MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick spent his Saturday night dressing up as Santa at the team's holiday party, then proceeded to use Sunday afternoon to deliver gifts to all of his receivers during a thrilling 38-35 overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Fitzpatrick's dominant performance was nearly erased by a ferocious Bengals comeback in the fourth quarter, but in true Fitzpatrick fashion, his roller coaster had another loop. A strong overtime drive -- aided by a 28-yard Isaiah Ford catch-and-run -- led to Jason Sanders' game-winning field goal as time expired.
Sunday was a quintessential example of everything that is Fitzpatrick. He took pictures before the game with his seven kids. He ran to retrieve Myles Gaskin's first touchdown ball after it was discarded during a celebration. And he watched his team blow a 23-point fourth-quarter lead, sending the game into overtime.
If isn't wild, it's not Fitzpatrick.
He finished the day completing 31 of 52 passes for 418 yards, four touchdowns, one interception and a 103.0 quarterback rating. He's the first Dolphins quarterback to pass for 400 yards and four touchdowns since Dan Marino retired.
Fitzpatrick continues to excel in tight-window situations. He had two touchdowns on tight-window throws Sunday, giving him an NFL-best eight for the season. He also leads the team in rushing on the season.
The Dolphins -- somehow -- have won four games with what is likely the least-talented roster in the NFL. Fitzpatrick is a large part of that success. It seems more clear than ever that if Fitzpatrick wants to come back for Year 16 in 2020, the Dolphins will welcome him back whether as a bridge quarterback or a backup/mentor for the guy whom Miami selects as their future franchise quarterback.
Fitzpatrick, 37, has sidestepped questions about his future throughout the season, but there has been nothing but positive reviews from teammates and coaches about the veteran journeyman. He seems to have found a comfortable leadership role on a rebuilding Dolphins team.
In a week when coach Brian Flores was bombarded with questions about why 22-year-old Josh Rosen wasn't playing, Fitzpatrick responded with his play.
Promising trend: DeVante Parker's breakout season continued with another great game as he eclipsed 1,000 yards for the first time in his career (1,067 on the year). He had five catches for 111 yards and his ninth touchdown of the season.
Parker set individual goals for himself to play all 16 games and get 1,000 yards, and it looks like he will reach both. It's a triumph for Parker, who had to shake off talk of him being a bust after an injury-stricken and disappointing first four seasons in Miami. Parker is beginning to realize his promise in Year 5, and he looks like a key core member of the 2020 Dolphins.
This comes on the heels of Parker signing a four-year, $40 million contract extension with more than $20 million guaranteed earlier this month.
Buy/sell on a breakout performance: I'm buying wide receiver Albert Wilson getting some of his juice back. Wilson now has back-to-back season-best performances and is getting healthy as the season nears its end.
Wilson had seven catches for a 79 yards Sunday and showed some of the yards-after-catch ability that made him so tough to stop in 2018 before a devastating hip injury.
Wilson has a $9.5 million non-guaranteed salary in 2020, and it might be a stretch to bring him back at that number. But his late-season promise could make the Dolphins think about whether it's worth trying to make it work with Wilson for one more season.
Draft update: The 1-14 Bengals are officially on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft. Washington, at 3-12, is now in the driver's seat for the No. 2 pick after its loss to the New York Giants. A Dolphins loss against New England next week still guarantees Miami a top-five pick in the draft.