Patriots 41, Texans 28

Patriots handle Texans, will face Ravens in AFC title game

The Patriots advanced to the AFC Championship game for the 7th time of the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era after dispatching the Texans, 41-28.

Running back Shane Vereen scored three touchdowns for the Patriots, and crowd erupted.

Barry Chin/Globe Staff

Running back Shane Vereen scored three touchdowns for the Patriots.

Jim Davis/Globe Staff

Jim Davis/Globe Staff

Vereen hauled in a 33 yard pass from Tom Brady for a touchdown that helped seal the New England victory.

Brandon Lloyd celebrated with Vereen after Vereen scored.

Jim Davis/Globe Staff

Brandon Lloyd celebrated with Vereen after Vereen scored.

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 13: Aaron Hernandez #81 of the New England Patriots reacts after a catch in the third quarter against the Houston Texans during the 2013 AFC Divisional Playoffs game at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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Aaron Hernandez reacted after a catch in the third quarter.

Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels loses the ball while being stopped by New England Patriots' Steve Gregory, Brandon Deaderick and Jerod Mayo during the second half of an AFC divisional playoff NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013. The play had been stopped before Daniels dropped the ball. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

AP

Owen Daniels lost the ball while being stopped by Steve Gregory, Brandon Deaderick and Jerod Mayo.

Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson (25) cannot restrain New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley as he crosses the goal line for an eight-yard touchdown during the second half of an AFC divisional playoff NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

AP

Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson cannot restrain Stevan Ridley as he crossed the goal line.

Houston Texans place kicker Shane Graham kicks a 55 yard field goal against the New England Patriots during the second quarter in their NFL AFC Divisional playoff football game in Foxborough, Massachusetts January 13, 2013. Holding the ball is Texans' Donnie Jones and at right is Patriots' Kyle Arrington. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

REUTERS

Houston's Shane Graham kicked a 55-yard field goal to end the 2d half.

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 13: Stevan Ridley #22 of the New England Patriots scores a touchdown in the third quarter against the Houston Texans during the 2013 AFC Divisional Playoffs game at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Stevan Ridley scored a touchdown.

With a 47-yard reception in the 2d quarter, Wes Welker set the franchise record for postseason receptions with 59, passing Troy Brown.

AP

With a 47-yard reception in the 2d quarter, Wes Welker set the franchise record for postseason receptions with 59, passing Troy Brown.

Houston Texans free safety Danieal Manning (38) is chased by New England Patriots free safety Devin McCourty (32) on a 94-yard kickoff return during the first half of an AFC divisional playoff NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

AP

Texans free safety Danieal Manning was chased by Patriots free safety Devin McCourty on a 94-yard opening kickoff return.

Dan Shaughnessy

Patriots thrash the hapless Houston Texans

The Patriots defeated the Texans, 41-28, in the first de facto preseason playoff game in NFL history to move on and face the Ravens in the AFC title game.

Bill Belichick grateful for Patriots depth

After Rob Gronkowski and Danny Woodhead were lost to injury, Belichick said the team “had a bunch of guys step up” to help beat the Texans.

Latest news

 

US to decide if it can grant a reservation to Wampanoag

Obtaining reservation rights is essential before the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe could open a casino.

Ben Affleck

REUTERS

Affleck’s ‘Argo’ wins big at Golden Globes

Ben Affleck won best movie drama and best director awards for the Iran hostage thriller.

Colin Powell says Hagel is ‘superbly qualified’ to lead Pentagon

The former secretary of state and chairman of the joint chiefs provided a resounding vote of support for Chuck Hagel as defense secretary.

Boston Globe ePaper

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Photo Gallery | From the Archives

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/01/09/BostonGlobe.com/Special/Images/Molasses.jpg The Great Molasses Flood of 1919

A giant tank in the North End collapsed and sent a wave of molasses through the streets of Boston, killing 21 people.

Globe exclusives

Matthew O’Neill waited for a taxi after being treated for a broken arm at Nantucket Cottage Hospital.

States take aim at Mass. Medicare windfall
Employees at Bootstrap Compost, including Igor Kharitonenkov, make their own promotional materials out of recycled cardboard.

Your Next Job

Multimedia resumes stand out
For his new series, “Edge of America,’’ Geoff Edgers jumps into the action to experience the things people around the country do for entertainment.

From reporter to reality TV
Bobby Valentine does believe that “time will heal all wounds. These guys have received a slap on the wrist, but I think eventually those who should be there will be there.”

Sunday Baseball Notes

Valentine backs Piazza for Hall
Mayor Thomas Menino has all the comforts of home at the Parkman House, including his favorite chair.

Mayor Menino at home away from home
Because of his eye injury last October, Stephen Durant jokes, he now looks like a Bond villian.

