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Eagles beat Rams behind defense, special teams

By WTOP Staff

ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Once their defense made one last stop to prevent a collapse, the Philadelphia Eagles became defensive.

Nick Foles threw two touchdown passes, the defense and special teams each scored and the Eagles held on for a 34-28 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

But the mood afterward almost seemed like they lost because the Eagles allowed the Rams to rally from a 27-point deficit and drive within 48 yards of the winning score before Austin Davis threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-13.

“Regardless of how you do it, a win is a win,” safety Nate Allen said. “We’re going to clean up a lot of things, get better in a lot of areas and keep moving forward.”

The Eagles (4-1) rebounded from a tough loss at San Francisco with a strong all-around performance until the offense stumbled and defense fell apart in the fourth quarter. Chris Maragos returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, Cedric Thornton recovered a fumble for a score and nearly took another one the distance.

“Tough 4-1, soft 4-1, doesn’t matter, you’re 4-1, and it’s the same thing,” coach Chip Kelly said.

Austin Davis rallied St. Louis (1-3) from a 34-7 deficit with three straight scores, including a 5-yard pass to Brian Quick that cut it to 34-28 with 4:41 left.

The Rams had a chance for the win when they got the ball at their 7 with 1:47 left. Davis threw a 43-yard pass to Quick on first down, but Philadelphia’s defense finally held. Davis was under pressure when he threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-13.

“We were rolling. I had no doubts in my mind we were going to win,” Davis said of the final drive.

Davis, who began the year as the No. 3 quarterback, finished with 375 yards passing and three TDs in his first game since being elevated to starter for the rest of the season.

The Eagles have scored seven TDs on special teams and defense, becoming the first team since 1970 to have that many in the first five games.

“Turnovers equal victories,” Thornton said. “We try to get our hands on the ball and we’ve been capitalizing on it.”

Here’s some things we learned from Philadelphia’s win over the Rams:

RESILIENT RAMS: The Rams wouldn’t go down easily. Davis brought them back with several big throws, including a 30-yard TD pass to Kenny Britt. His first TD pass was most impressive. Davis scrambled backward, avoided a pass rush and threw from the 25, an 8-yard TD pass to Quick in the back of the end zone.

“It’s unfortunate that we ran out of time,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “I’m proud of the way the guys just battled and battled. I think everybody on the sideline thought we were going to put the ball in the end zone there at the end and win it.”

PROTECTING FOLES: Despite missing starters Evan Mathis and Jason Kelce, the offensive line didn’t allow Foles to be sacked for the third time in five games. Foles has been sacked once in the last four games after going down five times in the season opener.

“I felt very comfortable stepping up and I thought they did a really great job of keeping me clean,” Foles said.

SHADY’S PROGRESS: LeSean McCoy, an All-Pro last year, had 81 yards rushing on 24 carries. He had 39 yards on 29 carries in the previous two games. The return of right tackle Lane Johnson from suspension helped open a few more holes for McCoy. But he hardly resembles the guy who set a franchise record for yards rushing last year.

“I thought there were a lot more lanes today,” McCoy said. “The guys up front did a great job. I think that I have to do a better job of breaking more tackles.”

NO RUSH: The Rams have only one sack this season by Aaron Donald in Week 2. Robert Quinn, who led the NFL with 19 sacks last year, was shut out again.

DROUGHT OVER: Foles tossed a 9-yard pass to Riley Cooper with 30 seconds left in the second quarter, ending a drought of 18 drives and 97:04 without an offensive TD. The Eagles set several team records on offense last year, but have been inconsistent this season. They have 11 offensive touchdowns, only four more than their defense and special teams.

“We have a lot of improving to do,” Foles said. “We all know that and that’s what really excites us.”

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AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi

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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