SAN DIEGO -- The only uncertainty in the wake of the Chargers' latest win is the fate facing Vincent Jackson this week in practice.

"We've got to decide whether we're going to fine him or get a game check -- I can use the money, man," Chargers tight end Antonio Gates said with a laugh.

But at a critical juncture in the fourth quarter Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium, uncertainty reigned after Jackson's premature celebration nearly cost the Chargers dearly. When the dust settled, it hadn't -- the Chargers beat the Raiders 21-14.

Much to the relief of Jackson.

"It's Thanksgiving, right?" Jackson asked. "Thanks for that."

The play in question came just inside of 12 minutes to play in the fourth quarter with the Raiders leading 14-7. With the Chargers facing a fourth-and-two at the Raiders' 40, quarterback Philip Rivers hit a sprawling Jackson over the middle for a key 13-yard gain.

Jackson leaped to his feet and performed a spinning spike of the ball with his right hand.

He thought he had been touched down by a Raider. He hadn't.

"The whole throwing the ball down, I really don't recall what I was thinking there," Jackson said. "Afterwards, when I saw everybody jumping on the ball, I was like, 'Oh, you've got to be kidding me.' "

Raiders cornerback Fabian Washington alertly corralled what he thought to be a fumble.

The ball was never ruled a fumble, but rather an illegal forward pass, said referee Mike Carey. Even so, the officials initially signaled Raiders ball, bringing the Oakland offense sprinting on to the field and setting off a bizarre scene as the officials conferenced and confusion was the order of the day.

"I misinterpreted the result of the play," Carey said. "I thought the result of the play was short of the line of play (first down), which would have given the ball back to Oakland.

"Once we got the yardage set correctly, when he threw the ball forward, after marking off the 5-yard penalty, he was still past the line of gain. So they had the first down."

Raiders coach Art Shell said he thought Jackson had fumbled.

"Nobody touched him and he spiked the ball, so I thought it would be our ball," Shell said.

It was a significant shift in momentum. Instead of the Raiders taking over looking to pad their lead, the Chargers tied the game five plays later on LaDainian Tomlinson's 19-yard touchdown pass to Gates.

According to Tomlinson, Jackson yelled "God is good!" at the Raiders as he returned to the field with a new lease on life. Once back in the huddle, he apologized to his teammates.

Evidently, no harm no foul.

"He is very bright and he let his emotions get away from him," head coach Marty Schottenheimer said. "That's how you develop young players."

Said Tomlinson: "I think he learned a good lesson today."

Contact staff writer Michael Klitzing at mklitzing@nctimes.com. Comment at sports.nctimes.com.