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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 running back J.D. McKissic (41) dodges Atlanta Falcons strong safety Duron Harmon (21) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Atlanta. The Washington Football Team won 34-30. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik) **FILE**

Gibson, McKissic sharing role, production in Washington’s offense

Gibson has more yards and touches per game than as a rookie. Even with the jump in play, however, the coaching staff still holds McKissic in high regard -- heavily involving him in the passing game and on third down. Through four games, Gibson has played 145 snaps to McKissic's 101, good for an almost 60-40 split when factoring in the percentage of offensive snaps.

October 7, 2021
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst (81) works against Washington Football Team strong safety Landon Collins (26) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Atlanta. The Washington Football Team won 34-30. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik) **FILE**

Washington’s defense shows disconnect through first four games

After four games, there appears to be a disconnect for the defense: Players and coaches agree that they recognize the problems at hand -- but so far, the group has not been effective at stopping them. For a unit that was expected to be among the league's elite, the defense is giving up 30.5 points and 417.5 total yards per game.

October 6, 2021
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) prepares to make a pass while pressured by New England Patriots outside linebacker Matt Judon (9) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)

‘Back to where it was’: NFL ratings see big jump in first month of season

Sunday's dramatic game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots that featured a Brady-Belichick showdown produced a whopping 26.75 million viewers on television and 1.83 million on digital streaming platforms -- marking NBC's second most-watched "Sunday Night Football" broadcast ever, behind only 2012's Cowboys-Redskins contest that decided the NFC East.

October 5, 2021
Washington Football Team offensive guard Brandon Scherff (75) sits the bench during the first half of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Washington Football Team, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Washington’s injuries hang over ugly win against Falcons

Washington pulled out Sunday's 34-30 victory over the Atlanta Falcons -- but not before losing a number of notable players to game-ending injury. In total, five players left the game and did not return: Thomas, All-Pro guard Brandon Scherff (knee), linebacker Jon Bostic (shoulder) and wide receivers Dyami Brown (hamstring) and Cam Sims (hamstring).

October 3, 2021
Washington Football Team quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) embraces with Washington Football Team center Tyler Larsen (69) before the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Heinicke’s heroics spackle over Washington’s larger problems

Taylor Heinicke, over the course of his football life, has made a lot of plays most people would call "crazy." Passes on the run. Deep bombs with defenders chasing him. Escaping sacks to make a completion. At this point, it would take something truly unexpected to faze him. The two wild touchdown throws Heinicke pulled off on the way to a 34-30 comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday? Close.

October 3, 2021
Washington Football Team quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)

Heinicke leads another comeback as Washington beats Atlanta

Heinicke hit running back J.D. McKissic on a remarkable cross-body throw that resulted in a game-winning, 30-yard touchdown in Sunday's 34-30 victory for the Washington Football Team over the Atlanta Falcons. The 28-year-old quarterback salvaged what was otherwise a sloppy performance for Washington, as the defense struggled again for the fourth straight outing.

October 3, 2021
Washington Football Team quarterback Taylor Heinicke looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Heinicke embraces plan to become more of a ‘game manager’

The "game manager" label has its negative connotations -- it's become a shorthand for overly cautious quarterbacks too quick to rely on checkdowns. Former Washington starter Alex Smith was tagged with the nickname "Captain Checkdown" early in his career. But Taylor Heinicke and Ron Rivera both say "game manager" is a label they can live with.

September 29, 2021
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman (25) is seen during the NFL football Super Bowl 54 game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Miami Gardens, Fla., in this Feb. 2, 2020, photo. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan) **FILE**

Richard Sherman to join Tampa Bay Buccaneers on one-year deal

Sherman signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday after an earlier visit to the team's facility. The 33-year-old joins the defending Super Bowl champs and quarterback Tom Brady, the latter whom Sherman famously teased with a "U mad bro?" tweet following a Seahawks win over the Patriots in 2012.

September 29, 2021
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger looks at the scoreboard during the second half an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Washington not only 2020 playoff team off to slow start

Washington and Pittsburgh are two playoff teams from a year ago that have struggled in the opening weeks -- but they're not alone. Through Week 3, six teams that made the postseason in 2020 are under .500.

September 28, 2021