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Bengals solid at bye week, could emerge better

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — The previous time the Bengals opened a season 3-0 was 2006. They were a young team coming off a first-round playoff loss.

They got off to a very impressive start, determined to go deeper into the postseason this time around.

And then, they crashed.

Those ’06 Bengals finished 8-8, one of the great disappointments in coach Marvin Lewis’ 12 seasons. What’s to think the same thing won’t happen this time around, too?

“It’s a different group,” Lewis said. “That (’06) group had made the playoffs for the first time in a long time the year before — first time in their careers ever making the playoffs.

“This is a different football team. This team knows the task at hand. When we got started, we knew where we needed to go each and every week.”

So far, they’ve done everything they wanted.

The Bengals enter their bye weekend as one of only three undefeated teams in the league, and the only one in the AFC.

Their defense is again one of the league’s best at shutting down quarterbacks. The special teams are solid all around. And the offense has new spunk under first-year coordinator Hue Jackson.

Receiver Mohamed Sanu has thrown two passes. Andy Dalton has caught a touchdown pass.

Pretty much sums it up.

A team that has reached the playoffs three consecutive years — the first two as a wild card, last year as AFC North champions — has emerged as one of the NFL’s most complete teams and could be even better coming out of the bye.

“We’re playing with a lot of confidence,” Dalton said. “It’s not just one side of the ball. It’s every phase of the game. It makes it fun.”

Even though the defense has changed coordinators — Paul Guenther was promoted after Mike Zimmer left for Minnesota — a unit that finished third in the league last year has kept up the pace. Quarterbacks Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan and Jake Locker have completed only 54 percent of their passes for 761 yards with two touchdowns, six interceptions and seven sacks.

Their combined passer rating: 56.9.

“When this team is healthy and we’ve got everyone back, I (expect) nothing but great things from here on out,” linebacker Rey Maualuga said.

The Bengals have stayed unbeaten despite a lot of injuries. Tight end Tyler Eifert will miss the first half of the season with an injured elbow. Tight end Alex Smith is out for the season with a biceps injury. Right guard Kevin Zeitler is out indefinitely with an injured calf.

Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict missed the previous game with his second concussion of the season. Receiver Marvin Jones has missed the first three games with a broken foot, but is expected back after the bye.

The biggest change from last season has been in the offense. Dalton has thrown only one interception and has yet to be sacked. The running game is more diversified with Giovani Bernard moving into the starter’s role and rookie Jeremy Hill sharing time.

And Jackson has brought more creativity to things, allowing Sanu to throw the ball and Dalton to catch it.

“What I’ve been watching is great,” Jones said. “What I’ve been watching is an offense that’s explosive, and obviously we’re taking care of the ball. And we’re just making plays.

“We have people out there that have a lot of ability and add different attributes to the game, and it’s just good to see.”

Of course, the next 13 games are a lead-in to what will ultimately decide whether the season is a success. The Bengals have lost in the opening round of the playoffs each of the past three seasons. Lewis is 0-5 in the playoffs.

The Bengals haven’t won a playoff game since the 1990 season, which ties for the sixth-longest streak of postseason futility in NFL history. What happens then will define everything.

“Since I’ve been here, we’ve played pretty well during the season,” third-year safety George Iloka said. “I’ll bet your friends all say: ‘The same old Cincinnati. They do good in the regular season …’

“We’re doing everything so far that we’re supposed to do.”

___

Online:

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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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