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Steelers starters crisp in 19-16 win over Bills

By WTOP Staff

WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger needed all of two series to reach the end zone twice on Saturday night.

At the rate EJ Manuel and the Buffalo Bills are going it might take a month to reach that total.

Maybe longer if they don’t have dynamic rookie receiver Sammy Watkins.

The latest rebuilding process remains a work in progress in Buffalo. The Pittsburgh Steelers offered a glimpse that theirs might already be done.

Roethlisberger hit Antonio Brown for a 76-yard score on Pittsburgh’s second play from scrimmage and found Markus Wheaton for a 16-yard score as the Steelers edged the Bills 19-16 for their first preseason win in nearly two years.

“I think we came out and started fast,” Brown said. “We got some things going in a positive direction.”

Working almost exclusively out of the no-huddle, Roethlisberger finished 8 of 11 for 128 yards and the two scores. Shaun Suisham’s 20-yard field goal as time expired ended Pittsburgh’s five-game losing streak in exhibitions.

“The communication was what I wanted to work on and we didn’t have any mental errors of what I saw so far,” Roethlisberger said.

EJ Manuel completed 17 of 27 passes for 148 yards and an interception while playing the entire first half for Buffalo (1-2).

But the Bills’ starting offense failed to reach the end zone for the third straight game.

Watkins left early in the first quarter with a rib contusion and did not return. It’s uncertain whether the fourth overall pick in the draft will be available when the Bills host Tampa Bay next weekend.

“They’re going to run tests and everything and we’ll see how he is,” Buffalo coach Doug Marrone said.

Watkins walked off the field clutching his side during Buffalo’s first drive after Steelers rookie linebacker Ryan Shazier jumped over him while attempting to break up a pass attempt.

Minus the dynamic playmaker the Bills view as a pivotal part of the team’s future, Buffalo’s offense continued a familiar and frustrating pattern.

Manuel played well during a pair of joint practices with the Steelers this week and had little trouble doing it under the lights. Buffalo moved the ball with relative ease during a half in which the first-string offense racked up 212 total yards.

Crossing the goal line, however, was another matter.

The Bills drove into Pittsburgh territory four times with the starters on the field.

The result? Dan Carpenter’s two field goals and a pair of failed fourth-down attempts.

“We’re very close offensively,” Manuel said. “I think we’re very close to where we need to be. Obviously, there’s still tons of work to be done to get to that point, but I think we’re doing the right things.”

There were no such problems for the Steelers. Roethlisberger, working with an offense he insists can be one of the more potent in the league, hit Brown in stride on Pittsburgh’s second play from scrimmage and the Pro Bowl receiver ran away from a pair of defenders on his way to the end zone.

“It was a great read by Ben,” Brown said. “The defensive back got caught up with another guy. Ben hit me in the spot and I was able to get up to speed and turn the corner.”

The Steelers got the ball back moments later when Shazier — who missed the preseason opener with a right knee injury coach Mike Tomlin called a “boo boo” — showcased why Pittsburgh took him with the 15th pick in the first round.

Shazier stepped in front of Manuel’s pass intended for Scott Chandler and returned it 27 yards to the Buffalo 37.

The play highlighted a frantic half of play for Shazier, who finished with 11 total tackles in addition to his pick.

“I’m a rookie, it’s my first game, I missed some time,” Shazier said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they were testing me but I did what I had to do.”

Given good field position after Shazier’s athletic grab, Roethlisberger didn’t let it go to waste. Facing third-and-11 at the Buffalo 16, he waited for Wheaton to beat Stephon Gilmore to the left corner. Wheaton’s hauled the pass in before tumbling out of bounds to make it 13-3.

The Bills operated at nearly the same pace, just without the same result. Marrone, trying to make something happen, twice had his starters go for it on fourth down in Pittsburgh territory.

Both times Buffalo came away with nothing as Manuel missed on short passes. Not exactly a confidence booster for a unit that has yet to reach the end zone with the guys at the top of the depth chart on the field.

___

AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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