Foxborough: Tom Brady and the New England Patriots rode a dominant third quarter to a 41-13 NFL victory over Miami on Sunday, clinching a sixth straight division title.

On a day when Denver and Indianapolis also secured division crowns, Brady threw two touchdown passes in a 24-point third quarter. LeGarrette Blount also ran for a score in the period as the Patriots turned a one-point lead into a rout.

Rob Gronkowski, held without a reception in the first half, caught three passes for 96 yards with a score for the Patriots, who dealt another blow to Miami’s dwindling playoff hopes.

“It just didn’t go quite how we wanted it to in the first half, but we did a good job responding,” Brady said. “So it was a great win.”

The Patriots won the American Football Conference East division title for the 12th time in the last 14 years.

The Patriots also control their destiny for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, needing only to win their final two games against the New York Jets and Buffalo.

Denver wrapped up their fourth straight AFC West division title with a 22-10 victory at San Diego, even though quarterback Peyton Manning was slowed by illness and sidelined briefly in the first half by a thigh injury.

Manning produced a modest 233 yards with a touchdown, but Connor Barth booted five field goals and the Broncos defense came up big as Denver improved to 11-3.

“It’s a tough division to win, so it feels good,” said Manning, whose Broncos fell in last season’s Super Bowl to Seattle. “All it does is guarantee you a spot in the playoffs, but at least you have a shot.”

In Indianapolis, the Colts captured a second straight AFC South division title with a 17-10 win over Houston.

The Colts defense held the Texans to 289 total yards and forced two turnovers, including a late interception that halted Houston’s last comeback bid.

Dallas seized control in the NFC East with a 38-27 victory over division rivals Philadelphia.

The Cowboys jumped to a 21-0 lead before the Eagles responded with 24 straight points to grab the advantage.

Dallas weren’t finished, however, winning 17 of the final 20 points as they took sole possession of the division lead.

Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant caught all three of quarterback Tony Romo’s touchdown passes.

The outcome in Philadelphia assured the Arizona Cardinals of a playoff berth. After their 12-6 win over St Louis on Thursday, they were poised to advance unless Dallas-Philadelphia ended in a tie.

Super Bowl champions Seattle used stifling defense in a 17-7 victory over San Francisco that ended the 49ers’ playoff hopes.

Cincinnati maintained a half-game lead in the tight AFC North with a 30-0 shut-out of Cleveland - spoiling the starting debut of Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel.

The Bengals kept a nose in front of division rivals Pittsburgh, who beat the Falcons in Atlanta 27-20.

In Detroit, Matt Prater hit a late field goal to give the Lions a 16-14 victory over Minnesota in a tough NFC North matchup, the win pulling the Lions level atop the division with Green Bay, who fell 21-13 at Buffalo.

Marcus Thigpen had a punt return for a touchdown and Dan Carpenter hit four field goals for the Bills, who have won three of their last four games and are in the hunt for a wild-card spot.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had his worst game of the year, connecting on 17 of 42 passing attempts for 185 yards with two interceptions and a fumble.

Baltimore strengthened their playoff hopes with a 20-12 victory over Jacksonville. Carolina, with quarterback Cam Newton sidelined by injuries suffered in a car accident, maintained their place atop the weak NFC South division with a 19-17 victory over Tampa Bay.

Kansas City ended a three-game skid with a 31-13 victory over lowly Oakland, the New York Giants defeated Washington 24-13, and the Jets beat Tennessee 16-11 in a game marred by a brawl that erupted when defender Jurrell Casey hit Jets quarterback Geno Smith in the helmet during a timeout as a play was reviewed.