OAKLAND -– The Raiders wanted to get Charles Woodson involved on offense during his final game in Oakland, and set up a play for the soon-to-be retiree.
They called it “Heisman pass,” a play where Woodson takes a handoff sweeping right while deciding to run or throw it.
The Raiders were waiting for the right time to break it out, a proper situation in the red zone on and early. One finally came up in overtime, which could’ve let Woodson win it in storybook fashion.
Woodson took the handoff, but the Chargers played it well. Quarterback Derek Carr ran a route but was covered, and Woodson took a 3-yard loss on the play.
“My stats don’t look too good,” Woodson said with a smile. “I wish that play could’ve gone better, but they covered about as well as you can and I kept it. What would I have looked like had I thrown an interception right there?”
[RATTO: Raiders fans endure decades of heartache for heroic night]
The true storybook ending wasn’t to be, but the Raiders kicked a field goal and defense held strong in a 23-20 victory over the Chargers.
Play was often ugly, possibly because the Raiders were too concerned about getting Woodson a win.
“That can happen,” Woodson said. “Sometimes people try a little too hard in these situations. I didn’t want the guys to get a win for me. I wanted them to get a win for the team, and we got that. That’s the important thing.”
Woodson’s big play didn’t work out, and Carr was bummed about it.
“I guess they thought I was such a threat to catch the ball that they covered it up,” Carr said with a smile. “That would’ve been an amazing way to end it. I told him to just throw it up, but I think he did the right thing.”
The right thing was to hold on for the win.
Woodson was given a microphone after the overtime win, and he thanked fans for a special night.
"This may be my last game at the Coliseum, but just know I'll never leave you,” Woodson said. “Go Raiders."
