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Against Lions, Jets try to end ’20-game’ skid

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Rex Ryan is hoping his New York Jets don’t strike out.

It’s only Week 4, but the Jets are off to a shaky start with a 1-2 record. And with two straight losses, Ryan isn’t downplaying his team’s game Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

“Staying in the baseball-type deal, in the NFL, it’s the equivalent of a 10-game losing streak when you lose one game,” Ryan said. “So, we’re on a 20-game losing streak. If that talks about sense of urgency, then yeah, there’s a huge sense of urgency.”

Because by Ryan’s math, another defeat would equal a 30-game skid. In other words, the Jets are in a tough spot against the Lions (2-1).

Must-win in September? Not quite, but being 1-3 with San Diego, Denver and New England on deck would be ominous.

“In Major League Baseball, they play 162 (games),” Ryan said. “That’s why I think football is one of the greatest things and people love it because it’s that important. Yeah, look, we don’t want to dig ourselves in any further hole than we’re in, so we’ve got to find a way and, albeit, against a good opponent.”

The Lions, meanwhile, are looking for their second straight 3-1 start. They’re coming off a 19-7 victory over NFC North rival Green Bay and opened some eyes that maybe Detroit is a legitimate contender in the division.

Having the top-ranked defense and a high-powered offense, despite its early struggles, that includes quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson are two huge reasons.

“I can tell you it’s a resilient group,” said coach Jim Caldwell, in his first season with the Lions.

“It’s a tough group and a group that you’re going to see that’s going to be right in there fighting each and every week. It may not be pretty. We’re not worried about pretty, we’re worried about the results. I think our guys are buying into that.”

Here are some things to watch for when the Lions take on the Jets at MetLife Stadium:

GETTING DEFENSIVE: Both offenses might have some problems in this one, particularly running the ball.

While the Lions have the top defense, based on overall yardage allowed, the Jets are No. 2 in the league. New York is also No. 1 in rushing defense, allowing just 35 yards per game on an average of 14 carries. That spells possible trouble for Reggie Bush and Joique Bell.

But guess who has the No. 2 defense against the run? Yep, the Lions. And they’ll face an offense that ranks second in rushing, led by the trio of Chris Ivory, Chris Johnson and Bilal Powell.

SMITH ON HOT SEAT?: Ryan publicly backed his starting quarterback — twice — this week, and Geno Smith insisted he feels no pressure as far as his job security.

But Smith has five turnovers in three games and is coming off a poor performance against the Bears last Monday night in which he threw two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown on his first pass of the game. That has some anxious fans already calling for the Jets to put backup Michael Vick in and see if he can provide a spark.

“What people have got to understand,” Vick said, “is you’ve got to allow a young guy to work through the tough times.”

SPUTTERING LIONS: Detroit is off to a bit of a sluggish start on offense, scoring just 17 total points on that side of the ball in the past two games.

While the Lions are 11th in overall offense and second in third-down conversions, they also had six turnovers against the Packers and Carolina Panthers. The running game is also 25th in the league.

“It’s just little plays here and there,” Stafford said. “Any time you turn the ball over three times (a game), you’re not going to score a whole lot of points.”

STOPPING MEGATRON: Johnson is still one of the most dominant receivers in the league, and he already has 19 catches for 329 yards and two touchdowns.

Next up: a matchup against a secondary still trying to steady itself. The Jets have started converted safety Antonio Allen and backup Darrin Walls at cornerback, and they’ve faired OK. Oh, and Johnson needs one game of 200 or more yards receiving to break a tie with Hall of Famer Lance Alworth for the most in NFL history with six.

Johnson might be licking his chops this weekend since he’s going up against a defense that allowed the Packers’ Jordy Nelson 209 yards receiving in Week 2.

KICKIN’ IT: The Lions quickly pulled the plug on rookie kicker Nate Freese, who missed a 41-yard field goal last Sunday and was 3 for 7 this season.

They signed former Eagles kicker Alex Henery to replace him, and with both defenses being stout, field goals could be a factor. Henery set an Eagles’ accuracy record on field-goal attempts in 2011, but he had a key miss in last year’s 26-24 playoff loss to New Orleans. He also missed two this preseason before being cut.

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AP Sports Writer Noah Trister and Freelance Writer John Kreger in Allen Park, Michigan, contributed.

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AP NFL websites: 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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