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Patriots 26, Broncos 23

Ben Volin | Instant Analysis

Imagine where the Patriots would be if they just had a competent kicker and average quarterback play?

They’d probably be knocking on the door of the playoffs instead of vying for the No. 1 draft pick.
Patriots kicker Chad Ryland unwraps redemption with winning field goal
THE LATEST
Tara Sullivan

Why would the Patriots fight to the end instead of tanking? Their coach would expect no less.

Tank? Bill Belichick? Not a chance. It’s not in his DNA. The coach and his team play on. This win showed it.

For these first-time buyers, a new meaning to being home for the holidays
Nate Smith planned to host her first Christmas in a space that is truly her own. She is among more than 230 families and individuals who received assistance from the city of Boston to purchase a home for the first time in 2023.

‘This I became a beggar for’: Millions in donations pour into a Catholic school in Lawrence

Six years ago, the dilapidated school launched a Hail Mary attempt to raise millions of dollars to build a new urban campus. What’s happening now feels nothing short of a miracle.
THE FINE PRINT

A snapshot, a headstone, and a final wish realized

At age 95, Frank Agresti has finally fulfilled a final wish: to have a smiling photo of him and his late wife made into a "porcelain portrait" and permanently fixed to the headstone where he will someday be buried.

Clemency was a political third rail for decades. Healey and other governors are starting to embrace it.

Governor Maura Healey's move to pardon 13 people is positioning Massachusetts among a growing number of states where chief executives are again embracing clemency.

At least 68 killed in central Gaza in airstrike, adding to weekend’s bloodshed
The war has devastated parts of Gaza, killed roughly 20,400 Palestinians and displaced almost all of the territory’s 2.3 million people.

Gunfire erupts at a Colorado mall on Christmas Eve. One man is dead and 3 people are hurt.
One adult male was dead at the scene with a gunshot wound, and two more, each of whom had been shot at least once, were taken to hospitals in serious condition, police said.

Claudine Gay turmoil forces Harvard’s secretive ‘corporation’ into spotlight

Harvard’s powerful board has backed its president and said little else, yet a member privately said “generational change” may be needed.
Who are the members of the Harvard Corporation? Critics see ‘double standard’ in Harvard’s handling of plagiarism allegations

Gun-wielding woman shot by police on Friday expected to survive, officials say

The woman was flown to a Boston hospital following the altercation where she is still receiving treatment, according to the update.

Christmas Eve fire in Roxbury displaces one resident
A 'quick, aggressive attack' brought the flames under control.

What’s open and closed on Christmas Day

Here’s a list of what’s open and closed on the holiday.
PODCAST

Listen to the podcast

Presented in association with HBO, 'Murder in Boston: The untold story of the Charles and Carol Stuart shooting' is available wherever you get your podcasts.
Read chapter one of ‘Nightmare in Mission Hill’ Read the full series
LOVE LETTERS

Can I follow them on social media?

We never made it to a date.
Money, Power, Inequality

OneUnited Bank president Teri Williams talks Black-owned banks, closing the racial wealth gap

The longtime executive has steered the institution through recessions and evolving banking habits.

The market for free agent pitchers is heating up, and the Red Sox have a number of possibilities

With Tyler O’Neill representing the team’s biggest acquisition of the offseason, there is plenty for the Red Sox to do.
Beyond the Gilded Gate

The $600,000 problem. Why does it cost so much to build housing in Boston, and what can we do about it?

Many forces drive the housing crisis here, and the sky-high cost of construction is one of the most powerful.
Calculator: How costs affect construction of an apartment building

Explore the project
Opinion
JEFF JACOBY

The wonderful life of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’

In Frank Capra’s beloved film, numerous characters, and even a house, get a second chance.
EDITORIAL

Massachusetts should ban PFAS in consumer products
RENÉE GRAHAM

At this year’s holiday table, heated debates will be on the menu

IDEAS | OMER AZIZ

What Christmas means to me as a Muslim
LETTERS

In Israel-Hamas war, how much is enough is a two-sided question

More recent News

Bruins limp into holiday break needing better effort, consistency
Coach Jim Montgomery's team has gotten away from their typical fight and physicality, leading to losses in six of their last eight games.

Cardinal O’Malley calls peace a ‘shattered dream’ in Christmas message
O’Malley planned to deliver the remarks at midnight on Sunday.

Trump asks appeals court to toss election case on immunity grounds
Lawyers for former president Donald Trump asked an appeals court in Washington on Saturday night to toss a federal indictment accusing him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election, arguing that he was immune to the charges because they arose from actions he had taken while he was in the White House.

TV CRITIC'S CORNER
From across the pond, a steady stream of excellence
When premium cable channels like HBO and streaming platforms like Netflix began to offer the kind of showcases and challenges that the best actors from the UK are always seeking, they leaped at the opportunities.

