Patriots 26, Jets 6

BEN VOLIN I INSTANT ANALYSIS

Patriots win, but offense is heading in wrong direction

Foxborough MA 12/31/17 New England Patriots Tom Brady celebrates his 5 yardetouchdown reception with teammate Dion Lewis against the New York Jets during second quarter action at Gillette Stadium. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff) topic reporter:

MATTHEW J. LEE/GLOBE STAFF

The Patriots look like a JV offense without Chris Hogan, Rex Burkhead, and James White.

Foxborough MA 12/31/17 New England Patriots Dion Lewis eludes New York Jets Buster Skrine during second quarter action at Gillette Stadium. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff) topic reporter:

Patriots clinch home-field advantage in AFC Playoffs

The Patriots beat the New York Jets 26-6 at a frozen Gillette Stadium to finish the season with a 13-3 record.

Globe Magazine

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/29/BostonGlobe.com/Magazine/Images/barry1231web.jpg Dave Barry?s year in review: Yeah, that really happened

Think 2016 was bad? Well, 2017 was surreal, alarming, scandalous, profane, and let?s not forget covfefe. And probably better than 2018 will be.

Fed up with these words? So are we. Here?s this year?s banned words list.

It includes ?unpack,? ?impactful,? ?nothingburger,? ?gig economy,? and yes, ?fake news.?

news analysis

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/16/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/judges-351390aa-e1f2-11e7-bbd0-9dfb2e37492a.jpg Year 1 of Trump was a blur of noise and news

The 45th president has dominated the national conversation more than any other, perhaps even more than Lincoln and FDR.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/27/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/TopImage_ScreenCapture.jpg Dr. Phil: A rescuer, or a reckless showman?

Experts and former guests say the show has put at risk the health of some of the people it purports to help.

Denise Bastos?s boyfriend was charged with assaulting and choking her last summer, but the state?s Valor Act allowed him to have the charges dismissed because he is a veteran.

Lane Turner/Globe Staff

Assault charges erased by veterans? ?Valor Act?

The act, intended to help veterans, got a New Bedford man cleared on charges of strangling and assaulting his ex-girlfriend.

Ideas | David Scharfenberg

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/29/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/899154988.jpg You?re probably a jerk. We all are

We all have an angel on one shoulder, and we only pretend we?re in charge.

Old-fashioned carousel provides fun for young and old alike during Lowell Winterfest. Photo by Tory Germann courtesy City of Lowell.

Festivals to combat cabin fever

New Englanders have a knack for celebrating winter despite themselves.

A look at the year that might be in business

On the eve of 2018, we asked people who know a thing or two about business to speculate about the year ahead.

Ground Game

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/30/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/Rex_Senate_Banking_Housing_and_Urba_9246949K.jpg In New England in 2017, the Trump effect was far-reaching

For some local politicians, Donald Trump?s presidency created opportunities they might not otherwise have.

BOB RYAN

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/30/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/bob_ryan-15404.jpg As the calendar flips to 2018, let?s examine the state of Boston?s teams

We won?t gloat over the 10 championships this century.

OBITUARY

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/30/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/Barres_02_JMM-1806051.jpg Ben Barres was a groundbreaker in many ways

Dr. Barres, who transitioned from female to male, became a unique and important advocate for female scientists.

@Large

Tech resolutions for trying times

This year it?s about correcting errors, undoing actions, deleting drives, locking down, and laying low.

In 2017, we said goodbye to a galaxy of luminaries

October 6 1971 / Globe Staff Photo by Donald Preston / Performers / Chuck Berry / performing at Music Hall

Donald Preston/Globe Staff/file

The deaths of such cultural game-changers as Chuck Berry and Mary Tyler Moore struck a poignant note in 2017, a year when notions of race and gender were being tested.

First Night 2018

Boston, MA - 12/31/2017 - Laney Porter (cq), 8, Cambridge, posed in front of the jetBlue 2018 ice sculpture in Copley Square. Boston bids goodbye to 2017 and hello to 2018. Photo by Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff Topic: 01firstnight Reporter: Guerra, Fox

Cold temperatures prompt changes to First Night

Some events are set to go on as planned, although the 6 p.m. parade and 7 p.m. fireworks are canceled.

