Argyle will be hoping that Norwich fail to beat Reading on Monday, a result which will see the Canaries relegated and ensure Paul Sturrock's men remain in the second tier of English football.
But they should have taken all three points at Loftus Road after coming up against a woeful Rangers side.
Despite having Patrick Agyemang back after a four-month injury enforced absence, Rangers looked toothless in attack and bereft of ideas going forward.
With chairman Flavio Briatore having promised to overhaul the playing squad in the summer, several R's players will be facing a nervous wait to see if they will grace Loftus Road again next season.
With Argyle needing a win to secure their Championship future, it was little surprise that Sturrock's men flew out of the traps.
Paul Gallagher's fierce close-range effort brought a sharp save out of Radek Cerny in the Rangers goal, before Ashley Barnes flashed high and wide from six yards.
While the visitors had purpose and urgency in their play, Rangers looked laboured and lethargic.
It wasn't until the final seconds of the first half that the R's finally managed an effort on target as Heidar Helguson's weak header sailed into the arms of Argyle keeper Roman Larrieu.
Plymouth continued to dominate after the interval and Gallagher once again fluffed his lines when well placed, this time flashing an effort harmlessly over the crossbar from close range.
Jamie Mackie was next to go close, capitalising on some hesitant Rangers defending before unleashing a rasping effort which Cerny parried before Barnes lashed the rebound wide.
And deep into stoppage time, Mackie again frittered away a golden opportunity to secure a precious victory as he shot straight at Cerny after breaking clear of the Rangers backline.