The Patriots went into Miami with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. They didn't need to be perfect against an up-and-coming but still-flawed division rival. They just needed to be sound. Offensively. Defensively. Sound. 

They had to -- as one of the longest-standing Patriots mantras goes -- first not lose the game, then try to go win it. 

You know by now that they couldn't. 

Let's get to the grades for Week 15 . . . 

Phil Perry's Week 15 Patriots Report Card