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Ground game helps Saints to 37-31 OT win vs. Bucs

By WTOP Staff

BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Drew Brees wanted to take a moment to remind everyone that there can be much more to New Orleans’ offense that the prolific, record-setting passing for which he is known.

“People get enamored with our passing statistics at times and they maybe just don’t — aren’t aware — or don’t give our guys enough credit for their ability to rush the ball,” Brees said. “The balance is what’s key.”

It certainly was Sunday, when touchdown runs of 27 yards by Pierre Thomas and 18 yards by Khiry Robinson helped the Saints complete a 37-31 victory over Tampa Bay in overtime.

Even with Mark Ingram missing his third straight game with a broken hand, the Saints (2-3) gained 140 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, Brees looked often for running backs on short passes. Thomas, Robinson and fellow running back Travaris Cadet combined for 228 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns.

When the Saints won the coin toss in overtime and chose to receive, the running game was a big reason New Orleans never allowed the Buccaneers (1-4) to touch the ball. The Saints ran the ball on six of their last eight plays. Robinson ran on the final four plays for 5, 6, 2, and 18 yards to cap a 21-carry, 89-yard day on the ground

“We kept running the ball hard,” Saints right tackle Zach Strief said. “As a group, we wore them down at the end.”

It was an unfortunate finish the Buccaneers, who led by 11 on two occasions in the second half, the second time coming early in the fourth quarter after Mike Glennon’s 9-yard pass to Robert Herron made it 31-20.

But Tampa Bay’s defense, which intercepted Brees three times, was unable to get a stop when needed, and the Bucs’ offense collapsed on a key series deep in its own territory in the middle of the fourth quarter, giving up a safety on Junior Galette’s sack.

The result was 17 unanswered points by New Orleans.

“I felt like we had an opportunity to steal a game,” Bucs coach Lovie Smith said. “Whenever you get up like that on the road, you’ve got to be able to finish.”

Here are some things we learned during the Saints’ desperate comeback victory over the Buccaneers:

BREES’ BURDEN: As much as Brees seems to love the idea of New Orleans running the ball, he still attempted 57 passes, and some of them were ill-advised. He completed 35 for 371 yards and two TDs, but he also threw three interceptions. His first two picks came on passes he attempted while getting hit. The first set up a Bucs touchdown and the second was returned for a score by linebacker Danny Lansanah.

GLENNON’S GROWTH: Glennon continued to make a case for retaining the starting nod even after Josh McCown returns from his thumb injury. He was 19 for 32 for 249 yards and two touchdowns. While he was intercepted once, he also led a pair of second-half TD drives and had the Bucs in position to win in the Superdome for the first time since 2010. “We had them right where we wanted them,” Glennon said. “But at the same time, you have to look at Drew Brees and that offense and realize the game’s never over.”

DETERMINED DEFENSE: The Saints’ defense already ranked 29th when three-time Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd went with a season-ending knee injury. The unit responded with one of its best performances this season. The 314 yards the Saints allowed was their second-lowest total in five games. Meanwhile, previously embattled defensive back Patrick Robinson, who lost his starting job in Week 2, made the Saints’ first interception this season.

UNDISCIPLINED BUCS: Tampa Bay might have become the first team to beat Saints coach Sean Payton in the Superdome since the end of the 2010 season — if not for a rash of penalties. The Bucs were penalized 15 times for 113 yards. The offense drew some drive-stalling flags while the defense committed drive-extending infractions, including one in overtime — Johnthan Banks’ illegal hands to the face pass after a third-down incompletion — after Brees had thrown what would have been a drive-stalling incompletion.

SAINTS RESOLVE: Despite a disappointing start for a Saints squad that saw itself as a Super Bowl contender in training camp, New Orleans isn’t giving up easily. A failure to rally in the fourth quarter would have left New Orleans in last place in the NFC South at 1-4 heading into their bye week. Instead, they’re still an unimpressive 2-3, but just a game behind division-leading Carolina. “This was a big confidence builder,” Brees said. “This was a game that, man, by winning, could be a defining moment as we look back on this season.”

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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