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Saints defense better in 20-9 win over Vikings

By WTOP Staff

BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Saints’ defense was starting to look like a liability in coordinator Rob Ryan’s second season.

That is, until New Orleans hosted a Minnesota team that was missing its star running back coming in — then lost its starting quarterback in first half.

Playing in the comfort of the Superdome, where New Orleans hasn’t lost since 2012, the Saints kept an opponent out of the end zone for an entire game for the first time this season, yielding three field goals in a 20-9 victory over the Vikings.

“We don’t want to let them down there at all, but when you do, you can’t give up a touchdown,” Saints middle linebacker Curtis Lofton said. “You’ve got to force field goals, so we did a great job with that and finding a way to get a stop.”

Peterson left Minnesota indefinitely during the past week to address child abuse charges, and then quarterback Matt Cassel broke his left foot after a 5-yard scramble early in the second quarter.

The Vikings (1-2) turned to rookie Teddy Bridgewater, who was supposed to be their QB of the future, not the present.

Such developments didn’t hurt a Saints defense that was on the field when New Orleans (1-2) lost leads inside the final seconds of its first two games this season.

“Just getting the win itself boosts your confidence,” Lofton said. “We’ve been 0-2 and it hasn’t been all cupcakes and clowns. Now, all the work you put in pays off on Sunday.”

In Week 1, New Orleans’ defense was plagued by missed tackles while yielding 568 yards and 38 points in Atlanta. In Week 2, communication cross-ups and untimely penalties contributed to Cleveland piling up 334 yards and 26 points.

The Saints held Minnesota to 247 yards, with edge pass rushers Junior Galette and Cam Jordan each getting a sack.

The Vikings also gained only 59 yards on the ground, but said they’d have to figure out how to overcome the loss of Peterson and execute better close to the end zone.

“We can’t look at (Peterson’s absence) and make excuses,” running back Matt Asiata said. “We got into the red zones a few times and just didn’t capitalize. You put yourself in great position to score and we didn’t do it.”

Here are some things learned from the Saints’ triumph over Minnesota:

BRIDGEWATER’S DEBUT: The rookie QB out of Louisville will be running Minnesota’s offensive for the foreseeable future now that Cassel has fractured bones in his foot. Against New Orleans, he led two field-goal drives, going 12 of 20 for 150 yards. He also proved elusive under pressure, scrambling for 27 yards. “I missed a couple of easy throws, but overall I thought it was a good performance,” Bridgewater said. “Moving forward, I think I am definitely going to be ready.”

BREES’ BRAVADO: Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who passed for 293 yards and two scores, looked ready for a fight after being body-slammed on a penalized sack by Captain Munnerlyn. Brees shoved safety Robert Blanton, who had piled onto Munnerlyn’s takedown, and the moment seemed to spark the Saints. The penalty resulted in a first down near midfield and Brees connected with Marques Colston for an 18-yard score a few plays later. “If you want to fire this team up, that’s the guy to go after,” right tackle Zach Strief said of Brees.

RUNNING ROOM: With Saints leading rusher Mark Ingram sidelined by a broken hand, New Orleans finished with its fewest yards rushing of the young season with 108. Still, the Saints got timely production from Khiry Robinson, who rushed 18 times for 69 yards. Coach Sean Payton showed a balanced approach to his play-calling, with 32 runs to 35 passes.

CLAMPING DOWN: After giving up two early touchdowns, the Vikings’ defense demonstrated its ability to adjust and slow the Saints’ normally prolific offense. Minnesota was within one score while keeping New Orleans off the board from late in the first quarter until early in the final quarter. And New Orleans’ last TD may not have happened if Munnerlyn’s late third-quarter sack hadn’t been flagged for roughness.

DOME ADVANTAGE: The Saints continue to be very difficult to beat at home. They’ve won nine straight games in the Superdome — 18 straight under coach Sean Payton, who was suspended in 2012 when New Orleans last lost at home.

____

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
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