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Patriots’ playoff hopes still alive as defense buckles down to beat Dolphins

January 1, 2023 Published by

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The New England Patriots extended the Miami Dolphins’ losing streak to five games in a 23-21 victory that has them on the edge of clinching a playoff spot.

The Patriots will now head to the TV to watch the New York Jets, who they need to lose to get in as the final wild card team this week.

The Dolphins, now 8-8 just like New England, head into Week 18 needing to win and the Patriots to lose if they wish to make the playoffs.

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Miami had to go into this game with Teddy Bridgewater under center, as Tua Tagovailoa continues to be in concussion protocol. But while Bridgewater was having himself a solid game, he injured a finger in his throwing hand and had to come out, leaving rookie Skylar Thompson to take over.

Bridgewater’s injury came on a crucial play, as he was picked off on a pass intended for Trent Sherfield and Patriots safety Kyle Dugger took that interception to the house for a 39-yard pick-six.

NFL OFFICIATING DRAWS IRE AFTER DOLPHINS FUMBLE TAKEN OFF THE BOARD VS PATRIOTS

It gave New England a 16-14 lead, and they would add to it later in the fourth quarter with an 11-play, 89-yard drive that resulted in Jakobi Meyers going up to snatch a pass from Mac Jones for a one-yard touchdown, a necessary score to leave home with a win.

Thompson made a push late in the game, going 61 yards in nine plays for a Mike Gesicki touchdown that made it 23-21 with just under a minute to play.

But the Dolphins couldn’t convert on the onside kick attempt, as Hunter Henry fell on it and allowed the Patriots to kneel out the clock.

Jones finished the game with 203 yards and two passing touchdowns, his first coming on a seven-yard pass to Tyquan Thornton on the Patriots’ opening drive of the game.

Bridgewater would orchestrate a drive that saw Tyreek Hill rush for two yards to tie the game at seven immediately after the Patriots scored, and he added a nifty pitch to Raheem Mostert in the third quarter for a two-yard score to make it 14-7.

Bridgewater finished the game 12 of 19 for 161 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while Thompson went 12 of 21 for 104 yards.

BILL BELICHICK IGNORES QUESTIONS ABOUT MAC JONES’ CONTROVERSIAL TACKLE, NOTION THAT HE’S A DIRTY PLAYER

There wasn’t much run game for either team in this contest, with the Patriots totaling 77 yards to the Dolphins’ 86 yards. Rhamondre Stevenson had 42 yards on just eight carries, while Jeff Wilson Jr. had 45 yards on 15 carries. Mostert also had 29 yards on nine touches.

With the Buffalo Bills on the schedule next week for the Patriots, they certainly are hoping the Seattle Seahawks can take down the Jets so they don’t have to worry about beating the current No. 1 seed in the AFC.

As for the Dolphins, they have the Jets on the schedule in Miami for Week 18.

TSA finds gun parts hidden in peanut butter jars at JFK Airport

January 1, 2023 Published by CNN

A Rhode Island man was arrested last week after TSA agents discovered parts of a disassembled semi-automatic handgun disguised within two jars of peanut butter in his luggage, according to a news release from the TSA.

The agency said a checked bag containing the peanut butter jars triggered an alarm in an X-ray unit at JFK airport on December 22. Closer inspection revealed the gun parts, wrapped in plastic and “jammed” into two jars of what appear to be Jif brand peanut butter. The gun’s magazine was loaded with bullets, according to the TSA.

“The gun parts were artfully concealed in two smooth creamy jars of peanut butter, but there was certainly nothing smooth about the way the man went about trying to smuggle his gun,” said John Essig, TSA’s federal security director for JFK Airport, in the release. “Our officers are good at their jobs and are focused on their mission — especially during the busy holiday travel period.”

Port Authority Police confiscated the handgun parts and arrested the man, according to the TSA.

Travelers planning to bring firearms onto a plane must have the proper permits, declare their weapons, and pack them according to TSA guidelines. The civil penalty for attempting to bring undeclared weapons onto a flight can be as high as $15,000.

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Tom Brady, Mike Evans put together monster performances to lift Bucs to NFC South-clinching win

January 1, 2023 Published by

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Tom Brady reminded the Carolina Panthers and the rest of the NFL world why he’s considered the greatest football player of all time with a monster performance in the team’s win Sunday.

Brady had three touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown to lift the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 30-24 victory over the Panthers and clinched the NFC South title.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion found Mike Evans twice in the fourth quarter. The first touchdown came with 13:49 left and answered a Sam Darnold touchdown pass to Shi Smith. The Brady-Evans touchdown was for 57 yards and cut the deficit to five points.

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The Buccaneers took the lead with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Evans. Tampa Bay went up three points after the two-point conversion. The defense would then force a Darnold fumble and Brady would get set up at the goal line on Tampa Bay’s second play following the turnover and score on a sneak.

Brady finished the game 34-of-45 with 432 passing yards and had three touchdown passes – all to Evans. It was the first time he’s gone over 400 yards passing since Week 16 against the New York Jets.

Evans and Godwin each had 100 or more receiving yards. Evans finished with 10 catches for 207 yards. Godwin had nine catches for 120 yards.

The Buccaneers’ defense also played strong.

GIANTS CLINCH FIRST PLAYOFF BERTH SINCE 2016 IN BLOWOUT WIN VS COLTS

Despite allowing 24 points, Tampa Bay’s defense kept the offense in the game and allowed Brady to strike at the most opportune moments. The team recovered two fumbles and picked off Darnold once.

Darnold finished 22-of-36 with 316 passing yards with three touchdown passes and an interception to Sean Murphy-Bunting.

D.J. Moore led the way with six catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. Smith had four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. Tommy Tremble had three catches for 33 yards and a touchdown.

Three Panthers were in double digits in tackles – Frankie Luvu (13), Jeremy Chinn (12) and Shaq Thompson (12).

All Tampa Bay needed to do in Week 17 was win and they would be in. They did just that. It’s the third straight season the Buccaneers will be in the playoffs and it’s the second consecutive time the organization can call itself an NFC South champion.

For Brady, the victory allowed him to avoid missing the playoffs. He’s made every postseason since 2008, when he missed the entire year with a devastating knee injury.

The division title puts a cap on a wild regular season in which it didn’t appear Tampa Bay was going to pull it off as injuries piled up and the offense looked out of sync for most of the year. But now, the Buccaneers are getting hot entering the most important part of the year.

Jaguars one step closer to division title after blowout win over Texans

January 1, 2023 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News

Travis Etienne ran for 108 yards and a touchdown before halftime, Tyson Campbell returned a fumble for a score and the Jacksonville Jaguars snapped a nine-game skid against Houston by routing the Texans 31-3 on Sunday for their fourth straight victory overall.

Jacksonville (8-8) is in first place in the AFC South and would win the division for the first time since 2017 with a victory at home over slumping Tennessee next week in the regular-season finale. The Titans (7-9) have dropped six straight.

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Trevor Lawrence threw for 152 yards, but played just one possession in the second half, and Etienne didn’t carry the ball after halftime with the Jaguars up 28-3 in what would be the team’s first win over Houston since 2017.

The Jaguars were up by 21 at halftime and a 3-yard run by Snoop Conner made it 28-0 early in the third quarter.

The Texans (2-13-1) snapped a nine-game losing streak with a win over Tennessee last week but struggled in all areas Sunday against Jacksonville to leave them without a home win for the first time in franchise history.

Davis Mills threw for 202 yards, but couldn’t get the Texans in the end zone and fumbled the ball Campbell returned for the touchdown.

NFL OFFICIATING DRAWS IRE AFTER DOLPHINS FUMBLE TAKEN OFF THE BOARD VS PATRIOTS

Houston was stopped on fourth-and-1 from its 45 on the first possession to give Jacksonville great field position on its first drive. The Jaguars took a 7-0 lead when JaMycal Hasty scored on a 5-yard run.

Jacksonville made it 14-0 when Etienne dashed 62 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter. Rookie Jalen Pitre had a shot to stop him at the line, but missed the tackle and Etienne simply outran the rest of Houston’s defenders for the score.

