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Matthew Paras

mparas@washingtontimes.com

Matthew Paras was a digital sports writer for the Washington Times.

Articles by Matthew Paras

Washington Football Team quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Denver. The Broncos won 17-10. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

With bye week at hand, Rivera gets time to weigh options

This time, Ron Rivera was in no mood to hand out firm commitments. Not to his quarterback, Taylor Heinicke, who once again couldn't consistently convert steady drives to touchdowns. And certainly not to his kicker, Chris Blewitt, who had two blocked kicks.

October 31, 2021
Washington Football Team quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) is hit by Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Heinicke, Washington offense again come up short in loss to Broncos

Here it was: A gift for Taylor Heinicke and the Washington offense. Down by one score, Washington defensive end Chase Young forced a fumble that gave his team the ball inside Broncos territory with only 18 seconds left. Now, all Heinicke and Co. needed to do was just score a touchdown.

October 31, 2021
Washington Football Team cornerback Kendall Fuller (29) celebrates his interception with teammates during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Washington’s singed secondary shows signs of getting over the burn

Through seven games, Washington's secondary -- Kendall Fuller included -- has made a lot of mistakes. But as the unit prepares for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos, Washington's defense is finally starting to show signs of life in the secondary.

October 27, 2021
Washington Football Team defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (93) looks on from the bench during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

Last year’s 2-5 Washington team ended up in the playoffs. Is another miracle too much to ask?

The record 2-5 doesn't quite muster the same type of folklore in the District that 19-31 does for the Washington Nationals. But for the Washington Football Team last season, 2-5 was the record often cited when championing the Burgundy and Gold's NFC East division win. Just as how the Nationals used 19-31 as a rallying cry in 2019 -- the year they won the World Series.

October 26, 2021
Washington Football Team's Jonathan Allen stops Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Washington defense takes step forward, still finds way to lose

Washington held the Packers to only 304 total yards -- a season best for a defense that had given up the second-most yards in the NFL this season entering the weekend. And by allowing "only" 24 points, the Burgundy and Gold snapped its five-game streak of surrendering at least 29 points. That, admittedly, might be setting the bar low for a defense expected to be a top-five unit before the year.

October 24, 2021
Washington Football Team's Taylor Heinicke throws with Green Bay Packers' Rashan Gary defending during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Heinicke can’t catch Rodgers, Packers

The botched sequence was arguably the low point of Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers. On an afternoon when plays were there for the taking, Taylor Heinicke and an offense racing to keep pace with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers stalled one too many times.

October 24, 2021
FILE - This is a 2021 photo of William Jackson III of the Washington NFL football team. Washington has been practicing without receiver Curtis Samuel for the balance of training camp and without cornerback William Jackson for the past week. Samuel and Jackson were the team's highest-priced free agent additions. (AP Photo/File)

William Jackson III out against Packers

The Washington Football Team will be without its top cornerback Sunday as William Jackson III is out with a knee injury. Jackson was one of the team's seven inactives against the Green Bay Packers.

October 24, 2021
Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) dribbles the ball during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game against the New York Knicks, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Beal’s future looms over new Wizards season. As usual.

Bradley Beal called catching the coronavirus a few months ago a "blessing in disguise." Yes, the positive test cost him a shot at winning a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics. But looking back, the Washington Wizards guard said he was able to redirect his focus -- and come to terms with the whirlwind of change that the franchise experienced over the summer.

October 19, 2021
Washington Wizards center Daniel Gafford (21) dribbles in the first half during NBA game against the New York Knicks, Friday Oct. 15, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) **FILE**

Wizards, Gafford agree to three-year, $40 million extension

Washington Wizards center Daniel Gafford agreed to a three-year, $40 million extension, the team announced Tuesday -- a move that rewards the 23-year-old for his productive play and keeps him under contract for the foreseeable future.

October 19, 2021