Pats clinch sixth straight AFC East title with win over Dolphins

By foxsports
Published

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) The New England Patriots clinched the AFC East title for the sixth straight season as Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes in a big third quarter that carried them to a 41-13 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Leading just 14-13 at halftime, the Patriots scored on four consecutive series while piling up 24 points, the most in any third period in team history.

New England (11-3) can secure home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs by beating the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills. Miami (7-7) saw its slim postseason hopes dwindle further.

The Dolphins cut the lead to one point at halftime on Ryan Tannehill's 32-yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace with five seconds left.

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