‘I’m learning how to be emotionally open.’ A 1-on-1 with Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla on surrender, family, and a championship quest
Mazzulla sat down with the Globe for an honest and wide-ranging conversation.

Late Mayor Menino’s family gives out gifts to families on Christmas Eve
This year marked the event's 30th anniversary.

Globe Santa

Half a century of remembering Globe Santa
Joseph A. Milano, president of Boston’s Union Oyster House, has many titles and many interests, but an initiative that’s particularly close to his heart is Globe Santa.

Donate to Globe Santa

Globe Santa is a program of the Boston Globe Foundation and exists solely to deliver joy to children.

Recommended reads

The MBTA’s new Green Line extension has a long history of trouble. It’s still not fixed.

“There’s a lot of hiding at the T, of keeping secrets, of not passing along bad news,” said Thomas P. Glynn, the chair of the T's oversight board. “It’s part of the culture.”
Maine law enforcement knew shooter posed a threat but were concerned about confronting him, video shows

‘Bernard was the very best of Cambridge’: The bond between the Palestinian family behind Brookline Lunch and their Jewish lawyer
A pivotal meeting in Central Square was the start of a lasting friendship, one that would unite two families — one Palestinian and one Jewish — in affection and now in grief.

BEST BOOKS OF 2023
Here is a list of 55 books we loved in 2023
Boston Globe book critics give us their favorites from a year of great titles

‘Winning requires hard work’: Wayfair CEO sends employees a gloomy pre-holiday email following layoff-filled year
“Working long hours, being responsive, blending work and life, is not anything to shy away from,” Niraj Shah wrote in the email obtained by the Globe. “There is not a lot of history of laziness being rewarded with success.”

Culture & Lifestyle

From screen to stage and back to screen, this time trying to carry a tune

In Michael O’Donnell’s debut novel, a father and son hide from danger in the White Mountains

Boston Music Awards show dazzles with diverse, dynamic, and defiant performances

The Velvet Underground, Nirvana, Stax soul, and more: 9 great album reissues of 2023

Special Projects

Boston thrives off the dreams of young people. But can they make it here?

Baby boomers and Gen Xers benefited from economic conditions that do not exist for millennials. And by many measures, the path ahead for Gen Z is even more fraught.

Boston doesn’t work if the T doesn’t work

With the MBTA engulfed by issues, everyday riders are feeling the pain.

How the missing become the uncounted

Inside the government’s flawed approach to finding missing persons.

Two Weeks in America

We sent a dozen journalists on the road across this complex country. They found it’s better than you think.

Opinion, ideas, and commentary

IDEAS | TOM SHEEHAN

I found my muse as a writer at Boston College 70 years ago
RENÉE GRAHAM

Downplaying the horrors of slavery will never erase its stain or America’s shame
Shmully Hecht

How Harvard’s Claudine Gay can help mend the wounds left by Oct. 7
ALEX BEAM

Vibe check on 2023
WARD SUTTON

Worst Santa ever!
Ernesto Barbieri and Jess Ruliffson

When accidents happen: True stories from an ICU nurse

Metro

What’s open and closed on Christmas Day

Here’s a list of what’s open and closed on the holiday.

For these first-time buyers, a new meaning to being home for the holidays

Nate Smith planned to host her first Christmas in a space that is truly her own. She is among more than 230 families and individuals who received assistance from the city of Boston to purchase a home for the first time in 2023.

Christmas Eve fire in Roxbury displaces one resident

A 'quick, aggressive attack' brought the flames under control.

Gun-wielding woman shot by police on Friday expected to survive, officials say

The woman was flown to a Boston hospital following the altercation where she is still receiving treatment, according to the update.

Sports

Tara Sullivan

Why would the Patriots fight to the end instead of tanking? Their coach would expect no less.

Tank? Bill Belichick? Not a chance. It’s not in his DNA. The coach and his team play on. This win showed it.
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS

Patriots kicker Chad Ryland unwraps redemption with winning field goal

On the heels of missing a field goal and an extra point, the rookie kicker came through from 56 yards with two seconds left.
How it happened

Patriots withstand Broncos’ comeback bid, win on last-minute field goal by Chad Ryland

It was New England’s fourth victory of the season, and the second this month after losing five in a row from October to December.
Ben Volin | Instant Analysis

Imagine where the Patriots would be if they just had a competent kicker and average quarterback play?
DOLPHINS 22, COWBOYS 20

Dolphins lock up playoff bid by booting Cowboys on field goal as time runs out
Patriots notebook

Special teams ace Matthew Slater a surprise inactive for the Patriots

Business

Furnace explosion at Chinese-owned nickel plant in Indonesia kills at least 13 and injures 46 others

A smelting furnace exploded Sunday at a Chinese-owned nickel plant on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, killing at least 13 workers and injuring dozens of others, police and a company official said.

