Following the national attention from the previous week, the Patriots found themselves playing mainly for home-field advantage in the playoffs against a Dolphins team that had already been eliminated from playoff contention and could gain pride as their only consolation. Early on, the Dolphins struck first, putting a field goal through the uprights to open scoring.  In the second quarter Matt Moore raced the Dolphins downfield and connected on touchdowns to Brandon Marshall and Charles Clay for a 17-0 halftime lead.   The Patriots crossed the 50-yard line in the first half only once, but after a Stephen Gostkowski field goal the Patriots forced a Moore fumble, leading to a Deion Branch touchdown catch.  Moore was sacked on Miami's next possession and the Dolphins had to punt; the Patriots drove down and Tom Brady ran in a quarterback sneak touchdown that tied the game.   Devin McCourty intercepted a deep Moore pass and the Patriots booted a 42-yard field goal for their first lead of the game.   A second Brady quarterback sneak score and a late Davone Bess touchdown catch put the score at 27-24, and the Patriots were able to keep the ball the final 1:48 for the win as the team improved to 12-3 and secured them a playoff bye.. how many points did the Patriots win by?