Bob Badger (left) and Matt Palmer worked on ice sculptures in Copley Square.

A frigid First Night celebration works well for Boston ice sculptor

Steve Rose has carved, chopped, and chiseled ice into detailed sculptures for all but one of the last 30 years of Boston?s outdoor New Year?s celebration.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/30/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/lee_122917_snowfeatures2_met.jpg Bitterly cold temperatures are set to continue

The high temperature may get into the teens in some places today, but lows tonight are likely to be below zero with the windchill.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/31/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/Untitled-12300.jpg Mount Washington in N.H. is colder than Mars

The temperature hit 34 degrees below zero on Mount Washington on Thursday. On Mars, it was a balmy minus 9 degrees.

Marisa Mauro packed up a box of butter at the historic Bragg Farm.

Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff

This Vermont farm?s cream rises to the top

Bragg Farm?s Marisa Mauro is making the best butter you?ve ever tasted.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/31/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/458f3c18c4f24dbe96c120d4e20bdd8f-458f3c18c4f24dbe96c120d4e20bdd8f-0.jpg Five sheriff?s deputies shot, one killed, in suburban Denver

The deputies were shot after they responded to a report of a domestic disturbance on Sunday morning, officials said. The gunman was believed to be dead.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/30/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/12-30-17_FanueilHall_09.jpg Renovations will close Faneuil Hall until the spring

The adjacent marketplace and its many shops will remain open, though.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/31/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/65e4ee9eae2049289010f459b47fc1a9-65e4ee9eae2049289010f459b47fc1a9-0.jpg Pope Francis laments wars, injustices that ?ruined? 2017

During a New Year?s Eve prayer service, Pope Francis also decried social and environmental degradation across the globe.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/30/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/66f8a4cf3f3b4db084918b54d9dcc208-66f8a4cf3f3b4db084918b54d9dcc208-0.jpg Disasters pummeled North America in 2017

Parts of the United States were hit by fire, floods, and hurricanes. Two earthquakes hit Mexico. The Caribbean had a string of hurricanes.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/WebGraphics/Sports/BostonGlobe.com/2016/01/20moresports/seasonticket_90.jpg The Season Ticket podcast

NFL reporter Ben Volin joins host Chris Gasper to dive into the major storylines ahead of the last Patriots game of the regular season.

Follow:   iTunes   |   Stitcher   |   RSS

 

Opinion & Ideas

Opinion | Christopher Weyant

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/29/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/sqweyant-3867.jpg On the president?s naughty list

Trumpy Claus is frightening many Americans this year.

Newsletters

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/19/BostonGlobe.com/Politics/Images/gronk.jpg Breaking sports alerts

Gronk is catching, Kyrie is soaring, Pastrnak is scoring ? and maybe the Sox are dealing? Don?t miss any of the action. Sign up today.

Special reports

Magazine | A nonfiction novella

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/11/01/BostonGlobe.com/Magazine/Images/muck1105altimage-2940[1].jpg He put BSO on the map ? then landed in a world of trouble

One hundred years ago, one of the world?s top conductors was ensnared in a scandal involving patriotism and sex. It almost toppled Boston?s famed orchestra.

Breaking News Alerts

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/10/10/BostonGlobe.com/Lifestyle/Images/DKu5zGDUEAI5bSf.jpg Sign up for breaking news alerts from the Globe

Get the latest news ? from weather to Trump to local happenings ? delivered via Facebook messenger.

Confidential tips

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/05/22/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/spotlight.jpg Have an investigative news tip?

Do you know about wrongdoing that needs to be exposed? Call the Globe Spotlight team: 617-929-7483 or [email protected].

STAT

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/29/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/GettyImages-80133516-1024x576.jpg Stem cells for heart failure? Buyer be wary

A study of 30 clinics paints a dismal and worrisome picture of this unregulated industry.

Real Estate

What is it like to live in Marlborough?

Amy Sinni, resident and mom, really appreciates the city?s diversity. Read more about this community and others at realestate.boston.com.