San Diego Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders: Full Oakland Game Preview

Typically, it’s tough for NFL players to muster up enough energy for a Thursday night game on short rest, but the Oakland Raiders will play their final home game against the San Diego Chargers on the heels of a stirring retirement announcement.

Oakland might as well rename this contest the Farewell Charles Woodson Game. The Raiders safety announced his intentions to retire in front of local media Monday. If anyone takes the field charged up, it’ll be Woodson in his final home game.

The Raiders’ uncertain future pertaining to relocation will also add some flair to Thursday’s matchup as a must-watch event.

Both teams come into this contest without playoff hopes but are energized on pride and finality. The Chargers won their final home game in San Diego and potentially take one final lap against the Raiders in the Bay Area. 

As for the matchup, the Chargers hope to even the season head-to-head series with a victory after losing 37-29 in San Diego. For the Raiders, it’s their chance to showcase young talent on the roster in a prime-time slot with all NFL eyes on this football game.

We’ll break down the narratives, matchups and key players between the two teams. 

Location: O.co. Coliseum; Oakland, California

Date: Thursday, Dec. 24

Time: 5:25 p.m. PT / 8:25 p.m. ET

TV: NFL Network

Week 15 Results and Recap

Associated Press

AFC West

1. Denver Broncos (10-4)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (9-5)
3. Oakland Raiders (6-8)
4. San Diego Chargers (4-10)

The Raiders will compete to hold onto third place in the AFC West. Of course, players and coaches expected more, but a 2-5 record at home will quickly drop a team in the standings.

The Raiders have lost three consecutive home games and hope to end the season on a high note while sending Woodson off as winner in front of his family, friends and loyal fans.

News and Notes

Woodson Announces Retirement 

As previously mentioned, Woodson will take one last hoorah in front of the home crowd in his final year in the NFL.

According to Woodson, he wanted to make a decision on his career in the offseason but came to a verdict before taking the field against the Detroit Lions in Week 11. 

He acknowledged his ability to play the game on a physical level but referenced a mental shortcoming when it comes to playing out a grueling 16-game schedule. 

The fans in the Black Hole will watch a future Hall of Famer suit up one last time in an emotional curtain call.

Carson Project in Jeopardy?

According to Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole, NFL owners haven’t embraced the Raiders as a perfect candidate to move to Los Angeles.

The Carson Project, which involves the Raiders and Chargers sharing a stadium, isn’t a slam-dunk decision for voters on the committee in January, leaving room for alternatives.

Coles notes NFL owners seem skeptical on the Raiders’ outlook in Los Angeles as a successful team with solid financial backing. In fact, there are murmurs about pushing Raiders owner Mark Davis to sell the team. However, he has no intentions of doing so.

Three Raiders Selected to Pro Bowl 

Defensive end Khalil Mack, fullback Marcel Reece and Woodson were selected for the 2016 Pro Bowl.

Mack justifiably earned his first Pro Bowl honors as the league leader in sacks with 15 in total.

At 39, Woodson took the field as the best defensive back in the Raiders secondary while battling a significant shoulder injury for most of the season.

He’s logged five interceptions, one forced fumble, four fumble recoveries and 52 tackles in his final season as a consistent threat in pass defense. Woodson earned his ninth Pro Bowl selection.

The coaching staff has utilized Reece sparingly with fullback Jamize Olawale earning some carries and making catches out of the backfield. Nonetheless, the coaches, players and fans voted him into his fourth career Pro Bowl.

Key Injuries

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Mario Edwards Jr. (DNP-Neck)

Defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. missed consecutive practices with a neck injury. Head coach Jack Del Rio told local reporters that Edwards will likely miss Thursday’s game, per CSNBayArea.com's Scott Bair.

Edwards’ absence could allow defensive lineman Leon Orr a second chance on the field in his rookie season.

Seth Roberts (FP-Abdomen)

Wide receiver Seth Roberts exited the previous outing with an abdominal injury but looks ready to go for Thursday night. He practiced in full Tuesday.

Amari Cooper (LP-Foot)

Wideout Amari Cooper continues to battle a foot injury and practiced with limitations Monday and Tuesday.

In a postgame interview with local reporters, Cooper said his foot felt better prior to the Green Bay Packers game. He’ll likely play Thursday, barring any setbacks.

Complete Injury Report

• Nate Allen (Knee, DNP) 
• Khalil Mack (Knee, LP)
• Neiko Thorpe (Neck, LP)
• Charles Woodson (Shoulder, FP)

Key Matchups

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Amari Cooper vs. Jason Verrett

It’s Round 2 between Cooper and Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett. In the first meeting, the rookie wideout scorched the second-year cornerback, accumulating five catches for 133 yards and a touchdown.

Cooper is coming off a six-catch, 120-yard performance against the Packers and hopes to add onto an impressive 1,000-yard season. 

This season, Verrett has allowed three touchdowns—two against the Raiders, per Pro Football Focus. He’ll look to redeem himself after a horrendous performance in Week 7.

Raiders Defense vs. Antonio Gates

Chargers tight end Antonio Gates missed the first game against the Raiders with a knee injury but plans to suit up and play in an energized environment.

The fans' enthusiasm flows through players on both teams. Gates commented on the atmosphere in Oakland, per Bair: "The battles we've had in Oakland have been great. It's been an unbelievable place to go play."

Gates has caught six passes in each of the last three games, accumulating 214 receiving yards in that span. He’ll take the field as Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers' top receiving weapon.

Oakland’s linebackers and safeties will have their hands full with a healthy Gates roaming the middle.

X-Factor: Charles Woodson

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Woodson's farewell home game will put him on tilt for the entire matchup. He’s also participating in full practices, which suggests a significantly healed shoulder.

The heavy reliance on Gates will force Woodson into frequent action in the middle of the field. It’s a matchup between two likely future Hall of Famers.

Safety Nate Allen missed two practices and will probably miss his third consecutive game with a knee injury. Woodson will take the field as the ball-hawking safety in a final battle with the Chargers' coveted tight end.

Prediction: Raiders 34, Chargers 17

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

The Raiders will end the season as a sub .500 home team, but they’ll leave the Black Hole on a high note in 2015.

Unlike a lot of teams, the Raiders have a lot of key healthy bodies down the stretch. The Chargers have lost their No. 1 wide receiver Keenan Allen, starting cornerback Brandon Flowers and first-round pick running back Melvin Gordon for the season due to injuries.

As a team on the incline, it’s important the Raiders finish on a high note, especially with an uncertain future looming over their heads. 

A few players are still likely chasing personal goals. Running back Latavius Murray needs 44 yards to reach 1,000 rushing yards on the season. Quarterback Derek Carr needs 411 yards to reach 4,000 passing yards for the season. Wide receiver Michael Crabtree needs 151 yards to reach 1,000 receiving yards on the season.

Murray and Crabtree could potentially reach milestone plateaus. Carr will likely come close in a stellar performance—if he doesn’t allow the game’s symbolic meaning and excitement to overwhelm his thought process early in the contest.

Raiders will earn their seventh win in convincing fashion against a hobbled, downtrodden Chargers team at home.

Prediction: Raiders 31, Chargers 17

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All statistics are provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com, Pro Football Focus and Team Rankings unless otherwise noted.