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Bills flunk litmus test in losing to Chargers

By WTOP Staff

JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — After a feel-good 2-0 start, the Bills are facing their first test of adversity in preparing to open a two-game road swing at Houston this Sunday.

Buffalo was outplayed by the Chargers on both sides of the ball in a 22-10 loss Sunday.

“We’re not where we want to be,” running back C.J. Spiller said. “Obviously, you’re disappointed in the loss. But we can’t sit around all day and mope on it. We’ll look at the film today, and look at the mistakes we made.”

It might be a lengthy film session.

Buffalo’s offense had difficulty mounting much of a threat in being limited to 113 yards and five first downs through the first half. And the Bills were already trailing 20-3 before finally orchestrating a touchdown drive late in the third quarter.

The defense had its issues, too. The Chargers had two scoring drives that lasted 15 or more plays and ate up more than 7 minutes each. The Bills also allowed five completions of 20 yards or more against San Diego after giving up just one in their first two games.

Discipline was an issue, too. Buffalo was flagged 11 times for 101 yards, with three of those penalties negating a combined 60 yards offense.

“I don’t think (the Chargers) made too many mistakes. And that’s what playoff teams do,” Spiller said. “And we have to do that to take that leap. But I think we’ll be fine.”

Now it’s up to the Bills to show they’re capable of rebounding, something they struggled with during a 14-season playoff drought — the NFL’s longest active streak.

“You’re not going to win every game. It’s how it is,” defensive back Corey Graham said. “You’re going to have losses. You’re going to have setbacks.”

The Bills’ secondary was slow in adjusting to Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers’ willingness to throw deep passes on an afternoon when wind gusts approached 35 mph. Rivers completed two 49-yard passes to Malcom Floyd that helped set up a field goal and touchdown.

On offense, the Bills lacked rhythm.

Quarterback EJ Manuel went 23 of 39 for 238 yards and a touchdown, but completed just 7 of 21 attempts for 49 yards to his wide receivers. That included first-round pick Sammy Watkins, who was limited to two catches for 19 yards despite being targeted eight times.

One incompletion came on a critical fourth-and-3 in which Watkins was late looking for the ball, which sailed by him over the middle.

“I’m supposed to catch that ball,” Watkins said.

The one big issue the Bills have yet to address is how capable they are of overcoming deficits.

Since the start of last season, Buffalo is 0-10 in games in which it has trailed by 10 or more points.

“That’s something, obviously, we have to be able to do to be a good football team,” coach Doug Marrone said. “Is that the next step? It’s one of the steps.”

NOTES: With DE Manny Lawson’s sack of Rivers, the Bills extended their streak to 16 games. That matches the team’s longest sack streak since Oct. 2, 2005, to Sept. 24, 2006, according to STATS. … LB Keith Rivers will test his injured groin in practice Wednesday to determine whether he can play after missing two games. … The Bills have limited opponents to under 90 yards rushing in all three games this season, after doing that only three times last year.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://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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