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Eagles’ defense fresh in 2nd half of games

By WTOP Staff

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles’ up-tempo offense, which is wearing down opposing defenses, may be helping their defense.

In their first two games, the Eagles have allowed 34 first-half points in wins over Jacksonville and Indianapolis. In the second half, the same defense has allowed just 10 points.

The Eagles came back to win both, becoming the first team in NFL history to erase 14-point deficits to win the first two weeks of the season.

“We practice at such a pace that we’ll get into the fourth quarter and guys are fresh,” said Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, whose fourth-quarter interception of Andrew Luck on Monday night was a key play in the win. “Our guys are still full speed late in the game.

“This is what we train for and guys are ready when we get in those situations. I don’t think the moment is too big for any of us.”

The Eagles’ biggest moment on defense in the road win over the Colts came after the offense tied the game 27-27. Indianapolis got the ball back with 3:25 left behind Luck, who has 11 game-winning fourth-quarter or overtime drives in his short career.

On third-and-5 from the Colts 25, defensive coordinator Billy Davis called a blitz and got enough pressure to force Luck to hurry a pass to Reggie Wayne that fell incomplete.

The Colts punted and the Eagles drove for Cody Parkey’s game-winning field goal.

“That was huge,” linebacker DeMeco Ryans said. “We didn’t play great all game. But when it came down to it, when it was time to step up, when we needed to make a play, we did.”

One concern this week is linebacker Mychal Kendricks, who is day to day with a calf injury. Backups Casey Matthews and Emmanuel Acho split time with the first unit at Wednesday’s practice.

“We’ll see how the week plays out with Mychal,” Davis said. “He’s been very productive for us. I think you see a continuation of the improvement he made last year. He’s an ascending player.”

Matthews struggled at times in place of Kendricks on Monday night but was on the field for the crucial stop in the fourth quarter.

“Both of those guys are a lot alike,” Davis said of Matthews and Acho. “Both are very intelligent; both are very instinctive. They’re competing this week.”

And they’re going against an offense that will get them ready for four quarters Sunday.

NOTES: RB Darren Sproles was honored as the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his 178 total yards and touchdown run against the Colts. It’s the first time the 31-year-old Sproles has won the award in his career. He had been selected as Special Teams Player of the Week. … Kendricks was the only Eagles player to miss Wednesday’s practice. Rookie wide receiver Josh Huff (shoulder) and backup tackle Matt Tobin (ankle), who have been out since the start of the season, both returned to practice Wednesday.

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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