NASHVILLE — Blaine Gabbert threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to MyCole Pruitt with 4 minutes 30 seconds left and the Tennessee Titans kept their playoff hopes alive by rallying to beat the Washington Redskins 25-16 on Saturday.
Gabbert came off the bench for the third time this season after the Redskins knocked Marcus Mariota out of the game late in the first half. Gabbert hit Taywan Taylor for 35 yards to jump-start the winning drive, Derrick Henry ran four times for 33 yards, his last an 18-yarder to the 2. Gabbert then hit Pruitt at the back of the end zone.
The Titans (9-6) must beat Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts next week and have Baltimore or Pittsburgh lose once to earn the A.F.C.’s second wild-card spot for a second consecutive playoff berth.
Safety Kevin Byard intercepted Josh Johnson’s pass on third-and-3 with 1:17 left. Then Malcolm Butler picked off a pass as time expired and ran 56 yards for a touchdown.
The Redskins (7-8) have lost five of six. They need to defeat Philadelphia next week and receive some help to keep their hopes of an N.F.C. wild-card berth alive.
Mariota had thrown for 110 yards when sacked with 48 seconds left in the first half by defensive end Jonathan Allen. Mariota’s right, throwing shoulder and arm were examined. He then walked to the locker room and was replaced by Gabbert.
The Titans said Mariota sustained a stinger, the injury that knocked him out of Tennessee’s loss Nov. 18 at Indianapolis. He also was knocked out of the season opener with an elbow injury that cost him a start.
Gabbert threw for 101 yards, and Henry finished with 84 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.
Adrian Peterson ran for 119 yards for Washington. That put him over 1,000 yards for the season for the first time since 2015 and made him the 12th player in N.F.L. history with eight or more seasons with 1,000 yards rushing.
Johnson, who had not thrown a pass in an N.F.L. game since 2011 before joining the Redskins, made his second straight start and threw for 153 yards and a touchdown. Dustin Hopkins kicked field goals of 50, 40 and 46 yards, and Washington finished with three sacks.
The fourth quarterback to start this season for Washington this season, Johnson drove the Redskins on the N.F.L’.s second-longest drive this season, taking the ball with 26 seconds left in the first quarter and then eating up 10:58 in going 98 yards in 17 plays. Johnson capped the drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Michael Floyd for a 10-6 lead.
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