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Bengals looking to drop, stop Tom Brady again

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Bengals gave Tom Brady one of the worst afternoons of his career the last time they got together.

They sacked Brady the first time he dropped to pass. They prevented the Patriots from getting into the end zone on a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line. They picked off his final pass in a downpour, ending one of the NFL’s most impressive passing streaks.

Brady’s stretch of 52 consecutive games with a touchdown pass — the second-longest in NFL history — ended emphatically last Oct. 6 at Paul Brown Stadium with Cincinnati’s 13-6 win.

A lot is riding on their rematch on Sunday night in Foxborough. Brady is trying to get the Patriots’ offense up and running after one of its worst showings, and the Bengals (3-0) are looking to drop him and stop him again.

The frequent goal of getting pressure on the quarterback is especially important against Brady, defensive tackle Domata Peko said.

“As soon as you get after him early and get him jittery and get him throwing the ball erratically, we have a good shot at winning the game,” he said. “But it all starts with hitting him early and stopping the running game.”

The Patriots (2-2) were at the Bengals’ mercy the last time they met.

Cincinnati limited the Patriots to 82 yards rushing. Brady completed a season-low 47.4 percent of his passes for 197 yards with an interception and a passer rating of 52.2 that also was his season low.

He had a chance to extend the touchdown pass streak and rally the Patriots after getting the ball back with 1:48 left in rainy weather. His pass intended for Aaron Dobson was picked off by Adam “Pacman” Jones near the goal line with 26 seconds left.

Cincinnati’s defense finished No. 3 in yards allowed last season. Brady will be facing a unit that has just about everyone back and might be even better. The Bengals have allowed a league-low 33 points and are the only team to give up 16 or fewer points in every game so far.

“We’re better this year, I think,” Jones said. “Everybody’s healthy. The guys up front are rushing, the guys in the back end are covering pretty, the linebackers are coming downhill. You have to kind of keep your head on a swivel because guys are hitting guys.”

Brady’s been hit a lot. The Patriots have given up 10 sacks, tied for fifth-most in the league. Brady was under constant pressure during a 41-14 loss at Kansas City on Monday night, when he threw for only 159 yards, fumbled on a sack and threw a pair of interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

And now he gets a Bengals team that showed last year it can get to him often. Brady was sacked four times in that loss at Paul Brown Stadium.

“They’ve got one of the best defenses in the league,” Brady said. “This is a team that gave us all we could handle last year, and it’s a great opportunity for us to go out on a Sunday night game and try to play a lot better than we played last week.”

Notes: Pro Bowl middle linebacker Vontaze Burfict was in a T-shirt and shorts again on Thursday. He hasn’t been cleared to return from his second concussion of the season. … Receiver Marvin Jones didn’t practice because of a sore ankle, an indication he likely won’t play against the Patriots. Jones broke a bone in his left foot during training camp and has been sidelined all season, but resumed working out with the team last week. He needs to get back into playing shape.

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AP Sports Writer Howard Ulman in Foxborough, Massachusetts contributed to this report.

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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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