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Rodgers struggles, Green Bay falls 19-7 to Lions

By WTOP Staff

NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer

DETROIT (AP) — Aaron Rodgers finally fell short against the Detroit Lions, whose banged-up secondary was able to control the Green Bay star.

Rodgers threw for only 162 yards and was sacked twice, and the Packers lost 19-7 to Detroit on Sunday. Rodgers had been 9-1 against the Lions, with the only loss a game he had to leave early because of a concussion.

But he was healthy this time, and Green Bay was held to 223 yards of offense.

“They’ve got a good defense. You’ve got to give them credit,” Rodgers said. “As well as our defense played today, we scored seven and we gave up nine with our offense. They didn’t even need to score.”

Don Carey returned a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown for the Lions (2-1), whose defense also added a safety in the second quarter.

Green Bay had won 15 of the past 17 meetings with Detroit, and the Packers were 9-1 with Rodgers playing. The one loss he took part in came in 2010, when he left the game in the first half with a concussion. Green Bay lost that game 7-3 — until Sunday, that was the only time since Rodgers became the starting quarterback in 2008 that the Packers were held to seven points or fewer.

Last season, Rodgers was out with a fractured collarbone when Green Bay lost to the Lions 40-10 on Thanksgiving.

Detroit’s Matthew Stafford was 22 of 34 for 246 yards with two interceptions Sunday. The Detroit quarterback’s second interception — on third-and-long in the second quarter — actually worked out in his team’s favor. His deep pass for Calvin Johnson was picked off near the goal line by Davon House, and although the play was initially ruled a touchback, a review gave Green Bay (1-2) the ball at its own 1-yard line.

The Packers tried a run with Eddie Lacy, and linebacker DeAndre Levy caught him in the end zone for a safety that put Detroit ahead 9-7.

“Our defense did an outstanding job of getting off the field all day,” Stafford said. “Against that group that they were going up against, that was pretty awesome.”

Detroit’s offense finally scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 26-yard run by Reggie Bush.

Safety James Ihedigbo (neck) and cornerback Cassius Vaughn (ankle) were inactive for Detroit, which has also lost defensive backs Bill Bentley and Nevin Lawson to season-ending injuries. Linebacker Stephen Tulloch left in the first quarter after hurting his left knee while celebrating a sack.

After sacking Rodgers, Tulloch jumped through the air and looked as if he was trying to mimic the Green Bay quarterback’s “title belt” celebration, but then he fell to the ground. He tried to play on, but left the game a short while later.

The Packers lost despite forcing three turnovers. They tried to establish the run a bit early, and that backfired when Lacy’s fumble was scooped up by Carey. The defensive back went all the way to the end zone for a 7-0 lead.

“Disappointing loss,” Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said. “We knew it was going to be a tough one coming in here today. I just look at the game from our perspective — missed opportunities. I thought our defense played well with three takeaways.”

Carey hadn’t played in Detroit’s first two games this season because of a hamstring problem, and he left this game after aggravating that same injury.

Rodgers threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Quarless in the first quarter Sunday to tie it at 7, but the Packers never scored again.

“Offensively, we did not establish the run game, particularly the way they were playing us on defense,” McCarthy said. “I felt like we stayed committed to the run — put a lot on Aaron there in the second half. Maybe we should have given him the ball completely earlier. That’s something that I’ll look at.”

NOTES: Green Bay LB Clay Matthews left with a groin injury, and House hurt his knee. … Levy had nine tackles and an assist. Suh and Tulloch accounted for Detroit’s two sacks. … Packers LB Julius Peppers sacked Stafford in the third quarter after the Lions reached the Green Bay 7, forcing a fumble that he also recovered.

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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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