Skip to main content

Bengals stay unbeaten with 33-7 win over Titans

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Mohamed Sanu was describing his cross-field pass — the one that hung so dangerously in the air for so long — when his receiver on the play interrupted his commentary in the locker room.

“Go ahead and say it: Best hands on the team!” quarterback Andy Dalton said, demanding a compliment for his first professional catch. “Best hands on the team!”

On the signature play of Cincinnati’s latest win, that sure was the case.

Dalton snatched Sanu’s trick-play pass out of the air, somehow avoided getting leveled by a closing cornerback, and went 18 yards for a touchdown during a 33-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

The Bengals (3-0) are off to their best start in eight years because they are making every sort of play, especially the ones that ought to backfire. In a season-opening win at Baltimore, A.J. Green made a juggling, 77-yard touchdown play to pull it out.

On Sunday, the Titans (1-2) were prepared for the Sanu-to-Dalton play — they’d practiced for it during the week — but cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson failed to intercept the floating pass or to level Dalton. Instead, he brushed the quarterback while running past, giving him a free lane to the end zone.

“It’s a sick situation for me,” Wreh-Wilson said. “I saw the ball in the air, I should’ve made that play. I probably just should’ve taken a better angle and gone for the tackle.”

Nothing went right for the Titans, who got sad news a few hours before the game. They learned that former kicker Rob Bironas died overnight in a car crash in Nashville. He’d been released in March after spending nine seasons with Tennessee.

“It was real tough, with him being on the team all those years,” said running back Shonn Greene, who scored the Titans’ touchdown in the closing minutes. “We had some of our motivation and energy to play for him. It didn’t work out.”

Some things learned from the lopsided win:

ABOUT THAT PLAY: Dalton became the first Bengals quarterback to catch a touchdown pass. Four other Bengals have caught a pass — Akili Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick, David Klingler and Sam Wyche — but none got into the end zone. Dalton is the first NFL quarterback to score since Kansas City’s Tyler Thigpen caught a 37-yard pass from Mark Bradley during a 30-27 loss to Tampa Bay on Nov. 2, 2008. Also, the completion left Sanu 4 for 4 for 166 yards and two touchdowns in his career.

BENGALS DOING IT RIGHT: Cincinnati hasn’t relied on any one player or part of the team while getting off to the fast start. The offense is balanced, the defense is locking up opposing quarterbacks, and punter Kevin Huber is pinning opponents. After having 10 field goal attempts in the first two games, they needed only one from Mike Nugent on Sunday.

“Probably our best effort of the season,” coach Marvin Lewis said.

TIME TO REST UP: Cincinnati initially was unhappy to get its bye during the fourth week of the season, but it’s coming at a good time with so many players hurt. Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict didn’t play on Sunday as he recovers from his second concussion in two weeks. Right guard Kevin Zeitler was inactive with an injured right calf. Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green returned after missing most of the last game with an injured big toe on his right foot and had six catches for 102 yards. The defending AFC North champions could use the rest.

TITAN MESS: Tennessee missed two field goals, gave up a safety because of a holding penalty in the end zone on a punt, threw two interceptions, whiffed on that Sanu-to-Dalton play, and repeatedly self-destructed with penalties. In the last two games, the Titans have been outscored 59-17 by the Cowboys and Bengals.

“What’s happening to us is when we have an opportunity to make a play, we’re not making it,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “We’re not making the catch. We’re not making the tackle. We’re not making the kick.”

SAD DAY: The Titans learned about Bironas’ death a few hours before the kickoff. They went out and played by far their worst game of the season.

“It’s one of those things that give you perspective,” quarterback Jake Locker said. “It reminds you to be thankful for the people in your life. Rob was a charismatic guy that always brought smiles to people’s faces around the building. It’s tough to see it happen to someone so young, who was just recently married. You feel for him and his loved ones that are left behind.”

___

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote