Big play, penalty and stunning loss eliminate the Raiders from playoff contention
The Las Vegas Raiders were fighting for their playoff lives.
And beating the Miami Dolphins was essential.
But the Raiders fell short, as Ryan Fitzpatrick led a comeback that was capped by a field goal in the closing seconds of a 25-22 Dolphins win that eliminated Las Vegas from the NFL postseason field.
The Raiders were doing their part most of the way, jumping out to a 7-0 lead after Derek Carr leaped for a first-quarter rushing touchdown in the last of three NFL games Saturday.
Carr was just a game removed from having to leave early against the Los Angeles Chargers because of a groin injury.
The Dolphins answered with a Jason Sanders field goal to trim the Raiders’ lead to 7-3 late in the first quarter.
Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson made it 10-3 with a field goal less than 7 minutes away from halftime. Las Vegas eventually took a 13-6 lead into the locker room.
Miami tied it 13-13 on Myles Gaskin’s 12-yard touchdown catch from Tua Tagovailoa with 10:31 left in the third quarter.
The Raiders retook the lead 16-13 on a short field goal by Carlson with 2:30 left in the third.
Back came Miami with another field goal, tying it at 16-16 with 4:01 remaining in the game.
Once again, Carr responded, connecting with Nelson Agholor for an 85-yard touchdown catch and run with 3:37 remaining for a 22-16 lead. The extra point was no good, and that would loom large at the end.
Fitzpatrick, who had replaced the ineffective Tagovailoa in the second half, hit Gaskin for a 59-yard touchdown and the Dolphins led 23-22. But there still was 2:55 left for Carr and the Raiders to work with.
And it worked out nearly perfectly.
Carr, looking for his 21st fourth-quarter comeback of his career and 24th game-winning drive, directed a seven-play, 71-yard drive that ate up 2:36 off the clock. Carlson made up for his missed extra point with a go-ahead field goal, making it 25-23 with 19 seconds remaining.
Miami had no timeouts as it took over following a touchback at its 25. But it took just one play — a 34-yard pass to Mack Hollins along the sideline and a roughing-the-passer penalty when defensive end Arden Key grabbed Fitzpatrick’s face mask just as the quarterback let the ball fly — to break the hearts of Raider nation.
Sanders kicked a 44-yarder with 1 second left and Las Vegas’ final chance ended with a fumble after a series of laterals on the kickoff.
The loss ends the Raiders (7-8) playoff chances, while the Dolphins (10-5) remain alive.
“It’s hard to swallow right now. It’s a terrible way to lose a game,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden said. “I really admired the way we compete, but until we start closing out games we will continue to be disappointed. That’s a reflection on me obviously. I don’t regret taking a knee. We wanted to give the Dolphins the ball with as little time left as possible with no timeouts. I thought we did that, 19 seconds left on our 25-yard line. They made a desperation play, and we had a penalty on top of that. It’s inexcusable.”
Raiders did well in first half
The Raiders’ defense hasn’t fared well all season.
But Las Vegas continually pressured Tagovailoa in the first half.
The Raiders only allowed the Dolphins to muster 121 total yards in the opening two quarters. Tagovailoa was 10 of 13, but for a meager 45 yards.
Darren Waller sets TE record
Darren Waller established a new franchise record for most receptions in a season by a tight end.
Waller needed three catches to pass Todd Christensen (95 in 1986) for the most in a single season by an Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas tight end.
He passed Christensen in the first half and finished with five catches for 112 yards.
Josh Jacobs limited
Fans were wondering what the deal was with Raiders running back Josh Jacobs.
Gruden offered insight after the game, saying he wasn’t feeling good and needed to take an IV during the game.
Jacobs, like Waller an AFC Pro Bowl selection for the Raiders, finished with 13 carries for 69 yards.
Nelson Agholor’s career day
Agholor finished with five receptions for a career-high 155 receiving yards.
His previous high, while with the Philadelphia Eagles, was 141 yards in 2017 against the Seattle Seahawks.
This story was originally published December 26, 2020 at 6:16 PM.
