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Patriots offensive line not a complete disaster, but not enough in Week 1 loss to Eagles

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

FOXBORO — The Patriots’ offensive line punched above its weight class respectfully for most of Sunday’s opener, holding firm against one of the best defensive lines in football. But when it mattered most late, the Eagles showcased why they’re the better unit.The Patriots knocked on the door of an upset against the defending NFC champions despite their beleaguered offensive line – with two rookies, Atonio Mafi and Sidy Sow, but two clutch plays by the Eagles helped stamp a 25-20 victory for the visitors. Mac Jones and Co., trailing by eight in the fourth, engineered a drive into Philadelphia’s red zone but were stopped in their tracks. The Patriots faced third-and-3 when standout Eagles defensive lineman Fletcher Cox did what he does best, physically overpowering Sow and taking down Ezekiel Elliott for no gain all in one motion. Then, Bill Belichick opted to go for it on fourth down, and Jones, running for his life out of the pocket, threw a ball incomplete for a turnover on downs.It...

Patriots rebound from early mistakes but fall short to Eagles in season opener

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

FOXBORO — The Patriots’ season opener began like one of those games where everything that could go wrong would go wrong.Costly penalties on defense allowed the Eagles to keep drives alive. A Mac Jones errant pass clanged off Kendrick Bourne’s fingertips and into Eagles cornerback Darius Slay’s waiting arms for a pick-six. Running back Ezekiel Elliott was easily stripped for another turnover.Down 16-0 just over 10 minutes into the contest, halftime looked like it would be a wake for the Patriots’ 2023 season rather than a celebration of Tom Brady.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Tom Brady to be inducted into Patriots Hall of Fame in June New England Patriots | Patriots vs. Eagles inactives: Three offensive starters out in Week 1 New England Patriots | NFL notes: Can Tom Brady’s return spark Patriots’ search for a new identity? New England Patriots | The four most important Patriots players Week 1 vs. Eagles ...

Seekonk Police Department mourning death of one of its own, Patrolwoman Kourtny DeForitis

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

The Seekonk Police Department is mourning the death of one of its own.The department identified Patrolwoman Kourtny DeForitis as one of two victims who died in an off-duty motorcycle crash early Saturday morning in Somerset, Chief David Enos announced on Facebook Sunday.DeForitis, 28, of East Taunton, had been the passenger on the motorcycle that collided into a vehicle that subsequently crashed into a telephone pole at the Route 103 rotary around 1:15 a.m. Saturday, according to authorities.The driver of the motorcycle, Daniel Glover, 44, of Easton, was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.After graduating from the Cape Cod Municipal Police Academy in 2021, DeForitis spent more than two years working as a community outreach officer under the patrol division for the department, which serves nearly 16,000 residents in the Bristol County town, bordering Rhode Island.“Kourtny had a particular fondness for the youth of Seekonk and could be found playfully interacting with them i...

Chicago Cubs salvage series with a 5-2 win against Arizona Diamondbacks and they still control their postseason fate

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

Just when the Chicago Cubs have appeared to be on the brink of watching their postseason aspirations spiral away, they come through.That’s how good teams perform, and the Cubs have shown a knack for moving past a tough couple of games, staying locked in and maintaining their hold on a playoff spot. They bounced back following a pair walk-off losses last weekend in Cincinnati to win the series finale, leading into a sweep of the San Francisco Giants, and after dropping three consecutive games to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Cubs took care of business in Sunday’s 5-2 win.“I feel like we’ve been honestly grinding away at it the last couple days and just nothing really to show for it,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “Once again, it’s just one of those things we’ve got to stay the course and continue to prepare and go out there and obviously compete.”Three solo home runs in the third inning — Christopher Morel, and back-to-back...

Bio-charged: VC funding, employment continues climb in Bay State’s biotech sector

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

A MassBio report of the life sciences industry reveals that Massachusetts’ increased research and development workforce and venture capital funding underscore the state’s vitality in America’s biopharma work.The business group’s 2023 Industry Snapshot was highlighted by the 114,000 employees within Massachusetts’ biopharma sector. Biopharma employment has rapidly rose in the Bay State, since 2018 after staying moderately consistent in prior years.For instance, a total of 74,256 individuals were employed in Massachusetts’ biopharma sector in 2018, nearly 40,000 fewer than in 2023. Previous to that recent jump, it took 16 years for the Bay State to add 40,000 jobs to the industry, from 2002-2018, according to the report.Takeda, Sanofi and Moderna are listed as the state’s top three biopharma companies, with a collective employment of more than 15,000, according to the report. Vertex, Pfizer, Novartis, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, AbbVie, AstraZeneca/Alexion, Alnylam and Foundat...