The defense got in on the scoring when Josh Allen sacked Mills on Houston’s next possession and forced a fumble which was scooped up by Campbell and returned 12 yards for a TD to make it 21-0. It was the first touchdown of his career.

Desmond King intercepted Lawrence after that, but the Texans came up empty when Mills threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-5 from the 10.

Houston finally got on the board when Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 56-yard field goal made it 28-3 with about six minutes left in the third quarter.

Riley Patterson extended the lead to 31-3 with a 53-yard field goal with about six minutes remaining.

C.J. Beathard took over after Lawrence went out and threw for 29 yards and was picked off by Pitre, who leads the Texans with five interceptions this season.

KIRK’S MILESTONE

Jacksonville’s Christian Kirk had 21 yards receiving to give him a career-high 1,009 this season, making him the fifth player in franchise history with a 1,000-yard receiving season.

UP NEXT

Jaguars: Host the Titans next Sunday.

Texans: Visit the Colts next Sunday.

Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger’s family issues statement after his arrest: ‘Presumption of innocence’

January 1, 2023 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News

The family of the suspect in the Nov. 13 fatal stabbings of four University of Idaho students have finally spoken out after his arrest on Friday.

Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28, was taken into custody by local police and the FBI at 1:30 p.m. Friday in eastern Pennsylvania on a warrant charging him with four counts of murder and burglary for the deaths of Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Madison Mogen, 21.

“We have fully cooperated with law enforcement agencies in an attempt to seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence rather than judge unknown facts and make erroneous assumptions,” Kohberger’s family said in a statement released by his public defender, Jason A. LaBar.

The family said they “will continue to let the legal process unfold and as a family we will love and support our son and brother.”

NEW YEAR’S EVE SHOOTING IN SOUTH ALABAMA LEAVES 1 DEAD, 9 INJURED

On behalf of the victims, Kohberger’s family said “there are no words that can adequately express the sadness we feel, and we pray each day for them.”

“We respect privacy in this matter as our family and the families suffering loss can move forward through the legal process,” the family said.

Kohberger, a graduate student studying criminal justice at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, appeared before a judge Friday in Monroe County Court.

Pullman is a 15-minute drive from the rental home where the four students were stabbed to death on Nov. 13, 2022.

Fox News’ Rebecca Rosenberg, Stephanie Pagones, Audrey Conklin and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.

Jeremy Renner hospitalized after snow-related accident

January 1, 2023 Published by

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FILE – Jeremy Renner poses for photographers upon arrival at the UK Fan Screening of the film “Hawkeye,” in London, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. Renner is being treated for serious injuries that happened while he was plowing snow. The actor’s representative said Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, that Renner is in critical condition although he is stable. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Avengers” star Jeremy Renner is being treated for serious injuries that happened while he was plowing snow, the actor’s representative said Sunday.

Renner, 51, is in critical condition although he is stable, the actor’s representative said. No further details on the extent of Renner’s injuries were available.

The actor has a home in Nevada, but it is unclear where he was hurt. Renner plays Hawkeye, a sharp-shooting member of the superhero Avengers squad in Marvel’s sprawling movie and television universe.

He is a two-time acting Oscar nominee, scoring back-to-back nods for “The Hurt Locker” and “The Town.” Renner’s portrayal of a bomb disposal specialist in Iraq in 2008’s “The Hurt Locker” helped turn him into a household name.

“The Avengers” in 2012 cemented him as part of Marvel’s grand storytelling ambitions, with his character appearing in several sequels and getting its own Disney+ series, “Hawkeye.”

AP PHOTOS: New Delhi’s homeless shiver in biting cold

January 1, 2023 Published by ALTAF QADRI

Top News: US & International Top News Stories Today | AP News

A homeless woman sits by the entrance to the a dilapidated shelter for homeless people in New Delhi, Dec. 30, 2022. The piercing chill is an ordeal for the city’s homeless, with New Delhi Sunday recording the minimum temperature of 5.5 degrees Celsius (41.9 Fahrenheit). New Delhi’s 195 homeless shelters can accommodate only about 19,000 people, leaving tens of thousands struggling to keep warm. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

NEW DELHI (AP) — When midnight approaches in New Delhi and a freezing fog settles over the Indian capital, thousands of homeless people spread torn mattresses and blankets on the pavements and lie on them to keep warm.

