AFC CHAMPIONSHIP | Ravens 28, Patriots 13

Patriots pounded by Ravens

Avenging last year’s AFC Championship game, the Ravens defeated the Patriots in a bruising battle, dashing New England’s hopes of returning to the Super Bowl.

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Tom Brady sat on the ground after getting knocked down in the fourth quarter.

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 20: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after defeating the New England Patriots in the 2013 AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium on January 20, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the New England Patriots 28-13. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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Ray Lewis celebrated after the game.

A New England Patriots fan reacts during the second half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game between the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. The Ravens won 28-13. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

A Patriots fan reacted.

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Fans at the Cask 'n Flagon were disappointed, enraged and often in tears as the Patriots lost to the Ravens.

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 20: Anquan Boldin #81 of the Baltimore Ravens scores a touchdown passed by Joe Flacco #5 in the fourth quarter against Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots during the 2013 AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium on January 20, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

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Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin scored a touchdown, one of two he scored in the second half.

Foxborough, MA--1/20/2013 (2nd Quarter) Baltimore Ravens Ray Rice breaking the tackle of New England Patriots Dont'a Hightower enroute to a rushing touchdown during second quarter action of the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on Sunday January 20 2013. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff) Topic: Ravens-Patriots Reporter: Shalise Manza Young

Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff

The Ravens' Ray Rice broke a tackle and rushed for a touchdown.

1/20/13: Foxborough, MA: SECOND QUARTER........Patriots quarterback Tom Brady runs into an offical as he slides to make sure that the Ravens Ray Lewis will not hit him on a late first half scramble. The New England Patriots hosted the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. section: sports topic: Ravens-Patriots (Jim Davis/Globe Staff)

Jim Davis/Globe Staff

Tom Brady ran into an offical to ensure Ray Lewis did not hit him on a late first-half scramble.

Foxborough, MA--1/20/2013 New England Patriots Brandon Lloyd making a diving first down catch against the Baltimore Ravens during 1st quarter action of the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on Sunday January 20 2013. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff) Topic: Ravens-Patriots Reporter: Shalise Manza Young

Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff

Brandon Lloyd made a diving first-down catch.

Foxborough, MA--1/20/2013 (first quarter ) New England Patriots Tom Brady point out the Baltimore Ravens defensive set during first quarter action of the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on Sunday January 20 2013. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff) Topic: Ravens-Patriots Reporter: Shalise Manza Young

Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff

Tom Brady pointed out the Ravens defensive set.

Foxboro, MA- Globe Staff photo by Stan Grossfeld---N.E.Patriots vs. Baltimore Ravens- Gostkowski makes in 3-0 first qtr

Stan Grossfeld/The Boston Globe

Stephen Gostkowski kicked a first quarter field goal to put the Patriots up, 3--0.

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 20: Brandon Lloyd #85 of the New England Patriots catches a pass over Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens during the 2013 AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium on January 20, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

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Brandon Lloyd caught a pass in front of Ed Reed.

Dan Shaughnessy

Patriots dealt an unusually abrupt ending

We waited for the Patriots’ surge to come, since they were 67-0 at in Tom Brady’s career when leading at halftime. But the Ravens made sure the surge never happened.

49ers 28, Falcons 24

49ers headed to Super Bowl

After beating the Falcons in the NFC Championship game Sunday, the 49ers will head to the Super Bowl to face the winner of the Patriots-Ravens game.

Latest news

Chemist at state crime lab in Amherst is arrested

The chemist was arrested last night and faces two counts of tampering with drug evidence, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Pistons 103, Celtics 88

Celtics get embarrassed in Detroit yet again

Paul Pierce had just 10 points in 36 minutes while Rajon Rondo committed a season-high nine turnovers in the 103-88 loss.

Obama is officially sworn in for second term

President Obama was sworn into office on Sunday just before noon, officially beginning another four-year term.

Snow and freezing temperatures on the horizon

Expecting between four and eight inches of snow, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for the coast between 5 p.m. Monday and noon Tuesday.

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From the Archives | Photo Gallery

Martin Luther King Jr. in Boston

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Boston in 1965 and spoke to politicians and residents about many of the city’s racial issues, including segregation.

Globe exclusives

Lance Armstrong in the 2004 Tour de France.

TOM KEANE

Lance Armstrong and the art of lying

The Red Sox started with what appears to be a good trade with the Pirates for closer Joel Hanrahan.

Sunday Baseball Notes

Red Sox hope to do better with trades

Melanie Mowinski stood near the fully automated Vandercook press, at PRESS in North Adams.

Arts and artists in the Berkshires

The 3-4 extra months of rest should work heavily in Sidney Crosby’s favor, and that alone could make the Penguins the Stanley Cup favorites.

Sunday Hockey Notes

Taking things into account as NHL season begins

Sunday preview | Magazine

My friend Tito: Shaughnessy on writing a book with Francona

Book review

Looking for answers about why art moves us so

Clockwise from upper left: Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, and Terry Jones.

Get ready for Python week at the Brattle

From left: The Bettina Burr conservator, Joan Wright and associate conservator of Japanese paintings Tanya Uyeda worked on a Japanese art piece.

Asian Art at the Museum of Fine Arts

Biden seemed quite at ease during a September campaign stop at Cruisers Diner in Seaman, Ohio.

Gaffes aside, Joe Biden a power in White House

A pagoda at Changdeokgung Palace, which dates to the 15th century.

A journey to find real Seoul food

US Attorney Carmen Ortiz, the FBI, and members of other law enforcement agencies announced the arrests Thursday.

Boston gangs part of drug pipeline, officials say

Each gun represents 100 deaths by firearm in 2010.

Ideas

The gun toll we’re ignoring: suicide

Sports

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Repeats in AFC, NFC title games don’t come often

Since the merger in 1970, only seven times has there been an AFC or NFC title game involving the same two teams from the previous season.

Metro

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Christmas trees like the one at top picked up by Boston trash collectors in West Roxbury eventually end up on a giant compost pile in Mattapan.

Tossed-out Christmas trees’ tales only half over

More than 100 tons of trees are gathered from curbs around Boston and brought to the city’s composting site, where they wait to be chopped up by a giant grinder.