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Bills close Ralph Wilson era with 17-14 over Lions

By WTOP Staff

JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

DETROIT (AP) — Kicker Dan Carpenter, quarterback Kyle Orton and the rest of the Buffalo Bills combined to provide a fitting send-off to the franchise’s Ralph Wilson era.

And they did it in the late Hall of Fame owner’s backyard of Detroit, no less.

Orton rallied the Bills from a 14-0 deficit in his debut as starter, and Carpenter sealed the 17-14 victory over the Lions with a 58-yard field goal with 4 seconds remaining Sunday.

It was a dramatic finish that came in what was the final game for the Bills under the Wilson family’s control since Ralph Wilson died in March. The team has since operated under the control of Wilson’s widow, Mary Wilson.

On Wednesday, NFL owners are expected to approve the sale of the Bills for a league-record $1.4 billion to Buffalo Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula.

“It means so much,” Bills president Russ Brandon said, noting that Mary Wilson and other members of the Wilson’s estate attended the game. “We always used to laugh that even in preseason, ‘You had better win in Detroit, it’s Ralph’s hometown.’ I’m just so happy for Mary. She’s the ultimate competitor.”

The Bills (3-2) snapped a two-game skid in Orton’s first game as Buffalo’s starter after EJ Manuel was benched this week. And their defense had six sacks in delivering coordinator Jim Schwartz a win in his return to Detroit after being fired as Lions head coach last season.

Ralph Wilson grew up in Detroit, and maintained his home in nearby St. Clair Shores. Wilson even held a small share of the Lions before he helped form the upstart AFL by founding the Bills in Buffalo in 1959.

The Lions (3-2) were undone by placekicking. Alex Henery missed all three field-goal attempts, including a 50-yarder that sailed wide left with 21 seconds remaining.

Here are a number of things that came out of a game in which Buffalo improved to 5-4-1 all-time against Detroit:

ORTON’S DEBUT: Orton overcame a sluggish start, including an interception which Rashean Mathis returned 41 yards for a touchdown, to produce a big finish. The 10-year journeyman went 30 of 43 for 308 yards and a 2-yard touchdown to Chris Gragg that, combined with Fred Jackson’s 2-point conversion, tied the score in the fourth quarter.

It marked the eighth time in 71 starts Orton has won in overtime or when trailing or tied in the fourth quarter. He also had Buffalo’s first 300-yard passing game since Ryan Fitzpatrick had 337 yards in a 42-30 loss to New England on Nov. 11, 2011.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Carpenter hit three of four field-goal attempts with his only miss a 50-yarder in the third quarter that struck the left upright.

He also hit from 45 and 25 yards, with his 58-yarder the sixth-longest in NFL history to decide a game in the final 2 minutes or overtime.

“Usually, the height part is not really an issue for me, it’s really about just getting it there,” said Carpenter, who also hit a 27-yarder in overtime to seal Buffalo’s 23-20 season-opening win at Chicago. “It’s like a birdie putt. You don’t want to leave it short.”

NOT SO SPECIAL TEAMS: The Lions might be in the market for another kicker after Henery hit the right upright from 44 yards, and was short and left on a 47-yard attempt.

“It’s a performance-based league, plain and simple, and you have to perform,” Lions coach Jim Caldwell said.

The Lions signed Henery two weeks ago after cutting rookie Nate Freese.

SCHWARTZ’S RETURN: The Bills defense had six sacks, allowed 263 yards offense and stopped the Lions on 10 of 11 third-down chances.

Marcell Dareus led the charge with a career-best three sacks. He stepped up his game because fellow starter and mentor Kyle Williams was sidelined by a knee injury. And then he wanted to win for Schwartz.

“We all took it to ourselves to go out and do the best we could for Schwartz and for the team, and just pull it out,” said Dareus.

INJURIES: Bills cornerback Ron Brooks was held overnight in a Detroit hospital for evaluation for a neck injury sustained in a frightening collision during a punt return against the Lions. Brooks did wave his left hand after being placed on a spinal stabilization board and carted off the field midway through the first quarter.

Lions receiver Calvin Johnson’s status is uncertain after aggravating an ankle injury in the first minute of the third quarter. And Detroit running back Reggie Bush did not return after hurting his ankle early in the fourth quarter.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://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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