Blaine Gabbert completed the game-winning touchdown to help keep the Tennessee Titans' play-off hopes alive.
The quarterback, who finished seven of 11 passes for 101 yards, found MyCole Pruitt with a two-yard pass in the fourth quarter to close out the narrow 25-16 win against the Washington Redskins.
Gabbert came off the bench and his influence could prove vital in the last game of the season against the Indianapolis Colts after quarterback Marcus Mariota was forced to leave the field in the first half with a shoulder injury.
The Redskins' Adrian Peterson, meanwhile, again reached the feat of 1,000 rushing yards in a season for the eighth time in his career, but will still need Minnesota and Seattle to suffer a defeat to see his side earn a play-off berth.
In the night's later game, Lamar Jackson threw for 204 yards as the Baltimore Ravens moved closer to a play-off place with a 22-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Dominating for most of the game, the Ravens only looked to be in danger as they trailed 10-6 in third, but Jackson's 68-yard touchdown pass to Mark Andrews and a third field goal from Justin Tucker put them back out in front.
The Los Angeles Chargers, already with a play-off spot, could now lose the AFC West, with Kansas City looking to take the division top spot with a win over Seattle on Sunday.
Saturday's victors, the Titans and Ravens, are both 9-6 and will now battle it out for the final wildcard spot in the AFC as the season finale approaches.