John Means to rejoin Orioles as starter Tuesday vs. Cardinals: ‘I just want to win the World Series’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

Fenway Park has been host to plenty of highlights in John Means’ career, the site of his major league debut in 2018 and first opening day start with the Orioles in 2021.It’s also where, this weekend, he rejoined the team in advance of his long-awaited activation from the injured list after his April 2022 Tommy John elbow reconstruction. Means, the Orioles’ top starting pitcher from 2019 to 2021, will make his first major league appearance in nearly 17 months Tuesday as Baltimore’s starter against the St. Louis Cardinals, manager Brandon Hyde said after Sunday’s series finale with the Boston Red Sox.The 30-year-old left-hander returns to the rotation he shepherded for much of the organization’s rebuild. Before Sunday’s game and official news of his looming activation, Means said even joining the Orioles as a reliever would not dull what he’s out to achieve with a team pursuing its first playoff berth since 2016.“I just want to win...

South Boston’s Medal of Honor Park bursting with history

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

For the past 42 years, Medal of Honor Park in Southie has been a source of pride, honoring 25 men from the neighborhood who lost their lives during the Vietnam War.The 6-acre peaceful sanctuary on East Broadway is now bursting with even more history.A pair of saplings, dedicated on Sunday, carry on the legacy of every neighborhood Marine who has died in all of the nation’s wars as well as the 34 residents killed during World War I.The dedication of the baby oak trees came during the 42nd anniversary of the South Boston Vietnam Memorial, which drew the presence of veterans, families and local officials.Tommy Lyons, founder of the South Boston Vietnam Memorial Committee, received the saplings earlier this year before their plantings in late May. The trees are from Belleau Wood in France, the site of a major World War I battle in June 1918, in which more than 1,800 American troops died.Lyons recounted how national news crews from New York came to South Boston to capture the grand dedic...

Southbound I-5 lanes reopen after closure for maintenance: Caltrans

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Drivers through downtown San Diego are in luck. Caltrans reopened all lanes along southbound Interstate 5 Sunday after crews wrapped up the first part of a bridge repair project ahead of schedule. The closure, which was implemented for emergency repairs to the bridge deck over State Route 163, began at 9 p.m. Friday and was originally scheduled to run through 5 a.m. Monday. All southbound traffic was diverted onto eastbound Interstate 8 during the time. The closure was also anticipated to have a major impact on travelers headed to San Diego International Airport.After making significant progress, however, Caltrans announced in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sunday afternoon that motorists were allowed back onto the stretch of I-5. Driver, passenger killed in rollover crash on I-15 Another closure is scheduled for northbound I-5 from Friday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m. to Monday, Oct. 1 at 5 a.m. That closure will start at the State Route 15 connector. One lane will be...

Canada’s Dabrowski and partner Routliffe win U.S. Open women’s doubles crown

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski claimed her first Grand Slam title in women’s doubles Sunday when she and partner Erin Routliffe won the U.S. Open final in straight sets.Dabrowski and Routliffe defeated Laura Siegemund of Germany and Vera Zvonareva of Russia 7-6 (11-9), 6-3 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.Dabrowski won mixed doubles crowns at the Australian Open in 2018 and the French Open in 2017.The 31-year-old Canadian can now claim the U.S. Open among her Grand Slam titles, this time in women’s doubles.Routliffe was born in New Zealand, but grew up in Caledon, Ont., and she previously competed for Canada.

‘He was my friend’: Canadian volunteer reportedly killed in Ukraine by Russian attack

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

CHASIV YAR, Ukraine — Several aid organizations in Ukraine say that a volunteer Canadian aid worker was killed Saturday morning by a Russian attack.In an Instagram post, humanitarian group Road to Relief said Anthony “Tonko” Ihnat was killed while travelling in a vehicle with three other volunteers with the organization.Another group, called Brave to Rebuild, posted a tribute to Ihnat on X, formerly known as Twitter. The post said the 58-year-old Ontario man was a joyful, caring, and hardworking man who loved the Toronto Maple Leafs.Taisia Orikhovska, a coordinator with Brave to Rebuild, added Ihnat volunteered with the group earlier this year in the Kyiv region.“He was a part of our family … we lost a very important person,” Orikhovska said in a phone interview from Ukraine. “He was a very funny person, he always smiled, he always joked, always hugged. He was amazing.”Ihnat and his colleagues with Road to Relief were on their way to check o...