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Falcons, Bucs both eager to get back on field

By WTOP Staff

PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — The short week came at a good time for the Atlanta Falcons.

Ditto for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Both teams are eager to get back on the field Thursday night after the way they played the last time out.

The Falcons (1-1) were mauled at Cincinnati, losing 24-10 in a game that really wasn’t that close. The Bucs (0-2) lost at home to St. Louis, failing to take advantage of an opponent down to its third-string quarterback because of injuries.

There were no complaints about having only three days to prepare for the next one.

“If anything, I like it better,” Falcons offensive tackle Gabe Carimi said. “It’s easier to get that taste out of your mouth with a win.”

The Bucs are thinking the same way.

“We have a lot of guys who are anxious to get back on the field,” defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. “A short week can be a positive, and we want to turn it into a positive.”

After going 4-12 last season, Tampa Bay was looking to make a major jump under new coach Lovie Smith. There’s plenty of talent on both sides of the line, but a sluggish offense has stymied any progress.

It’s hard to imagine the Bucs making a big leap with 35-year-old journeyman Josh McCown as the quarterback. He’s already thrown three interceptions, including a big pick when Tampa Bay had the Rams’ defense on the ropes.

“You have to protect the football,” Smith said. “Sometimes it’s good to just bring the ball down and live to see another day or live to see another down.”

Also coming off a 4-12 season, the Falcons opened with a thrilling overtime victory against New Orleans. They couldn’t keep the momentum going against the Bengals, but quickly get another chance to show that 2013 was an aberration.

“You can’t win every game,” cornerback Desmond Trufant said. “You’d like to, but it’s a very competitive league. Everybody’s good. If we can get this win, we’ll get right back to feeling the way we want to feel.”

Here are some things to watch for when the Falcons host Tampa Bay:

INJURY REPORT: Tampa Bay RB Doug Martin did not play against the Rams because of a knee injury, though Bobby Rainey did a stellar job filling in with 144 yards rushing. Martin was limited in practice and listed as questionable, as were two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (broken hand) and defensive end Michael Johnson (ankle). Linebacker Mason Foster definitely won’t play after going out of the last game with a shoulder injury.

The Falcons are in better shape, with rookie left tackle Jake Matthews expected to play after missing the Bengals game with a sprained ankle. The only big concern is receiver Roddy White, who didn’t practice at all because of an ailing hamstring.

NO PRESSURE: The Falcons are the only team in the league that doesn’t have a sack. In fact, they’ve only had one quarterback hit — on a play which resulted in a 76-yard touchdown for the Bengals. Atlanta has also struggled against the run, ranking 26th by allowing 154.5 yards per game.

BATTERED RYAN: Matthews’ return should bolster Atlanta’s leaky offensive line, though there are still questions on the right side. Tackle Lamar Holmes performed poorly against the Bengals and could be challenged for playing time by Carimi, who stepped in for Matthews last week. Matt Ryan was sacked twice by Cincinnati, hit nine times and threw three interceptions. He had few chances to throw deep, and Atlanta’s shorter routes were heavily contested. The Falcons averaged just 4.6 yards on 44 passing attempts, not acceptable for a team with star receivers White and Julio Jones.

POOR STARTS: Tampa Bay is facing another dismal start, a trend in recent seasons. The Bucs lost their first seven games in 2009, and got off to an 0-8 start a year ago. If they lose to the Falcons, their playoff hopes will pretty much be over before the season is three weeks old. The last team to make the playoffs under the current format after an 0-3 start was Buffalo in 1998.

DEVIN VS LOVIE: Falcons return specialist Devin Hester spent his first seven years playing for Smith in Chicago. Now, they’ll be facing each other for the first time. Smith was hired by the Bucs after being out of the league last year, while Hester signed with Atlanta during the offseason. “It’s going to be weird,” Hester said. “I wish the best for him. But at the same time, I hope we win.”

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

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Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

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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