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Eagles already becoming comeback kids

By WTOP Staff

ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Slow starts and strong finishes have become a trend for the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles’ 30-27 comeback win at Indianapolis on Monday night made them the first team in NFL history to overcome double-digit, halftime deficits in the first two games.

Chip Kelly and his players know this isn’t a recipe for long-term success.

“No one should be patting themselves on the back anywhere,” Kelly said Tuesday. “We’re fortunate to be 2-0. We’ve done a great job of coming back in both games, but there is a lot of work in every aspect of the game that we need to work on. So that’s the great thing about this group, they understand that.”

The Eagles trailed Jacksonville 17-0 at halftime in the season opener before rallying for a 34-17 victory.

They were down 17-6 against the Colts at the half and 20-6 in the third quarter before coming back. They haven’t scored a touchdown in the first half in six of the past 12 games, but they’re 9-1 in their past 10 regular-season games.

“It’s good to have that in your arsenal that you know that your team can stick together through adversity,” quarterback Nick Foles said. “Do you want to go down like this every single week? I mean, if that’s what it takes, we’ll do it, but we need to play better football in the first half offensively.

“We really need to get things going. There’s a lot of stuff that, even though we won like we did, there’s a lot of stuff to improve on. That’s the exciting thing for us, we need to improve.”

Foles struggled in the first half against the Jaguars and missed a couple of open receivers against the Colts. He’s already matched his interceptions total (two) for all of last season. But his overall numbers are solid: 653 yards, three touchdowns, 86.1 passer rating.

“We had a few drops at the wideout spot,” Kelly said. “Also had a couple balls that could have been placed a little better, so they’ve got to come up with the catches and we’ve got to play some ball a little bit better.”

Riley Cooper couldn’t hang on for a touchdown catch and Jeremy Maclin and Jordan Matthews each had drops. Foles completed 15 passes for 261 yards to running backs and tight ends. Darren Sproles was the catalyst for the latest comeback. The versatile back had a career-high 152 yards receiving, 26 rushing and one TD.

“He can do so many things, and the thing I love most about him is he’s a great teammate,” Foles said. “The guys love him. He’s great in the locker room. He’s a guy you can depend on, and he’s been a great addition to our team.”

Red zone issues hurt the Eagles in the first half again. They gained a total of 10 yards on their first 10 plays inside the 20. They settled for a pair of field goals by Cody Parkey and he missed one from 38 yards.

But the running game got going in the second half and Foles made some precision passes, including a 6-yard TD toss to Maclin that tied it at 27 in the fourth. A makeshift offensive line missing two starters and using a third-string right tackle kept Foles clean — he wasn’t sacked.

“I thought both those guys held up really well,” Kelly said of left guard Dennis Kelly and right tackle Andrew Gardner. “Both those guys did a pretty good job their first chance in the limelight.”

The Washington Redskins (1-1) are next up for Philadelphia in DeSean Jackson’s first return since the three-time Pro Bowl receiver was released by the Eagles in March.

NOTES: Kelly didn’t have any update on a calf injury that forced LB Mychal Kendricks out of the game in the second half. Kendricks is one of the most irreplaceable players on defense. Casey Matthews filled in for him and struggled, specifically in pass coverage. … Kelly downplayed ESPN showing a screen shot of his play sheet. “There isn’t much to do about it. They already did it,” he said.

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

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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi

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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