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It's been essentially over since Week 9, except for adding to his stats

 

4-10 @ 6-8

THURSDAY, DEC 24TH 8:25 PM ET O.CO COLISEUM

CHARGERS-RAIDERS PREVIEW

Christmas Eve could be the last time the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders meet while residing in different cities. It might also be the final game the Silver and Black play in the East Bay.

What's certain is that Charles Woodson will take the field for the last home contest of his storied career.

With the uncertainly of relocation lingering over both franchises, Woodson tries to help the Raiders sweep this season series and hand the Chargers a seventh straight AFC West defeat Thursday night.

Ownership in St. Louis, Oakland and San Diego would all like to move their respective franchises to Los Angeles, possibly as soon as next season. The Raiders and Chargers have come together on a joint venture for a stadium in the L.A. suburb of Carson. NFL owners could make a decision on the futures of those teams when they meet Jan. 12-13 in Houston.

The Chargers (4-10) snapped a five-game skid at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday with an emotional 30-14 win over Miami in what could have been their final game in the area. The Raiders (6-8) left Oakland for L.A. once already in 1982 before returning in 1995.

"(This game could) have added significance," Oakland coach Jack Del Rio said. "I don't know what the plans are. That's not my area. I just continue to coach football and have our guys as prepared as possible."

As the Raiders look to record their first sweep of San Diego since 2010, it will certainly be significant for Woodson. The 18-year veteran announced Monday that he will retire after this season.

"I felt it was only right that Raiders fans, my fans, fans that have watched me play for a long time, I'd let them all know that this Thursday night would be the last time in the Coliseum I would be able to run out there in front of our fans at home," he said.

A former Heisman Trophy winner, NFL defensive rookie of the year and defensive player of the year, Woodson ranks fifth all-time with 65 interceptions and is tied for first with 13 defensive touchdowns. The 39-year-old, who has played 11 seasons over two stints with Oakland, leads the team with five picks and is second with 65 tackles in 2015.

"Charles Woodson is one of those players that comes along and reminds you why you love the game," Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie said.

If the Raiders are to prevail in Woodson's home swan song, they must improve after being outscored 94-54 during a three-game slide at the Coliseum. Oakland held Green Bay to 293 total yards Sunday, but had a Derek Carr interception returned for a touchdown in the first quarter and gave up the game's final 13 points in the 30-20 defeat.

Despite doubling their win total from last season, the Raiders will miss the playoffs for a 13th consecutive season.

"It hurt my heart to be honest because I know how much work I put into this, how much work our team puts into this," said Carr, who has thrown six touchdowns and seven interceptions in the last three home contests.

Rookie Amari Cooper became the first Raider since Randy Moss in 2005 to record 1,000 receiving yards after catching six passes for 120 and two TDs on Sunday, though he didn't seem too enthused about the accomplishment.

"I guess it's a good thing to do, but people go for 1,000 yards every year so it's not really a big thing," he said.

Cooper had five receptions for 133 yards, with 52 going for a TD in the 37-29 win at San Diego on Oct. 25.

Carr completed a season-high 77.4 percent of his passes (24 of 31) for 289 yards with three TDs and no INTs in that contest. Teammate Latavius Murray ran 15 times for 85 and a score. Murray, though, has averaged 3.1 yards per carry in the last six contests.

San Diego was mired in a six-game slide during the first meeting, but can win back-to-back games for the first time and record its first division victory since beating Oakland 13-6 on Nov. 16 of last year. The Chargers finish the season at Denver.

Down 37-6 to Oakland in October, Philip Rivers threw three fourth-quarter TDs, two to running back Danny Woodhead. Rivers was intercepted twice in that game and had the same amount Sunday but also threw three TDs to Woodhead.

The diminutive back also ran for a score as the Chargers totaled 442 yards after they averaged 305.3 in the previous six contests.

"It was a special day, if it is the last one," an emotional Rivers said. "I know it's one of those (where) we still don't know; maybe we'll get to trot back out there and play again."

San Diego still ranks last in rushing (84.0 yards per game) even after gaining a season-high 140 against the Dolphins. Veteran Donald Brown had 90 on 12 carries and Melvin Gordon added 41 on 15 attempts in what proved to be the final game of his disappointing rookie season.

The Chargers announced Monday that Gordon will miss the final two games with torn cartilage in his left knee. The 15th overall pick averaged 3.5 yards per carry while gaining 641, failing to score a TD and losing four fumbles.

"I think really it goes down to everybody doing their jobs better, and not just Melvin Gordon," coach Mike McCoy said. "It's not just a one-man show. But he's got a bright future."

 

The Raiders rallied to emerge with a 23-20 overtime victory against the San Diego Chargers in Charles Woodson's last game in Oakland.

 

Charles Woodson earned the Gatorade bath at the conclusion of Thursday night's Oakland Raiders 23-20 overtime victory over the San Diego Chargers, the last home game for the 18-year pro.

The Pro Bowl safety addressed the Oakland crowd after the win, leading them in a "Rai-ders! Rai-ders!" chant one final time.

"You welcomed me back with open arms as if I never left," Woodson told the still packed house. "I just want to let you know how much that means to me and my family. It's been a joy for me to come back here and play for a second time around."

Despite nearly two decades in the NFL, Woodson still earned one first Thursday night, getting the only carry of his career. The play was called "Heisman Pass" in which Woodson took the ball on the reverse with the option to throw or pass. He was tackled for a three-yard loss.


"I should have just went out for a pass," Woodson said, per the San Francisco Chronicle. "I got one game left, I can't leave with negative-3 yards."

The three-yard loss is one of the few negatives in a sterling football career.

Woodson entered the NFL having won the Heisman Trophy as a primarily defensive player. As a corner and safety with the Raiders and Green Bay Packers, Woodson was selected to nine Pro Bowls (including this season), a three-time All-Pro selection, led the NFL in interceptions twice (nine in 2009 and seven in 2011), named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1998 and Defensive Player of the Year in 2009.

Woodson is the only player in NFL history with 20-plus sacks and 60-plus interceptions (no other player even has 20-plus sacks and 50-plus INTs). The 39-year-old defender is tied for fifth most interceptions since 1940 with 55 -- every player with more INT is in the Hall of Fame: Paul Krause, Emlen Tunnell, Rod Woodson, Night Train Lane.

"It's funny," Woodson said Thursday. "I told my teammates earlier in the day if I would have been as a child, sitting down, writing the script on how it would be and how it would go, I don't think I could have ever written it better than it actually happened."

The final chapter to be written comes with a gold jacket and a speech in Canton.

(NFL.com)

 

7-7 @ 6-8

SATURDAY, DEC 26TH 8:25 PM ET LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD
______________________________________________________________________________

Big, big, game. Going to be a lot of fun...

 

I'm loading up on cousins in expectations he blows them out to win the NFC East.

 

Eagles strike first, 7-0.

 

The Redskins are in. Kirk Cousins tossed four touchdowns to top the Eagles and clinch the NFC East. Final, 38-24, Redskins.

 

Bengals clinch the AFC North.

Steelers a loss vs Browns or Jets win vs Bills from missing the playoffs.

Edit: Steelers get in with a win and 2 Broncos losses.

 

Hopefully Bengals lose in Denver....at least then Jets would be in over the Steelers which would be nice....

 

Rams jumped out early on the Seahawks, 10-0.

 

Nobody's perfect, thanks to the Falcons.

 

If Rams ever made the playoffs they'd win the Super Bowl guaranteed. Luckily they can't beat any team that isn't good.

 

One of the biggest shockers in a long time (well okay that's probably an exaggeration...), Atlanta might be the softest team in the league. Maybe the Panthers taking selfies at the end of that game two weeks ago pissed them off.

 

Cardinals look good, up 17-0 on the Pack at halftime.

 

Falcons scenario updated: Apparently I'm the only one in the world that knows it, if I'm right.
Falcons beat Saints
Seahawks lose out
Vikings lose out
+ 3 of the following 4
Panthers beat Buccaneers
Broncos beat Chargers
Titans beat Colts
49ers beat Rams