Slow rollout of national charging system could hinder EV adoption

WASHINGTON — More than two years ago, lawmakers approved billions of dollars to build out a national electric vehicle charging network in the hopes of encouraging more drivers to switch to cleaner cars. The money, included in the bipartisan infrastructure law, was intended to help assure drivers they could reliably travel longer distances without running out of power.
THE FINE PRINT

A snapshot, a headstone, and a final wish realized

Painkillers without addiction? Vertex hopes its experimental pill can be first in a new class of drugs.
magazine
Globe Magazine

The 29 best photos of 2023 taken by Boston Globe photographers
CONNECTIONS

Actor Lenny Clarke’s best ever childhood Christmas came unexpectedly
Dinner with Cupid

Blind date: ‘We shared our food, which was a big plus for both of us’
MISS CONDUCT

My relative wants to compare what we all got for gifts. Help!

metro

Cardinal O’Malley calls peace a ‘shattered dream’ in Christmas message

Late Mayor Menino’s family gives out gifts to families on Christmas Eve

OneUnited Bank president Teri Williams talks Black-owned banks, closing the racial wealth gap

sports

Baker Mayfield-Mike Evans connection scores first-place Buccaneers another victory

The market for free agent pitchers is heating up, and the Red Sox have a number of possibilities

Jets keeping the band together for 2024 season

business

Billerica tech firm scores major deal to supply Chinese automaker

US wields risky bank sanctions in new bid to deny Putin cash

Trump repeats and defends his use of language that echos Nazi ideology

politics

A North American military command is tracking Santa’s every move and kids can follow along

Trump asks appeals court to toss election case on immunity grounds

How Russian and Chinese interference could affect the 2024 election

Nation

Woman who was shot in the head during pursuit sues Mississippi’s Capitol Police

Gunfire erupts at a Colorado mall on Christmas Eve. One man is dead and 3 people are hurt.

A man is killed and a woman injured in a ‘targeted’ afternoon shooting at a Florida shopping mall

World

At least 68 killed in central Gaza in airstrike, adding to weekend’s bloodshed

King Charles III’s annual Christmas message from Buckingham Palace includes sustainable touches

Death toll from China earthquake rises to 149, with 2 still missing

opinion

Why are teachers’ unions getting involved in the Israel-Gaza conflict?

Underdiagnosed and undertreated, young Black males with ADHD get left behind

Bah, humbug! ‘A Christmas Carol’ is cringeworthy.

lifestyle

Can I follow them on social media?

Hush Club’s TikTok strategy went viral — it’s anything but cheesy

Dating during perimenopause

food & dining

‘I feel abandoned’: Restaurants remain burdened by Washington Bridge closure in Rhode Island

Scared of the T? Hop aboard Mothership instead

A new Turkish restaurant near Watertown Square is already popular

travel

Busiest holiday travel season in years is off to a smooth start with few airport delays

We took a girlfriend getaway to Savannah. Plenty of other women had the same idea.

This Booking.com reservation is fake! Will the company pay up?

Arts

Banksy stop sign taken from London street soon after it appears

Forgotten women of the American landscape

A model subject gets his close-up in ‘Chuck: Photographs by George Platt Lynes’

Books

For Justin Torres, reading is about finding the sweet spot between poetry and prose

Local bestsellers for the week ended Dec. 17

In Michael O’Donnell’s debut novel, a father and son hide from danger in the White Mountains

Movies

Holidays got you down, Charlie Brown? Take our quiz on classic Christmas specials for a hit of holiday cheer.

Michael Mann’s ‘Ferrari’ fails to rev up

Oscars shortlists revealed: Here are the films one step closer to a nomination

Television

From across the pond, a steady stream of excellence

Minnie Driver remembers Matthew Perry’s ‘wealth of soul’

How Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck’s family situation inspired a new NBC sitcom

music

Before coming to Cambridge, the Felice Brothers hatch a surprise for their fans

Boston Music Awards show dazzles with diverse, dynamic, and defiant performances

The Velvet Underground, Nirvana, Stax soul, and more: 9 great album reissues of 2023

Theater/Dance

A ‘Die Hard’ diehard creates ‘Yippee Ki Yay,’ and the Huntington gets in on the action

There’s life after COVID for Jamaica Plain’s 147-year-old Footlight Club theater

Midwinter Revels serves up a frolicsome ‘Feast of Fools’

Health

CVS to launch new pharmacy reimbursement model aimed at simplifying drug pricing

Many Americans ration insulin to save money. One nonprofit is trying to make the life-saving drug more affordable.

In R.I., there’s a lack of dentists caring for patients with special needs. This program is trying to change that.

Obituaries

Ryan Minor, Orioles 3B who replaced Cal Ripken at the end of his record-setting streak, dies at 49

Influential people we lost in 2023

Robert M. Solow, celebrated economist and Nobel laureate, dies at 99