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Ravens DC unhappy with Bengals late field goal to avoid shutout

By James Scibilia

Ravens DC unhappy with Bengals late field goal originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Down 27-0 with just 37 seconds left in the game, the Cincinnati Bengals elected to kick a field goal in a Week 5 loss at Baltimore. It was the only blemish on a nearly flawless performance by the Ravens defense, but that decision certainly caught the attention of defense coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale.

“He knew what it was because it was awful quiet when I yelled it across the field,” Martindale said when asked his reaction to the late field goal. “There are some people that take that as a victory.”

“We’ll have plenty to talk about the next time we play them.”

These two teams will meet again Week 17 in Cincinnati. The Ravens were denied their first shutout victory since Oct. 14, 2018 against the Titans, but still left the game with the top-ranked defense in the NFL. That is thanks in large part to pressure on the quarterback from all levels of the defense. According to Pro Football Reference, Baltimore became the first team in NFL history to have five defensive backs record a sack in a single game.

“People like to say, ‘high-risk, high-reward,’ yet we’re No. 1 in scoring defense,” Martindale said. “If you’re coming off that bus and you’re a nose or you’re a corner, be ready to be a free runner to the quarterback because we want to hit the quarterback, and I think all 11 guys are eligible to go do that.”

“You can get that out of Wink,” cornerback Jimmy Smith said after recording a sack against the Bengals. “He likes to send his DB’s, he likes to send everybody from anywhere.”

Defensive dominance is something the Ravens have always prided themselves on, and if you ask Smith this year’s group ranks right up there with the top ranked defenses in franchise history.

“2011 comes to mind when I think about it,” Smith said. “2017 I want to say when I think of strong defenses we’ve had. This ranks right up there with all of them as far as depth, talent and veteran leadership.”

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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