Dolphins stun Raiders to inch closer to playoffs

With a defender dragging him down by his facemask, Ryan Fitzpatrick still managed to launch the pass that might have saved the Miami Dolphins’ season.

Just a littlemore FitzMagic. Fitzpatrick’s desperation heave toMackHollins set up Jason Sanders’ 44-yard field goal as the Dolphins drove the field in the final 19 seconds tomove one step closer to a playoff berth with an improbable 26-25 victory over the host LasVegas Raiders on Saturday night.

“We just felt like we needed a spark, trying to win the game,” coach Brian Flores said about the decision to bench rookie Tua Tagovailoa for Fitzpatrick in the fourth quarter.

Fitzpatrick led three scoring drives in the fourth quarter for Miami (10-5) with the final one the most unlikely after the Raiders ( 7- 8) bypassed a gimme touchdown for a field goal. The move to play for the field goal backfired as the Raiders lost on a kick instead.

The Dolphins moved a half-game ahead of Baltimore

in the AFC playoff race and can clinch a wild-card berth with a win next week at Buffalo.

The Raiders were eliminatedwith their fifth loss in six games and will be out of the postseason for the 17th time in 18 seasons.

49ers 20, Cardinals 12

C.J. Beathard threwthree touchdown passes, Wilson ran for 183 yards, and San Francisco dealt a brutal blow to Arizona’s playoff hopes.

Because of the loss, the Cardinals (8-7) no longer control their own destiny in the playoff race. If the Chicago Bears win their final two games, they will reach the playoffs because of a tiebreaker over the Cardinals.

Buccaneers 47, Lions 7

Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes in the only half he needed to play and as Tampa Bay routed Detroit, sealing a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

The Bucs (10-5) set a franchise record with 588 yards.

Tampa Bay rested Brady ahead 34-0, its largest halftime leadin franchise history.