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Riding three-game win streak, Giants face Eagles

By WTOP Staff

TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Riding a three-game winning streak, the New York Giants are feeling pretty good about themselves.

The west coast offense is working. Eli Manning isn’t turning the ball over and he finally has a deep threat in first-round draft pick Odell Beckham. On the other side, the defense has recorded 10 takeaways during the streak and it held the NFL’s top-ranked offense to 15 percent on third-down conversions and 20 points in beating the Falcons on Sunday.

Sounds like the Giants (3-2) are back and ready to make a run at the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.

The next two weeks should tell the story. They have statement games against NFC East rivals and division co-leaders Philadelphia (4-1) and Dallas (4-1) on the road.

Coach Tom Coughlin refused to put more emphasis on the upcoming games, saying every one is a test. However, he knows Sunday night’s contest against the defending NFC East champion Eagles is important.

“We know what that challenge is about and we are excited about preparing and having the opportunity to play against the Eagles in our division,” Coughlin said Monday. “That’s what I’m embracing, if that’s the word.”

The Giants have come a long way since opening the season with losses to Detroit and Arizona. At that point, many were expecting a second straight 0-6 start.

Things have not only gotten better, but the Giants are showing signs of being a good team. The biggest indication came Sunday when they rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit and won by 10.

“I feel like, as a team, we’re definitely growing and battling,” defensive captain Antrel Rolle said. “We’re rising above adversity, we’re playing beyond X’s and O’s and more importantly we’re winning the fourth quarter and we’re making things happen. “

The Giants got big lifts from a couple rookies.

Playing in his first NFL game, Beckham caught a go-ahead 15-yard touchdown pass from Manning and drew a pass interference call that eventually led to a 3-yard touchdown run by fellow rookie Andre Williams. The score ignited the 20-point second-half run.

Williams, who gained 65 yards on 20 carries on Sunday, is going to be an important piece of the puzzle the next few weeks. Starting halfback Rashad Jennings has an injury to the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

Coughlin listed him as day to day on Monday, but the way he was moving in the locker room raised doubts about his availability.

Veteran Peyton Hillis will back up Williams, the fourth-round draft pick from Boston College who led FBS halfbacks last season with 2,177 yards rushing.

“The heart of this team is the team itself, it’s not the backfield,” Jennings said. “The offensive line — very productive. The quarterback room– very productive, the tight end and wide receiver room, too.”

The defense also has an injury that will be a concern heading to Philadelphia.

Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has a leg injury that has forced him to leave games at times the past few weeks. Coughlin said the injury starts at his ankle and extends to his hip and it was being evaluated Monday, as was a hamstring injury to backup linebacker Spencer Paysinger.

Cornerbacks Trumaine McBride and Zack Bowman have filled in.

Punter Steve Weatherford’s left ankle also was little sore after he to extend himself pushing Devin Hester out of bounds on a first-quarter return.

However, he intends to be ready for the Eagles.

“The implications of this, even though it’s early in the season, are huge,” Weatherford said. “If we can hand them their second loss and pick up our fourth win, it’s huge. We’re just going to keep doing what we are doing and trust the process, coach Coughlin’s plan.”

NOTES: CB Walter Thurmond III was in the locker room with a sling after season-ending surgery for a pectoral muscle injury. The sling will come off in three weeks and he can start rehabilitation. …Coughlin said the Falcons did a good job of taking away Victor Cruz (3 catches for 22 yards) and making things difficult for tight end Larry Donnell, who did not have a catch but still leads the team with 25 receptions.

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

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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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