Mark Dondero, a former 12 News sports reporter, said it’s been fun to watch how invested New England fans become when the Patriots are winning. The team is 2-0 in the playoffs and will face the Denver Broncos on Sunday with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

“Nobody thought they were going to be this good,” Dondero said. “Nobody thought Drake Maye could potentially win the MVP award. I certainly didn’t think we’d be talking about a Super Bowl run. Make the Super Bowl? Are you serious?”

Dondero predicts the Patriots will win 28-20, largely because Broncos starting quarterback Bo Nix suffered a season-ending injury last week. Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, a former Patriots player, is expected to start in his place.

“I don’t know how you want me to come on here or anywhere and come up with a path for the Broncos, with Jarrett Stidham, to beat the Patriots,” Dondero said. “He’s a backup quarterback who doesn’t have a real pedigree. I’m not saying it can’t happen, but I don’t see how you expect them to find enough plays from Jarrett Stidham against that defense to get the win, even at home.”

“Behind the Story” co-host Dan McGowan, a self-described New York Giants fan, predicted a Broncos blowout, while co-host Eli Sherman picked the Patriots to win 30-14.

Later in the show, Dan and Eli talked about the “Stories we wish we wrote,” including:

• ‘I thought I was going to die’: Wounded Brown student returns to campus by Stan Grossfeld, The Boston Globe
• Bucci takes ‘full responsibility,’ won’t step down by Barbara Polichetti, The Cranston Herald

• Pate dirt: North Providence residents frustrated at piles in their neighborhood by Ethan Shorey, The Valley Breeze
• Attleboro pushes forward with school redistricting by Rhianwen Watkins, The Sun Chronicle

Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.

• How to download the free WPRI 12+ smart TV app

It airs on TV (Sundays at 8 a.m. on FOX Providence and 11 a.m. on The CW Providence), and will be available on demand through the WPRI 12+ app and right here on WPRI.com.

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe.

Nancy Lavin, a senior reporter covering government, politics and policy for the online news outlet, wrote about the governor’s address that typically outlines his tax and spending priorities ahead of his full budget proposal to the General Assembly.

Lavin said covering the State of the State is somewhat easier than writing about the budget each year because it doesn’t require as much calculation. This year, she said McKee’s tone made it clear he was running for reelection in what’s likely to be a tough campaign.

“McKee is up for reelection this year and we know he has low approval ratings and at least one serious Democratic rival, maybe a second,” Lavin said. “So this was really a not-so-subtly kind of pledge to voters and I think the way that he’s trying to appeal to voters is: ‘I’m going to save you money.'”

Lavin also discussed her recent story that provided a preview of the legislative session, which began earlier this month. Lawmakers are likely to focus on a host of issues, but Lavin said health care is quickly emerging as a top priority on Smith Hill.

“That’s in large part because of these federal budget cuts and some of them have already happened, a lot of them are soon to come, and we know they are going to have major implications for Rhode Island residents, for hospitals, for nursing homes and insurance companies,” Lavin said.

“We’re already seeing all of these consequences now, so I think that that has sort of forced the legislature, whether they want it or not, to really go into crisis mode on health care,” she added.

Later in the show, Kim and Eli talked about the “Stories we wish we wrote,” including:

• How a small town in Rhode Island is connected to ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ by Pamela Watts, Rhode Island PBS
• Try the trompe l’oeil desserts going viral on TikTok in Fairhaven by Faith Harrington, The Standard-Times

• The rise, fall and rise again of the Zeiterion by Colin Hogan, The New Bedford Light
• The Sun is changing to better serve you by Alex Nunes, The Westerly Sun

Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.

• How to download the free WPRI 12+ smart TV app

It airs on TV (Sundays at 8 a.m. on FOX Providence and 11 a.m. on The CW Providence), and will be available on demand through the WPRI 12+ app and right here on WPRI.com.

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe.

Ellen Liberman, a contributing editor and writer for the magazine, spent several months interviewing Shekarchi, widely considered the most powerful lawmaker in the state.

The cover story is available now on newsstands.

Her reporting explores Shekarchi’s personal life, follows his career in law and politics and offers a behind-the-scenes look at his role during a tense gun reform debate at the State House last June.

"When I met him in the morning, he said to me, 'It's gun day'," Liberman said. "And I was like, 'OK, there's my lead right there.'"

Liberman also had a front-row seat to Shekarchi’s internal debate over whether to run for Rhode Island governor.

"Joe is cautious," Liberman said. "If he runs, I don't think he wants to lose. Not that anyone who runs wants to lose, but I think he really doesn't."

As of Monday, the speaker had not made a decision, but he told “Behind the Story” co-host Kim Kalunian he plans to decide by the end of March.

• Wall Street firm gets $20M payday in Pawtucket stadium deal; officials cite long-term savings by Eli Sherman, 12 News
• How AI-generated images complicated the Brown shooting investigation by Alexa Gagosz, The Boston Globe

• R.I. lawmakers are back in action on Tuesday. Here’s what awaits them. by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current
• What happens if Narragansett Bay freezes over? Here are tales from history. by Antonia Noori Farza, The Providence Journal

Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.

• How to download the free WPRI 12+ smart TV app

It airs on TV (Sundays at 8 a.m. on FOX Providence and 11 a.m. on The CW Providence), and will be available on demand through the WPRI 12+ app and right here on WPRI.com.

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe.