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Rodgers throws for 4 TDs, Packers beat Bears 38-17

By WTOP Staff

ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO (AP) — Aaron Rodgers figured the Green Bay Packers would fix the problems. How’s this for a solution?

Rodgers threw for 302 yards and four touchdowns, and Green Bay shook off one of its worst offensive performances in years with a 38-17 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon.

The Packers (2-2) recorded their 700th victory after breaking it open in the second half.

They went from managing just 223 yards, their lowest total since 2008, in last week’s 19-7 loss to Detroit to collecting 358 in this one. More impressive, the Packers scored on their first six possessions to go up 38-17.

They intercepted Jay Cutler twice in the third quarter to pull away from the Bears (2-2). That gave Green Bay five straight wins at Soldier Field, including the NFC title game four years ago and a playoffs-or-bust finale for both teams last season.

“I felt confident,” Rodgers said. “I always have confidence in myself, but it was a good week of practice. Some guys showed extra focus.”

Rodgers called on Packers fans to take a deep breath during the week, and he gave them reason to exhale with this performance.

Here are some things to know from the Packers’ win over the Bears:

HAVE TIME, WILL PRODUCE: Rodgers posted a 151.2 rating for the game, completing 22 of 28 passes, and had all the time he needed with five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen sitting out because of an illness.

He threw two touchdown passes each to Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson, and a fifth got called back by a penalty. That happened early in the third when a scrambling Rodgers got hit by at least one defender while unleashing an awkward, wobbly 34-yard pass that somehow connected with Davante Adams in the end zone.

Cobb had seven catches for 113 yards. Nelson had 10 receptions for 108 yards, and the Packers came away with the win despite allowing 496 yards.

“I just wanted to remind everybody that it’s a long season, and at some point, we’re going to get this thing figured out,” Rodgers said.

PUNTERS NOT NEEDED: Whether it was because the offenses were so effective or the defenses simply were not, neither team punted the ball.

That happened only once before in a regular-season NFL game, 22 years ago.

“Punters should be fresh for next week, I would guess,” Cutler said. “There wasn’t one punt? Geez.”

THE INJURY ISSUE: Injuries might be catching up with the Bears.

They’re down two starters on the offensive line since center Roberto Garza and left guard Matt Slauson suffered ankle injuries in the opener. Brandon Marshall has been limited ever since he sprained his right ankle in the season-opening loss to Buffalo and had only two catches this week after catching one against the New York Jets on Monday night.

Allen’s illness is just another blow to a defense missing some key parts. Cornerback Charles Tillman suffered a season-ending arm injury two weeks ago at San Francisco, and defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff missed his second straight game with a concussion.

RUN GAME EMERGES: The Bears committed to the run and finished with 235 yards rushing, their highest total since 1988. After facing some strong defensive lines and leaning on the passing game the first three weeks, they went right at Green Bay. Considering the Packers have struggled against the run, that wasn’t a surprise.

Still, the numbers were impressive. Forte ran for 122 yards. Ka’Deem Carey added 72 and the Bears averaged 5.7 yards per carry.

The Packers finished with just 56 yards rushing — 48 for Eddie Lacy on 17 carries.

CUTLER’S CURSE: Chicago’s Jay Cutler just can’t seem to beat the Packers.

He wound up passing for 256 yards and two TDs but fell to 1-10 lifetime against Green Bay, counting the postseason, thanks to those interceptions.

The second one was probably more on Brandon Marshall. He went deep when he was supposed to cut back toward the quarterback. That resulted in an easy interception for Sam Shields, who returned it 62 yards to set up a TD.

“I thought we were playing well, I thought we were moving the ball well,” Cutler said. “We were changing it up. I thought (coach Marc Trestman) called a really good game. We just had some unfortunate things happen to us that kind of derailed us, and they didn’t.”

___

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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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