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Bengals’ task: Win playoff game or else

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Even if the Bengals reach the playoffs for an unprecedented fourth straight season, it’ll be considered mostly irrelevant unless they win at least one more.

Harsh, but accurate.

The defending AFC North champions are in what amounts to uncharted territory for their franchise. They’ve put together the best streak of regular-season success since their debut in 1968, reaching the playoffs three years in a row.

Now, it’s time for the next step.

They’ve gone 0-3 in the postseason over the past three years, extending one of the NFL’s longest streaks of playoff futility. They haven’t won a playoff game since the 1990 season, tied for the sixth-longest such drought.

They’ve kept their roster virtually intact, settled on Andy Dalton as their leader by giving him a six-year extension, and set out to do much more than win another division championship.

“We have to win one in the playoffs,” owner Mike Brown said. “We are fully aware that didn’t happen. It sticks in our craw. First, we have to get the opportunity again.

“That is a long, hard road. We have a tough schedule, we respect our opponents, we take nothing for granted. But in our hearts — in my heart, too — I think we stack up OK and we are anxious to prove we are going to be a successful team again.”

Success will be defined by whether they get to the playoffs and keep going past that first game.

Things to watch in the Bengals’ attempt to break their long drought:

CAN DALTON BREAK THROUGH: He’s had three of the best regular seasons by any NFL newcomer. Only Joe Flacco, Pat Haden, Dan Marino and Bernie Kosar have led their teams to the playoffs in each of their first three seasons as Dalton did. Yet no matter how well Dalton has played during the regular season, he’d done his worst in the three playoff games, including a 27-10 loss to San Diego last season that featured his three turnovers in the second half.

Much of it falls on his shoulders.

“I don’t feel any added pressure,” he said. “I don’t think this team does. We have improved every year. We haven’t gotten the win in the playoffs that we had been planning to get, but the team has gotten better overall.”

GIO AND THE NEW GUY: New offensive coordinator Hue Jackson wants the Bengals to be more balanced to take some of the pressure off Dalton. They drafted Jeremy Hill in the second round and installed him as the backup to Giovani Bernard, who takes over for BenJarvus Green-Ellis as the starter. Cincinnati’s running game ranked 18th in the league last season.

“Everybody says, ‘Run the ball and the pressure will be taken off (Dalton),’ but if you don’t run it effectively it won’t do that,” Jackson said.

A.J. EVEN BETTER: Three-time Pro Bowl selection A.J. Green hired a chef in the offseason and put on upper-body weight to help him fend off defenders better. He’s looking to do even more as he’s coming off another sensational season — fifth in the NFL in yards receiving (1,426), sixth in catches (98). His 260 catches are the most in NFL history for a player in his first three seasons.

GENO’S RETURN: Defensive tackle Geno Atkins tore the ACL in his right knee last Oct. 31, costing the defense one of the NFL’s top interior linemen. It still finished third overall in yards allowed. Atkins is back, though not yet in full form. He got into the third preseason game for 13 plays and had trouble getting through blockers. Cincinnati offered rising star linebacker Vontaze Burfict a contract extension, but lost defensive end Michael Johnson to free agency and could use Atkins back in form to help pressure quarterbacks. The Bengals also are looking for a breakout year from end Margus Hunt, a second-round pick in 2013 who played sparingly as a rookie.

MARVIN’S CHALLENGE: Dalton isn’t the only one getting a lot of attention in the playoff-win-or-else spotlight. Marvin Lewis is 0-5 in the playoffs as the Bengals head coach. He has two new coordinators as he enters his 12th season — Jackson on offense, Paul Guenther on defense. Although he got a one-year extension through the 2015 season, Lewis has a lot at stake.

Only Jim Mora started his coaching career with more consecutive playoff losses (six). The five straight playoff losses are tied for second-most overall — Marty Schottenheimer, Mora and Steve Owen lost six each. And the five straight playoff losses are the second-most with one team, trailing only the Giants’ Owen, who lost six playoff games in an 11-year span from 1939-1950.

___

Online: AP NFL website: 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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