Those who can’t afford the blankets spend the night around a smoldering fire built with garbage and discarded cardboard boxes. Others hunker down in a government shelter system.

It’s a scene that repeats itself every year when India’s capital experiences a harsh bout of winter cold, blamed for killing scores of homeless people and leaving tens of thousands of others shivering on the streets.

Full Coverage: Photography

On Sunday, New Delhi recorded a low of 5.5 degrees Celsius (41.9 Fahrenheit), with India’s weather forecasting agency warning of a severe cold wave from Monday.

New Delhi’s 20 million inhabitants are conditioned to various weather extremes, from blistering heat waves in the summer to thick, grey smog that envelopes the capital before the onset of the winter when a brutal cold wave sweeps most of northern India. The cold blankets streets in freezing fog so blinding that drivers cannot see cars in front of them, causing accidents.

The piercing chill is an ordeal for the city’s homeless, who curl their bodies on sidewalks and sleep as the traffic goes by. Even though the city’s night shelters are a refuge to many who would otherwise find themselves sleeping near busy roundabouts and underpasses, most people there live in harsh conditions. Many of the night shelters are overcrowded and have unclean toilets and no water.

“Overcrowding is a big problem. Because of too much footfall, some people sleep on the roadside,” said Sunil Kumar Aledia of the Centre for Holistic Development, who has worked with Delhi’s homeless population for decades.

India’s 2011 census figures show about 47,000 of the city’s residents were homeless, but activists say the number is a vast underestimate and that New Delhi has more than 150,000 without permanent residences to sleep in.

Official figures also show the city’s 195 homeless shelters can accommodate only about 19,000 people, leaving tens of thousands struggling to keep warm.

Helicopters collide over Australian beach, 4 passengers dead

January 1, 2023 Published by COURTNEY WALSH

Top News: US & International Top News Stories Today | AP News

Two cashed helicopters sit on the sand at a collision scene near Seaworld, on the Gold Coast, Australia, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The 2 helicopters collided killing several passengers and critically injuring a few others in a crash that drew emergency aid from beachgoers enjoying the water during the southern summer. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Two helicopters collided in an Australian tourist hotspot Monday afternoon, killing four passengers and critically injuring three others in a crash that drew emergency aid from beachgoers enjoying the water during the southern summer.

One helicopter appeared to have been taking off and the other landing when they collided near the Sea World theme park in Main Beach, a northern beach on the Gold Coast, Gary Worrell, Queensland state police acting inspector, said at a news conference.

One helicopter landed safely on a sandbank, but debris from the other was spread across an area police described as difficult to access.

The dead and three most seriously injured people were all passengers in the crashed helicopter.

“Members of the public and police tried to remove the people and they commenced first aid and tried to get those people to safety from an airframe that was upside down,” Worrell said.

“(People on) Jet Skis, family boaters, ordinary members of the public rushed to assist these people.”

Passengers in the other helicopter, which lost its windscreen in the crash, are also receiving medical assistance.

Footage of the crash showed a helicopter shortly after takeoff being clipped by another helicopter flying over the water.

Hub peek embed (Queensland) – Compressed layout (automatic embed)

Sea World Helicopters, a separate company from the theme park, expressed its condolences and said it was cooperating with the authorities handling the crash investigation.

“We and the entire flying community are devastated by what has happened and our sincere condolences go to all those involved and especially the loved ones and family of the deceased,” the statement said.

The company did not confirm if it operated one or both helicopters involved in the crash, saying in the statement it would not comment further because of the investigation.

A witness named John told Melbourne radio station 3AW that patrons at Sea World heard the crash.

He said staff at the theme park moved swiftly to close off areas closest to the crash.

“There was a massive, massive bang,” he said. “It was just huge. I’m not sure if it was the propellers or whatever hitting against each other. But there was this poor lady and her son near the helipad in tears.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the accident was an “unthinkable tragedy.

“My deepest sympathies are with each of the families and everyone affected by this terrible accident,” she said.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said an investigation into the cause of the crash was underway.

Queensland Ambulance Service said earlier that 13 people were being assessed for injuries.

