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Matthew Paras

mparas@washingtontimes.com

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

Articles by Matthew Paras

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) warms up before the first half of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Washington’s upset hopes come down to pressuring Tom Brady

Chase Young said he can't remember the first time he watched Tom Brady play quarterback. Who could blame him? The six-time Super Bowl champion was drafted just four days after Young was born -- meaning Young, now 21, grew up with Brady a fixture on television.

January 6, 2021
Indiana resident and Cold Hard Art founder Tom Patsis crafts a makeshift Lombardi Trophy for Washington quarterback Alex Smith out of the 36-year-old's old external fixator. (Photo courtesy of Tom Patsis)

Alex Smith’s makeshift Lombardi the inside story

Alex Smith received what he called one of the best Christmas gifts of his life when his external fixator was fashioned into a makeshift Lombardi Trophy. Here's how the gift came to be.

January 4, 2021
Washington Football Team's Antonio Gibson (24) plays during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Washington clinches NFC East with bizarre win over Eagles

The win was anything but normal because after all that had transpired in 2020, why would it be? There was the name change. The workplace misconduct investigation. The cancer battle. The multiple quarterback changes.

January 3, 2021
FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2018, file photo, Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith (11) injures his ankle as he is sacked by Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) and Houston Texans strong safety Kareem Jackson (25) during the second half of an NFL football game, in Landover, Md. Alex Smith has finally shed the massive brace on his right leg eight months after breaking his tibia and fibula in gruesome fashion. Smith’s wife, Elizabeth, posted a photo Monday, July 15, 2019, of him holding the ring external fixator in his hand. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally, File)

Elizabeth Smith turns Alex Smith’s leg brace into Lombardi-like Trophy

Throughout this season, Alex Smith consistently said his comeback from his life-threatening leg injury wouldn't be possible without the support of his family. On the eve of Washington's biggest game of the season, his family shared a photo that recognized how far the quarterback has come since shattering his leg over two years ago.

January 3, 2021
Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith (11) throws a 15-yard touchdown pass to Logan Thomas during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Alex Smith expected to start against Eagles

Washington is expected to start quarterback Alex Smith for Sunday's finale at Philadelphia after the 36-year-old was previously listed as questionable with a calf injury.

January 3, 2021
Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) dribbles the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Bradley Beal, Wizards preach unity amid 0-4 start

The Wizards are off to their worst start since 2012-13, unable to pinpoint a precise reason for the struggles. Coach Scott Brooks compared Washington's issues to a game of whack-a-mole: Swing at one hole and another mole will pop up elsewhere.

December 30, 2020
Washington defensive end Chase Young (99), left, head coach Ron Rivera, and quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr., (7) arrive for practice at the team's NFL football training facility, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) **FILE**

Ron Rivera moves past Dwayne Haskins with eyes set on Philadelphia

Ron Rivera didn't address his decision to cut Dwayne Haskins when his players gathered for Wednesday's practice. At that point, he said, there was no need. Instead, the Washington coach kept the focus on preparing for Sunday's do-or-die game in Philadelphia against the Eagles.

December 30, 2020
Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith (11) walks to the field for the start of the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. Washington Football Team quarterback Dwayne Haskins replaced Smith for the start of the second half. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Alex Smith, The Movie? Screenwriters weigh in

The Alamo Drafthouse and a handful of other movie theaters are just miles away from the Washington Football Team's practice facility, but if the team wanted to see a story fit for the big screen, they might not have to look much farther from their own locker room.

December 30, 2020
Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) runs off the field after an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Landover, Md., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. The New York Giants defeated the Washington Redskins 19-10. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington has mixed history of coming through, choking with playoffs at stake

Since 1978, when the NFL expanded to 16 games, Washington is 5-4 in Week 17 games in which the playoffs were still on the line. Of those five wins, only three resulted in a playoff berth -- tiebreakers kept Washington out of the dance in 1997 and 1985. Of those four losses, Washington actually still made the postseason once thanks to a tiebreaker, a scenario that can't happen Sunday.

December 29, 2020