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Browns believing after 31-10 rout of Steelers

By WTOP Staff

TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) — Brian Hoyer slapped every hand he could, making contact with all those wanting to touch one of their own — the guy becoming a bigger hero by the day.

And as Cleveland’s quarterback ran from the field after defeating the hated Pittsburgh Steelers, Hoyer celebrated with Browns fans who were sitting behind a banner that read: “This Is Hoyer Country.”

No doubt about that.

“Pretty cool,” Hoyer said.

Making big plays and no mistakes, Hoyer passed for 217 yards and for once didn’t have to sweat out the final minutes as the Browns romped 31-10 over Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers on Sunday.

Hoyer threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Cameron in the first half and improved to 6-2 as Cleveland’s starter. The Browns (3-2) — with a big assist from their much maligned defense — beat the Steelers for just the third time in 23 games. Cleveland hadn’t beaten Pittsburgh so soundly since a 51-0 shutout in 1989.

Like almost every kid in Northeast Ohio, Hoyer was raised to despise the Steelers (3-3) so he understands the importance of what a win over Pittsburgh means to Cleveland.

“To beat those guys that way feels good,” Hoyer said. “The last time the Browns beat the Steelers, I was the backup quarterback for the Steelers. I know how much it means for these players to beat Pittsburgh. They haven’t had great luck against them for the past however many years. To beat those guys and the fashion we did it, feels really good.”

Ben Tate had two rushing TDs and rookie Isaiah Crowell added another as the Browns opened a 21-3 lead in the first half and rolled one week after staging the largest comeback in NFL history by a road team.

For Roethlisberger, two wins each season over Cleveland has almost been a given. However, he lost for just the second time in 20 games against the Browns as he couldn’t get Pittsburgh’s offense moving against a defense that entered the game ranked 31st in the league.

“I didn’t play well enough,” said Roethlisberger, who went 21 of 42 for 228 yards and one late TD. “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 fell into last place in the AFC North.

Cleveland’s win was tempered by the loss of Pro Bowl center Alex Mack, who broke his left leg in the first half and is likely done for the season.

Browns tackle Joe Thomas blinked back tears as Mack, his close friend and fellow offensive lineman, was carted off.

“We have played every snap together for six years and you are finally getting the best of Pittsburgh, he deserved to be out there with us,” Thomas said. “It was hard to go on. It’s so difficult to lose such a tremendous player like that.”

The win further legitimized the Browns’ season and Hoyer’s standing with his teammates and the Cleveland fans who were skeptical when he was named the starter over rookie Johnny Manziel.

Hoyer finished 8 of 17 and still has just one interception in 149 attempts.

“He made some big throws,” coach Mike Pettine said.

The Browns just may be for real, and here are five other things we learned as they bounced the Steelers into the division’s basement:

MISSING MACK: As Mack was being treated on the field before being taken on a cart to the locker room, several Steelers offered their condolences.

Then, all of Mack’s Cleveland teammates came onto the field to wish him well, knowing they might be playing without him the rest of the year. He put on a brave front, giving the fans a thumbs-up as he was driven off.

“He’s going to be cheering us on,” said John Greco, who slid over from right guard to take Mack’s spot. “He’s going to come back faster than anyone expects him to, and he’ll be back stronger than ever.”

TURNING POINT: Leading 3-0, the Steelers were about to go up by 6 when holder Brad Wing couldn’t handle the snap from center on a 35-yard field goal attempt by Shaun Suisham. The Browns pounced on the blown chance, scoring a touchdown and taking control.

“You could really feel a swing there,” Pettine said. “That was huge for us.”

BEN’S TAKE: Roethlisberger was succinct following the game in summing up the state of the Steelers.

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

HURTIN’ STEEL CURTAIN: Pittsburgh was without two starters coming in and then had three others injured.

Nose tackle Steve McLendon (sprained shoulder), DE Brett Keisel (sprained knee) and S Mike Mitchell (sprained knee) all went out. Coach Mike Tomlin said the team will have more information Monday.

EASY SCHEDULE: Cleveland’s next three opponents — Jacksonville, Oakland and Tampa Bay — are a combined 1-16.

___

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