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Bengals’ Andy Dalton has no sacks or INTs

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Andy Dalton’s most impressive numbers so far: zero interceptions, zero sacks. When it comes to avoiding the big mistake, the Bengals quarterback is perfect through two games.

So is his team. And there’s a close correlation.

The Bengals (2-0) are one of seven unbeaten teams, and the only one that so far hasn’t fumbled, thrown an interception or allowed a sack. Dalton and Houston’s Ryan Fitzpatrick are the only quarterbacks without a sack or interception.

It’s only two games, but it’s a pronounced change. Dalton’s main flaw during his first three seasons in Cincinnati was his penchant for forcing a throw and making the game-changing turnover. He had two interceptions and a fumble during the second half of a 27-10 playoff loss to San Diego last season.

Dalton had never gone two games without a sack or interception until now. He’ll try to extend the streak Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium against Tennessee (1-1), which is tied for second in the league with eight sacks.

“It’s huge,” Dalton said Wednesday. “To not have negative plays, especially in the passing game, and then to not give the other team the ball, it’s been a thing we’ve really prided ourselves on. That’s one of our top goals.”

A few things have figured into the perfectly clean start.

Dalton has gotten plenty of time from an offensive line that handled whatever Baltimore and Atlanta threw at it. He was seldom touched during a 24-10 win over the Falcons on Sunday.

“I didn’t get hit that much last week, so I feel pretty good right now,” Dalton said.

Dalton had plenty of time even though guard Kevin Zeitler left in the first half with an injured right calf, forcing changes in the line. Rookie center Russell Bodine has been solid through the first two games. There haven’t been any moments of confusion that allowed a pass rusher to get into the backfield unblocked.

“The NFL’s much different than it was five years ago, 10 years ago,” left tackle Andrew Whitworth said. “Now every guy on the field’s a rusher. It’s a heck of a task to keep the quarterback clean, much less not give up a sack. It’s important and it’s another one of our focuses — no turnovers, not getting the quarterback hit. We expect to go into every game and accomplish that.”

Avoiding turnovers has been a point of emphasis for new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, who would rather have Dalton throw the ball away than take a sack or try to force a third-down completion. Also, the Bengals have given Dalton some options when he’s in trouble.

With two Falcons closing in on him Sunday, Dalton saw running back Giovani Bernard open, yelled his name and flipped the ball to him. The improvised play turned a near-sack into a 46-yard gain.

“At that point, I saw that the guy he was blocking was on the ground so he was kind of just standing there like, ‘What do I do?'” Dalton said. “And so I’m glad he listened to me.”

Another game without an interception or sack would allow Dalton to match his career highs. He went three games without an interception during each of his first three seasons. Last year, he went three games without a sack for the first time. Until now, he’s never gone even two games without either.

“Those are good numbers and things that we want to keep working at,” coach Marvin Lewis said. “That takes 11 guys to get to that point.”

Notes: Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green didn’t practice Wednesday because of an injured toe on his right foot, but was hopeful he’ll be able to play against the Titans. He hopes to work out on Thursday. … Zeitler wore a protective boot and walked with the help of crutches Wednesday. He is out indefinitely. … LB Vontaze Burfict has been diagnosed with more concussion symptoms. He will have to pass tests to be eligible to play Sunday. … Cornerback Chris Lewis-Harris was added to the 53-man roster on Wednesday. He rejoined the team this week after completing a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

___

Online: AP NFL website: 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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