The Gold Coast region is at its busiest in January, the peak time for holidays in Australia’s summer.

Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux celebrates sack as Colts' Nick Foles writhes in pain

January 1, 2023 Published by Fox News

New York Giants rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux has made a major impact for his team over the last few weeks and the solid play continued against the Indianapolis Colts.

The young pass rusher had four tackles, a sack and two tackles for a loss against Colts quarterback Nick Foles in the first half of their game. New York took a 24-3 lead into halftime.

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New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Commanders, Dec. 18, 2022, in Landover, Maryland.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

But it was a sack on Foles toward the end of the Colts’ final drive of the first half that raised eyebrows. Thibodeaux got to Foles for his fourth sack of the season and celebrated by doing snow angels on the dry turf at MetLife Stadium. Next to Thibodeaux’s snow angels was Foles, who was down in pain.

Foles appeared to be writhing in pain as the pass rusher celebrated next to him. It wasn’t clear whether Thibodeaux knew that Foles was injured on the play but the optics didn’t look great and the NFL world watching the game voiced their opinion about the move on social media.

DANIEL JONES, SAQUON BARKLEY RETURN ON GIANTS’ TO-DO LIST IN OFFSEASON: REPORT

Sam Ehlinger came into the game for Foles in the second half.

The Giants came into the game needing a win to get into the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season.

Vikings running back Dalvin Cook runs from New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dec. 24, 2022, in Minneapolis.
(AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux warms up before the Indianapolis Colts game at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 1, 2023, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(John Jones-USA Today Sports)

Thibodeaux has been a big reason why the Giants have turned things around. New York made him the No. 5 overall pick of the 2022 draft and he’s been a key player since making his debut in Week 3.

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He had 44 tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown coming into the game against the Colts.

Ryan Gaydos is the sports editor for Fox News Digital.

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Taiwan willing to offer help to China to deal with Covid-19 surge

January 1, 2023 Published by CNN

Taipei
CNN
—

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen said the self-ruled democratic island is willing to provide assistance to help China deal with its Covid surge after Beijing eased its hardline approach last month.

China abandoned its restrictive zero-Covid stance after nearly three years, ending snap lockdowns, contact tracing, mandatory testing and scrapping quarantine that severely limited people from traveling in and out of the country.

But the abrupt exit from zero-Covid could lead to nearly 1 million deaths, according to a new study, with the country facing an unprecedented wave of infections spreading out from its biggest cities into its rural areas.

“Based on humanitarian needs, we are willing to provide necessary assistance (to China) as needed, so that more people can put the pandemic behind and have a healthy and peaceful new year,” Tsai said in her new year’s remarks on Sunday.

However, she did not spell out what forms of assistance Taipei would provide.

China’s U-turn on its Covid policy caught citizens and the medical system off guard, with some pharmacy shelves swept empty of cold and fever medicines and hospitals scrambling to cope with an unprecedented jump in infections.

China also announced last week that it will drop quarantine requirements for international arrivals and resume outbound travel for Chinese citizens starting January 8 – but it also sparked concern among some overseas governments as China’s Covid cases skyrocket.

Empty cough medicine shelves in China's central Hubei province on December 20, 2022.

Countries including the United States, Japan and South Korea moved to impose restrictions, while others such as France and the United Kingdom have made it clear they are ready to welcome Chinese travelers – who had been a major driver of international tourism before the pandemic.

In her new year’s message, Tsai also called on Beijing to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, saying that it is the common responsibility and expectation of the entire region.

“War is not an option to solve problems. Only through dialogue, cooperation, and the common goal of fostering peaceful development and regional stability can we bring security and happiness to more people,” Tsai said.

China’s ruling Communist Party views Taiwan – a democratically governed island of 24 million – as part of its territory, despite having never controlled it. It has long vowed to “reunify” the island with the Chinese mainland, by force if necessary.

Cross-strait tensions have racheted up in the past year.

When US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a visit to Taiwan last August, China lashed out with its Foreign Ministry saying the trip would have a “severe impact on the political foundation of China-US relations.”

Not long after she landed in Taiwan, Beijing also launched a series of unprecedented military exercises around the island.

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