OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders needed to work overtime Thursday night, but they got a win for safety Charles Woodson in his final career home game and a victory in what could well have been the team's final game ever in Oakland.

Sebastian Janikowski made a 31-yard field goal with 8:04 left in overtime, and the Raiders held on for a 23-20 victory against the San Diego Chargers at the O.co Coliseum.

The Raiders (7-8) are one of three NFL teams applying for the right to move to the Los Angeles area. The Raiders and Chargers have joined forces for a new stadium in Carson that they would share. The St. Louis Rams are seeking to relocate in the Los Angeles area and build a stadium in Inglewood.

Woodson, who announced Monday that he would retire after this, his 18th NFL season, grabbed a microphone at midfield after the game and led the crowd in a chant of "Raiders!" one last time.

"It's been a joy for me to come back and play here for a second time around," Said Woodson, who took one snap on offense in overtime and was stopped for 3-yard loss on a run-pass option.

The Raiders took the opening kick in overtime and appeared ready to self-destruct, drawing three costly penalties. However, on second-and-29 from the Oakland 20-yard line, quarterback Derek Carr completed a short pass to wide receiver Michael Crabtree, and Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman drew a 15-yard penalty for his hit on a defenseless player, giving the Raiders a first down at the 43.

On third-and-8 from the San Diego 43, Carr completed a 33-yard pass to wide receiver Seth Roberts, giving Oakland a first down and setting up Janikowski's chip shot.

"When we got the three points, coach (Jack) Del Rio came up to me and said, 'Hey, the defense will take care of it. That was a game winning drive,'" Carr said.

Del Rio was right.

The Chargers (4-11) took over on their 20 but were stopped on downs after gaining only 7 yards. Quarterback Philip Rivers' pass on fourth-and-3 fell incomplete, sealing the Raiders' win.

"Great, great feeling," Del Rio said. "Gutsy performance. We wanted in the worst way to deliver that for Charles and our fans. The crowd was just awesome."

Raiders running back Latavius Murray carried 19 times for 79 yards, giving him 1,033 yards for the season. He also scored on a 22-yard run.

Carr completed 23 of 38 passes for 204 yards and one touchdown with one interception.

Rivers completed 31 of 49 passes for 277 yards and one touchdown. Chargers wide receiver Dontrelle Inman caught eight passes for 82 yards and a touchdown.

"It's been the story of the year, just losing close games," Rivers said. "Doesn't make it any easier losing another one like that. But one more game before we reload."

The Chargers led 17-12 and had the ball at their 38 with under six minutes left when Rivers completed a short pass to tight end David Johnson. However, Oakland linebacker Malcolm Smith forced a fumble, and defensive end Benson Mayowa recovered it and returned 41 yards to the 3.

"Big plays, you get momentum," Mayowa said. "That's all I was thinking about. I just had to beat one guy. I was almost in the end zone."

On first down, Carr hit Crabtree in the left corner of the end zone, giving Oakland an 18-17 lead with 4:42 left. The Raiders went for two, and Carr converted with a pass to Roberts, extending Oakland's lead to 20-17.

The Chargers roared back, and Josh Lambo kicked a 45-yard field goal with 55 seconds left, making it 20-20.

"Our players fought there until the bitter end," Chargers coach Mike McCoy said. "Unfortunately we didn't get it done. We've got to find a way to get this game won."

The Chargers built a 17-10 halftime lead, but Oakland sliced it to 17-12 when defensive end Denico Autry sacked Rivers in the end zone for a safety with 2:11 left in the third quarter.

Lambo kicked a 53-yard field goal with 8:48 remaining, but Oakland defensive end Khalil Mack was flagged for holding, and the Chargers accepted the penalty, taking three points off the board.

On first down, Rivers threw an apparent 30-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ladarius Green. However, after a video review, the pass was ruled incomplete because the ball hit the ground when Green landed in the end zone.

The Chargers wound up settling for another field-goal try, and this time Lambo missed from 48 yards.

NOTES: The game was played on the 38th anniversary of the Raiders' famed "Ghost to the Post" double-overtime playoff win against the Colts in Baltimore. Ken Stabler's pass to Dave "The Ghost" Casper set up the game-tying field goal late in the fourth quarter on Dec. 24, 1977. ... Chargers starting CB Jason Verrett (hamstring) and starting FS Eric Weddle (groin) were injured in the second quarter and did not return to the game. The San Diego secondary was so battered that WR Dontrelle Inman had to play some safety in overtime. ... Raider K Sebastian Janikowski made a 50-yard field goal late in the first half. The field goal was Janikowski's 52nd of 50 or more yards, tying Jason Hanson for the NFL record. ... Chargers starting WR Stevie Johnson (hip) was inactive for the second consecutive game. ... Raiders DE Benson Mayowa started in place of rookie Mario Edwards Jr. (neck), who was injured Sunday against Green Bay and placed on injured reserve Monday.