Patriots 23, Dolphins 16

Patriots defeat Dolphins to clinch AFC East title

New England, even with an offense that struggled at times, outmuscled the Dolphins to claim its fourth straight division crown.

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Matthew Slater, left, and Marquice Cole ran off the field with smiles after beating the Dolphins and earning the AFC East crown.

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Wes Welker scored a touchdown among his 10 catches in the first half for the Patriots.

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Ryan Tannehill jumped into the end zone to score the Dolphins' only touchdown of the first half just before halftime.

John Bazemore/AP

The Patriots capitalized on two Dolphins mistakes in the first half (a fumble and a botched punt) to build a lead.

John Bazemore/AP

Stevan Ridley ran in from 2 yards out with the first touchdown of the game for the Patriots.

John Bazemore/AP

Dolphins punter Brandon Fields couldn't handle this snap in the first quarter, a mistake that led to a Patriots touchdown.

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Tom Brady was sacked by Dolphins safety Reshad Jones in the fourth quarter.

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Defensive end Cameron Wake had a grip on Brady’s leg, but Brady was able to complete the pass to Welker in the first quarter.

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Defensive end Trevor Scott reacted after sacking Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

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Patriots running backs Stevan Ridley (left) and Danny Woodhead prepared to take the field for pre-game warmups.

Study suggests meditation may help prevent PTSD

A first-of-its-kind training at Norwich University in Vermont seeks to determine whether meditation can improve troops’ performance.

joanna weiss

In Holyoke, a Shakespearean saga unfolds

What’s playing out for Alex Morse, Holyoke’s 23-year-old mayor, is a tale about the learning curve of politics and the toxic nature of a casino debate.

Latest news

Old South Church votes to sell rare book

The church will sell one of its two copies of a 1640 Bay Psalm Book, a valuable text that specialists say could fetch $10 million to $20 million at auction.

NH couple to be arraigned Monday in abuse case

Roland Dow and Jessica Linscott will face a New Hampshire judge on charges of abusing Linscott’s 3-year-old son.

Special report | Fishy business

Accountability lost in fish supply

Handshake deals and vague invoices make it easy for fish mislabeling — intentional or not — to take place at the expense of consumers who end up paying more for inferior seafood.

Many Mass. restaurants still serve mislabeled fish

A year after a Globe investigation revealed widespread fish mislabeling, a new round of DNA testing shows that the problem still exists.

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From the Archives | Photos

Prohibition in Massachusetts

The 18th Amendment repealing Prohibition was ratified on December 5, 1933. During Prohibition, police were busy raiding speakeasies and arresting bootleggers and rum-runners.

Globe exclusives

Inspector general seeks greater powers

Joan Vennochi

Time waits for no one

Towns seek limits on medical marijuana

How to donate to Globe Santa

Kevin Cullen

A festering wound

Your Home: Find Your Style

A couple’s guide to nesting

Zack Greinke could find a new team during baseball’s Winter Meetings, which start Monday in Nashville.

Sunday Baseball Notes

To-do lists for baseball’s Winter Meetings

The Twinkie defense

High school Super Bowl results

Tom Keane

A new world of American energy independence

Bill Murray talks about his new deal as FDR

Ideas

Could boredom be curable?

Sports

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red sox notebook

The Red Sox are penciling in recent acquisition Jonny Gomes as their left fielder

Red Sox have big plans for Jonny Gomes

Jonny Gomes has been a platoon player the last two seasons, but the Red Sox see him as more than that.

Metro

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Berklee student Michal Skrzypek made more than 1,000 trips on a Hubway bicycle this year.

Hubway exceeds expectations as it closes for winter

The bike-sharing program registered roughly 50 percent more rides than planners hoped, and officials are now envisioning a year-round program in the future.