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Falcons’ Ryan looking to bounce back vs Bucs

By WTOP Staff

PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — For Matt Ryan, the season opener was pure brilliance.

Week 2? Not so much.

Coming off a three-interception performance, Matty Ice will be looking to bounce back when the Atlanta Falcons host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night.

“You can’t turn the football over,” Ryan said. “Any way you slice it, you can’t do that and expect to win. I’ve got to be better than that.”

Ryan has never been better than he was in Week 1, throwing for a franchise-record 448 yards with three touchdowns to almost single-handedly carry the Falcons to an overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints.

But the Cincinnati Bengals made things awfully tough on Ryan this past Sunday. He was sacked twice, hit nine times, didn’t have much time to look deep, and struggled to find anyone open on the shorter routes.

Ryan finished just 24 of 44 for 231 yards, tossing three interceptions for only the sixth time in 96 career starts as the Bengals romped to a 24-10 victory over the Falcons (1-1).

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that Matt is going to bounce back,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “We’ve got to take care of the football. That’s the most important thing. If we win the turnover battle, we’re going to enhance our chances of winning games, so that’s something that we definitely have to do better on the offensive side.”

The Buccaneers (0-2) need to do a lot of things better on the offensive side. They have scored only 31 points and averaged less than 300 yards per game with 35-year-old journeyman Josh McCown at quarterback.

McCown already has thrown three interceptions, including a big pick when the Bucs had the St. Louis Rams on the ropes last week.

“You have to protect the football,” said Lovie Smith, in his first year as the Bucs coach after a long tenure in Chicago. “Sometimes it’s good to just bring the ball down and live to see another day.”

McCown knows he can’t afford those sort of reckless mistakes against the Falcons.

“It really felt like I did a lot of good things, except the three turnovers,” he said. “I’m pleased with how I’m playing and throwing the ball and those things. I feel like that part has been good. It’s just getting out of the pocket and making bad decisions with the ball, and you can’t do those things.”

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

INJURY REPORT: Tampa Bay RB Doug Martin didn’t 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 start 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.

FALCONS LINE: 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 Gabe Carimi, who stepped in for Matthews last week. Atlanta averaged just 4.6 yards on its 44 passing attempts against Cincinnati, not acceptable for a team with star receivers White and Julio Jones.

NO PRESSURE: The Falcons are only team in the NFL that doesn’t have a sack. In fact, they have 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.

HERE THEY GO AGAIN: The Bucs are facing another dismal start, a trend in recent seasons. Tampa Bay lost its first seven games in 2009, and got off to an 0-8 start a year ago. If the Bucs lose to Atlanta, their playoff hopes will pretty much be over before the season is three weeks old. The last team to make the postseason 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 will be facing each other for the first time. “It’s going to be weird,” said Hester, who signed with the Falcons during the offseason. “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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