Skip to main content

Stafford, Tate lead Lions over Jets 24-17

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Calvin Johnson ran around a little, made a couple of plays and watched from the sideline a lot more than he’s used to.

Two catches, 12 yards. And that was more than the Detroit Lions needed against the New York Jets.

Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score and the Lions overcame Johnson being limited by an ankle injury to beat the Jets 24-17 on Sunday.

“He had a couple of catches, but he obviously wasn’t himself out there,” Stafford said of his No. 1 receiver. “That’s the kind of guy he is, to come out here and play for us and helping us out with depth. The other guys stepped up big.”

Jeremy Ross and Eric Ebron caught scoring passes for the Lions, off to a 3-1 start for the second straight season. Johnson’s ankle had him questionable entering the game, but Golden Tate did his best Megatron impersonation, catching eight passes for 116 yards.

“We knew Calvin was going to be limited today and we were hoping to not have to use him unless it was an emergency,” Tate said. “I think we responded well.”

Stafford finished 24 of 34 for 293 yards, and appeared unfazed by his top receiver shuttling in and out of the game.

The game was a matchup of Detroit’s top-ranked defense and New York’s No. 2. The Lions had the first big play of the game as Stafford found Ross for a 59-yard touchdown and a 10-3 lead over the Jets (1-3). Ross blew by converted safety Antonio Allen, and then Allen missed a late tackle attempt as Ross got into the end zone.

“This team is not the only team that’s going to get lit up by a team throwing the football,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “They do a pretty good job. They have a lot of weapons over there.”

Here are a few other things to know about the Lions’ victory over the Jets:

FRUSTRATED GENO: Jets quarterback Geno Smith lost his cool after the game, and was caught by a TV camera yelling an expletive at a heckler in the stands as he walked off the MetLife Stadium field.

“First of all, I want to apologize if any kids saw me saying any negative remarks walking off the field,” Smith said to open his postgame news conference. “I kind of let my temper get the best of me in that situation, and it’s a part of my learning process.”

Smith was 17 of 33 for 209 yards, but had two more turnovers — an interception and a fumble — as chants of “We Want Vick!” echoed throughout the stadium at times, perhaps none louder than after he was intercepted by Darius Slay in the fourth quarter. Ryan, however, insisted that Smith will start next Sunday at San Diego.

“I believe in him,” Ryan said.

THEY LIKE MIKE: Vick didn’t get into the game, but he heard the calls for him to take over for Smith.

“I have mixed emotions about it,” the backup quarterback said, “because I’ve been through that, too”

If Smith struggles again against the Chargers, the Jets could have a full-blown quarterback controversy. Asked what he thought when he the fans chanting for Vick, defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson was blunt.

“Shut up,” Richardson said. “If that’s the case, produce a child who can come and make it to the NFL and let’s see what he’s got. Other than that, just shut up. We’ve got coaches to do that.”

MOMENTUM CHANGER: New York stayed in it — and fired up the fans — by scoring on its first possession of the second half, an 11-yard touchdown from Smith to Eric Decker midway through the third quarter that made it 17-10.

But the Lions reclaimed control on Stafford’s 1-yard run for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter to give Detroit a 24-10 lead. Stafford’s run — upheld by video review — capped a 14-play, 90-yard scoring drive.

“We were just clicking,” Tate said.

EBRON EMERGES: With Joseph Fauria out with an ankle injury, Ebron had a breakout game as the Lions’ No. 2 tight end.

The No. 10 overall pick in May didn’t light up the stats sheet with three catches for 34 yards and a touchdown — his first in the NFL — but he helped pick up the slack left by Johnson being in and out of the lineup.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Ebron said of his 16-yard TD. “I couldn’t ask for a better throw or a better play call.”

INJURIES: The Jets lost wide receiver David Nelson (left ankle) and rookie safety Calvin Pryor (thigh) to injuries, and they didn’t return. Cornerback Antonio Allen also had a significant limp after the game.

Lions running back Joique Bell left with a head injury, while running back Theo Riddick and fullback Montell Owens had hamstring injuries. Neither coach had any updates.

___

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote