike Scifres punt. Ross was dropped immediately after fielding the 48-yard punt at the Oakland 10.
The Raiders actually went backwards and P Marquette King came on to punt after a three-and-out. After the 43-yard punt was downed, a penalty on the Raiders at the end of the play moved the Chargers to the Oakland 33. The Chargers took advantage of the field position as QB Philips Rivers hit WR Dontrelle Inman for a 7-yard score. The PAT was good and San Diego led 14-7 with 11:05 left in the 2nd quarter.
Jones returned the ensuing kickoff to the Oakland 25. Murray went over 1,000 yards on this possession and became this first Raiders runner to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in a season since Darren McFadden in 2010. The Raiders were forced to settle for a field goal attempt. The Janikowski 50-yard kick was good and cut the Chargers lead to 14-10 with 6:03 left in the 2nd quarter. The kick tied the NFL record for most field goals of 50 yards or more at 52.
WR Javontee Herndon returned the ensuing kickoff to the San Diego 26. Three plays later, the Chargers faced a 3rd and inches. Head Coach Mike McCoy challenged the spot of a 3rd and 1 run. The call on the field was upheld and the Chargers faced 4th and short. Scifres came on to punt. Ross returned the punt to the Oakland 22.
The Chargers forced a three-and-out of their own and King came on to punt. The Raiders executed a successful fake punt but a penalty nullified it. LB Korey Toomer downed the punt at the San Diego 22. The Raiders held the Chargers to a field goal attempt. Lambo's 47-yard kick was good and the Chargers led 17-10 with :31 left in the 2nd quarter.
Jones returned the ensuing kickoff 36 yards to the Oakland 40. A crazy lateral play littered with flags ended the half.
Herndon returned the opening kickoff of the 3rd quarter to the Chargers 15. The Raiders allowed one first down before forcing a punt. Ross called for and made a fair catch at the Oakland 36. The Raiders went three and out and King came on to punt. Herndon called for and made a fair catch the San Diego 12. With that punt, King set the franchise record for most punts downed inside the 20 in a season with 34.
The Raiders returned the favor with a three and out and Scifres came on to punt. Ross called for and made a diving fair catch at the Oakland 46. A holding penalty derailed the Raiders possession and King came on to punt. Herndon called for and made a fair catch at the San Diego 8.
The Raiders yielded one first down before forcing a punt. Ross called for and made a fair catch at the 32. A false start short-circuited this possession and King came on to punt. King's punt was downed at the 9. DE Denico Autry sacked Rivers in the end zone for a safety to cut the Chargers lead to 17-12 with 2:11 left in the 3rd quarter.
Ross returned the free kick to the Oakland 38. Carr was sacked on 3rd and long and King came out to punt. Toomer dropped the return mad at the San Diego 16. The Raiders forced a field goal attempt, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty backed the Chargers up to the Oakland 35. Lambo's 53-yard field goal was good but a holding call on the Raiders gave San Diego a first down. Rivers then went to TE Ladarius Green for 30 yards and a touchdown. The officials reviewed the play and it was overturned – no catch. The Chargers would eventually settle for a field goal. The 48-yard kick was no good and the Raiders took over with 7:22 to go.
The Raiders went three and out and King came on to punt. CB Craig Mager called for and made a fair catch at the San Diego 10. The Raiders got the ball back when DE Benson Mayowa recovered a fumble caused by LB Malcolm Smith and returned it to the San Diego 3. Carr then hit WR Michael Crabtree for a 3-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion pass to WR Seth Roberts was good and the Raiders led 20-17 with 4:42 left.
The ensuing kickoff flew out of the end zone for a touchback and the Chargers started at the 20. A 45-yard Josh Lambo field goal tied the game at 20-20 with :55 left in the game.
Jones returned the ensuing kickoff to the Oakland 30. The Raiders coldn't move the ball and King came on to punt. The punt ended the regulation and the two teams went to overtime.
The Raiders won the toss and elected to take the ball. Jones fielded the kickoff and took a knee for a touchback. A 33-yard pass to Seth Roberts, who juggled and caught it, got the Raiders in scoring range. On 3rd and goal at the 13, a delay of game made it 3rd and goal at the 18. The Raiders were eventually forced to settle for a field goal attempt. The 31-yard kick gave the Raiders a 23-20 lead with 8:05 left in the overtime period.
RB Danny Woodhead fielded the ensuing kickoff for a touchback. The Raiders defense held the Chargers to a four-and-out and secured a 23-20 victory to improve to 7-8 on the season. The Raiders will finish the 2015 campaign Jan. 3 at Kansas City.
