The Patriots clinched a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs in their 27-24 win over the Dolphins on Christmas Eve. Trailing 17-0 in the first half, New England scored 27 straight points to begin the second half. "You don't want to, certainly, make a habit of this," said Tom Brady, who scored on two one-yard sneaks and threw for a one-yard touchdown. "We showed some resiliency." New England (12-3) won its seventh straight game. After the Texans lost to the Colts on Thursday night, the Patriots needed a win or a tie to lock up one of the top two spots in the AFC. "It's good to clinch," said Deion Branch, who caught the touchdown pass from Brady, "but not by the way we played. It's not the way you want to do it."