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Steelers romped 31-10 by improved Browns

By WTOP Staff

TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) — When Ben Roethlisberger’s pass fell incomplete, ending Pittsburgh’s final chance at a comeback, the quarterback lowered his head.

Unbuckling his chin straps, Roethlisberger walked very slowly toward the sideline.

He was stunned.

This never happens to him in Cleveland, and rarely to the Steelers.

Roethlisberger, who came in with an 18-1 record in his career against the Browns, couldn’t rally his team from a huge deficit and Pittsburgh’s defense gave up too many big plays in a 31-10 loss on Sunday, dropping the Steelers into last place in the AFC North.

The Steelers (3-3) were no match for the improved Browns, who beat Pittsburgh for just the third time in 23 games.

“They did everything,” linebacker Lawrence Timmons said. “They won every phase of the game. They played a complete game and today was their day.”

Brian Hoyer passed for 217 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Cameron, and improved to 6-2 as Cleveland’s starter. The Browns (3-2) hadn’t beaten Pittsburgh so badly since a 51-0 shutout in 1989.

Roethlisberger wasn’t as efficient as he usually is against Cleveland. He went 21 of 42 for 228 yards and one late TD, was sacked twice and threw one pick. It was his first loss to the Browns since Dec. 10, 2009, and only his second in 10 games in Cleveland.

“I didn’t play well enough,” said Roethlisberger, who overthrew Markus Wheaton on an opportunity for an easy TD in the fourth. “I missed some throws. I didn’t make some good calls at times. I hold myself to a higher standard and I’ve got to be better.”

The Steelers started well. Although they didn’t score TDs on their first two trips inside Cleveland’s 20, the Steelers took a 3-0 lead on Shaun Suisham’s 20-yard field goal in the first quarter. Pittsburgh was in scoring position early in the second, but when a long drive stalled, the Steelers lined up for a 35-yard field goal.

However, punter Brad Wing botched the hold, double-clutching as he tried to place the ball.

It was a miscue, and an omen.

Not much went right for the Steelers the rest of the day.

The Browns, who were held to minus-8 yards in the first quarter, took over on downs after Wing’s muff and went to work. Hoyer, rolling left, threw back across the field to uncovered tight end Jordan Cameron for 42 yards to the Pittsburgh 5. Rookie Isaiah Crowell scored on the next play, giving the Browns a 7-3 lead and momentum.

“That was huge for us,” Browns coach Mike Pettine said. “It just really steamrolled from there.”

Cleveland’s lead swelled to 21-3 at halftime, and when Ben Tate scored his second TD on a 1-yard run with 12:47 left, the Browns were ahead 31-3.

Really, it was over long before that.

Unlike the season opener, when the Steelers built a 27-3 halftime lead and held off a furious Cleveland comeback, the Browns were the ones in control at halftime. Since the break in the opener, the Browns have outscored the Steelers 55-13.

“They’re a good football team, we just didn’t play well enough,” Roethlisberger said. “I’ve played them for a long time and this place was really jumping. They’re a good football team and I give them a lot of credit, offensively and defensively.”

The Browns rammed the ball down Pittsburgh’s throat to take a commanding lead late in the second quarter.

Tate’s 8-yard TD run capped an 85-yard drive soured by the loss of Pro Bowl center Alex Mack, who was carted off the field with a broken leg.

And while the loss of Mack was difficult for his teammates to watch, it seemed to motivate the Browns, who couldn’t afford to drop to 0-3 in the division. Right guard John Greco slid over into Mack’s spot, and Paul McQuistan came off the bench to fill in for Greco.

The Steelers have similar injury issues, but they seem to be lacking their usual cohesion. Maybe it’s good they’ll play their next three games at home.

It’s time to regroup.

“We’re 3-3, our record says we’re an average football team,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s still early but we’ve got to get some things fixed.”

NOTES: The Steelers were down two defensive starters — Ryan Shazier and Ike Taylor — to start the game and had three others get hurt. NT Steve McLendon (sprained shoulder), DE Brett Keisel (sprained knee) and S Mike Mitchell (sprained knee) all went out. Tomlin said the team will have more information Monday. … Roethlisberger’s 343 career completions are the most by any quarterback against the Browns. … Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell had 82 yards rushing on 18 carries but couldn’t break off anything longer than a 12-yarder.

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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