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Big D: Lions dominate Bridgewater, Vikings 17-3

By WTOP Staff

DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Pro Football Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Detroit Lions are playing some dominant defense.

With Ziggy Ansah and Ndamukong Suh leading a relentless rush, the Lions had eight sacks and three interceptions of Minnesota rookie Teddy Bridgewater in a 17-3 victory over the Vikings on Sunday.

Joique Bell put the game away with a fourth-quarter touchdown run to finish with 74 yards on 18 carries, and the Lions (4-2) won at Minnesota for only the second time in their last 17 trips. They entered the week with the fewest yards per game and the second-fewest points per game allowed in the NFL and still managed to top themselves, playing some stingy defense in a division that lacked it last season.

“It’s definitely something to be proud of, but at the end of the day it’s very early in the season,” said Suh, who had two sacks and a big hand in holding the Vikings to 69 yards on 18 rushes. “If we’re talking Week 17 or Week 16 and we’re still at this pace, which I expect this defense to do, then we can start to be really excited about it because it’s translating to wins.”

So far, so good. The Lions bounced back firmly from a 17-14 loss to Buffalo.

“You have to find a way to stem the tide a little bit. I think our guys were ready to put that one behind them,” coach Jim Caldwell said.

With Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush absent because of ankle injuries, the Lions played a low-risk game and were forced to punt as often as the Vikings: seven times each. Detroit converted only one of 13 third downs.

Matthew Stafford wasn’t at his best, missing his three-time All-Pro wide receiver and finishing 19 for 33 for 185 yards. Theo Riddick caught five passes for 75 yards and a touchdown, the latest running back to work his way into the game plan this season. Riddick later hurt his hamstring.

But Stafford was turnover-free, most importantly, and good enough to lead a seven-play, 80-yard opening drive for a score to put the defense in position to dominate. The Lions kept pace with three-time defending NFC North champion Green Bay, which won 27-24 at Miami on a last-second touchdown. The Lions beat the Packers 19-7 at home last month.

“We were just out there on a mission, trying to get back on track,” said linebacker Tahir Whitehead, who picked off Bridgewater twice, both on tipped balls.

Ansah, who was limping around at times, didn’t have any trouble reaching Bridgewater. He had 2 1/2 sacks, as seven different Lions were credited with at least a half of a sack. They held the Vikings to 212 total yards.

“Hats off to Detroit. Great defense. They’re No. 1 in the league for a reason,” said Bridgewater, who finished 23 for 37 for 188 yards.

One of the interceptions was tipped at the line by Devin Taylor and another went through running back Matt Asiata’s hands. But Bridgewater also ended a promising opening possession by locking his eyes on Cordarrelle Patterson in the end zone. He threw late on a post pattern, allowing Glover Quin to pick the ball off with ease.

The Vikings talked this week about getting the ball more to Patterson, but he was a nonfactor again with one carry for 2 yards and two catches for 15 yards. Bridgewater, left largely unprotected during another shaky performance by the offensive line, targeted Patterson with eight passes.

“I’m extremely disappointed about this loss. I can handle getting beat, but I can’t handle getting our butts whipped like that,” coach Mike Zimmer said.

The one problem for Detroit? Two more missed field goal attempts. Newcomer Matt Prater, the third kicker used by the Lions in four weeks, made a 52-yarder but missed from 50 and 44 into swirling wind. Caldwell said he wasn’t concerned.

NOTES: Suh, in his fifth season, passed Shaun Rogers on the franchise list for career sacks by a defensive tackle, with 30 1/2. Rogers played seven years for the Lions. … Jerick McKinnon moved ahead of Asiata as the featured runner for the Vikings and totaled 82 total yards on 17 touches. … The Lions have missed 10 of 15 field goals this season.

___

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