OAKLAND — It wasn’t meant for Charles Woodson to play the hero Thursday night, so a grateful supporting cast chipped in to send him out a winner before the home fans in a 23-20 overtime win over the San Diego Chargers at O.co Coliseum.

The Raiders continued to play stout defense in finishing their home season with a 3-5 record, with the offense contributing just enough to put up the winning points on a 31-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski in overtime.

Rather than Woodson, Khalil Mack, Derek Carr or Amari Cooper coming up with the big plays, it was a night for players such as Malcolm Smith, Benson Mayowa, Denico Autry and wide receiver Seth Roberts to take center stage in a game that for a long time the Raiders seemed destined to lose.

Trailing 17-10 at halftime, the Raiders managed to put the game into overtime at 20-20 with just a single first down on offense.

It started with Autry, who recorded the Raiders’ one and only sack of San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers in the end zone for a safety to pull the Raiders within 17-12.

“We just had to keep working,” Autry said. “We had been running games the whole game and one finally came through. It wasn’t set up for me. I just so happened to run into him.”

Next up was Smith, who reached from behind and knocked the ball loose from tight end David Johnson after a 4-yard gain. Mayowa picked up the loose ball and ran it 41 yards to the 3-yard line with 4:47 left in regulation.

“Obviously that’s a huge play with Malcolm able to poke that ball out,” Del Rio said. “You see (in practice) how many times we start with turnover (drills) and tackling. We’re emphasizing those things. It’s great to see it come to fruition in a big moment.”

It set up a 3-yard scoring pass from Derek Carr to Michael Crabtree, with Carr then hitting Seth Roberts for a two-point conversion and a 20-17 lead.

“It’s one of those things, guys get loose with the ball, they get in the open field running a little bit, and it’s never over,” Smith said.

San Diego rallied to tie the score 20-20 on a 45-yard field goal by Josh Lambo, setting the stage for Roberts to help awaken the Raiders’ dormant offense.

On third-and-8 from the San Diego 43, Roberts reached out and caught a deflected pass for a 33-yard gain that helped set up the game-winning field goal by Janikowski.

“I just stayed on the ball and had a feeling where it was going to go,” Roberts said. “I kept my eyes on it and turned around and it landed in my hands.”

Smith, the only player on the Raiders who has played more snaps than Woodson, led the Raiders with 14 tackles.

“It’s part of our growth as a team, especially on the defensive side, to be resilient,” Smith said. I think (Charles) has done a great job of setting that example all year long. It’s grown on us, and it’s rubbing off on us.”

Roberts, the slot receiver, said he has paid close attention to Woodson even though he’s on the other side of the ball.

“I’m just ecstatic to be part of the C-Wood era,” Roberts said. “The little things he does, it makes me take my game farther. I’ll remember everything he did.”

Autry, whose pass rushing skills become even more crucial with Mario Edwards Jr. on injured reserve with a neck injury, said of Woodson, “It’s been great to be around a Hall of Famer, just to be in his presence.”

Raiders coach Jack Del Rio is hopeful that the effort against San Diego, although unsightly at times, will become part of the team’s personality every week.

“We’ve got a gritty team, and that’s something we’ve been wanting to have,” Del Rio said. “Keep fighting, wanting to make plays, stay in the fight, stay together. I think we did all those things tonight.”

For more on the Raiders, visit the Inside the Oakland Raiders blog at ibabuzz.com/oaklandraiders. Follow Jerry McDonald on Twitter at twitter.com/Jerrymcd.