Nov 20, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders safety Charles Woodson (24) sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chiefs 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
5. 11/20/2014: Woodson Records 20th Career Sack in First Win of 2014 Season
Going into Week 12 of the 2014 season, the Raiders were a woeful 0-10 and had fired head coach Dennis Allen seven weeks prior. The team struggled on both sides of the ball despite some promising rookie talent, and many wondered if the team could win a game as the losses kept piling up. The team was on a brutal 16-game skid that dated back to the 2013 season.
With the Raiders up 14-3 early in the third quarter, Charles Woodson – who was not only starting at safety but also returning punts that evening – blitzed on a 3rd and 7 play and came unblocked, getting to Chiefs QB Alex Smith for a sack and ten yard loss. The sack put Woodson in a special category: the only player in NFL history to record at least 50 interceptions and at least 20 sacks, highlighting his high level of skill and versatility as a player.
Woodson would finish the night with seven tackles and the sack as well as a punt return, but most importantly finished the night with a memorable win in a primetime game in front of the home crowd – the type of thing that Charles Woodson has demonstrated time and time again has always been most important to him.