Horrific injury an eye-opener for rugby player
To opponents, Kevin Garnett is a despised, unrelenting nuisance, using his full arsenal of mental tactics against even the most vulnerable of subjects.

Sunday Basketball Notes

Old mentor comes to defense of Kevin Garnett

Opinion | TOM KEANE

Pay more to go faster? Horrors!

movies

Having a devil of a time onscreen

10 pop acts that could make some noise in 2013

Bob Ryan

Baseball Hall of Fame voting process is fine

Jackie Bradley in 2012 was named the Red Sox’ minor league defensive player of the year.

Jackie Bradley could become central figure for Red Sox

Sports

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The Bruins hope Tyler Seguin’s production mirrors that of his stint in Switzerland.

Bruins expect Tyler Seguin to be at top of his game

The Bruins need Seguin to step up right away this season, and there is no reason to think he can’t meet that expectation.

Metro

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Transportation is “one of the most important ingredients” to success, says CEO John Fish.

CEOs, civic group urge action on transit in Mass.

A new study estimates that if the state fails to address the aging highway and transit network, the cumulative economic drain could total $26 billion by 2030.

Columnists

Yvonne Abraham

As Mass. open seats loom, political fever infects all

JOANNA WEISS

Talk about gun safety, not control
Manohar Lal Sharma is the lawyer for one of the accused in the gang rape trial in India.

JEFF JACOBY

A right to defend, but not an obligation
US District Judge Richard G. Stearns was an assistant US attorney in the period Whitey Bulger is said to have committed crimes.

Joan Vennochi

A fair trial for Bulger?

LAWRENCE HARMON

Cultural institutions need to pay up

SCOT LEHIGH

Gun safety: Put a price on it

Joan Wickersham

Hillary Clinton’s cookies
Dick Gephardt’s 1979 “Gephardt rule” enabled the House to raise the debt ceiling without a vote on it.

Joshua Green

How the House wrecked the ceiling

Kevin Cullen

A list far too long
Arian Foster and the Patriots will be back in Foxborough on Sunday.

Dan Shaughnessy

No offense, but the Texans simply can’t win
Shell’s runaway Arctic drilling vessel, Kulluk, sits grounded 40 miles southwest of Kodiak City, Alaska, last week.

JULIETTE KAYYEM

Shell’s Arctic troubles only buy time

Edward L. Glaeser

The urban innovation model

Nation & World

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A supporter of deposed Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak celebrated outside a High Court in Cairo after the court ordered a retrial of Mubarak.

Egypt court grants Mubarak appeal, orders retrial

Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak had been convicted of failing to prevent the killing of hundreds of protesters during the uprising that toppled his regime.

Politics

To his allies, the presence of Chuck Hagel as defense secretary would repudiate the interventionist approach to foreign policy promoted by some in the Bush White House.

Hagel nomination revives debate over intervention limits

To his allies, the presence of Chuck Hagel as defense secretary would repudiate the interventionist approach to foreign policy promoted by some in the Bush White House.

Business

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Employers are able to find passive job seekers on LinkedIn, which helps in industries that have a hard time filling spots.

LinkedIn is now the preferred tool for recruiters

Employers are able to find passive job seekers on LinkedIn, which helps in industries that have a hard time filling spots.

Arts

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A hot casting demonstration at last year’s Glass Art Society Conference in Toledo, Ohio.

2013 Glass Art Society conference in Boston canceled

For the first time in 43 years, the Seattle-based Glass Art Society canceled its annual conference and told members, wait’ll next year.

Travel

Budget Friendly

The view on a walk near Hana, Maui, at the end of a scenic drive renowned for its beauty, 620 curves, and 59 bridges.

Maui on a budget

With its upscale resorts and cosmopolitan dining, Maui can be expensive. Here’s how to have a memorable time without busting the budget.

Books

Book Review

“The River Swimmer” by Jim Harrison

‘The River Swimmer’ by Jim Harrison

In the book’s two novellas, Harrison shows again that he is one of our greatest voices of aging both clumsily and well and of teasing out hope amid dread.

Magazine

The cover for the January 13 2013 issue

Alfresco fabulous
The cover for the January 6 2013 issue

Best Boston Globe photos of the year, 2012
The cover for the December 23 2012 issue

Bostonians of the Year: Raisman and Harrison

The cover for the December 16 2012 issue

Best of the New: Diversions

Opinion

“Hagel should be defense secretary because of, and not despite, the fact that he sets policy.”

Juliette Kayyem 

Ideas

“In places like Boston, boardinghouses were a key part of how 19th-century cities grew…and as Americans flock back into cities, they may offer some insights into where we’re going.”

Ruth Graham on the heyday of boardinghouses 

“All these people are writing stories about the mayor slowing down. This mayor’s not slowing down. I’ll still be as active as I was before this incident.”

Mayor Thomas M. Menino