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Eagles coach ready for another dose of Luck

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Chip Kelly has a simple message for the Eagles this week.

Yes, the defending NFC East champs are the only team in the division with a win.

Yes, the defense held Jacksonville scoreless on its final 11 possessions last week.

And yes, Philadelphia has one of the league’s most potent offenses.

But when you’re playing Andrew Luck, the resume doesn’t mean a thing.

“We won twice, but they were both shootouts,” Kelly said of his first three rounds against Luck in the Pac-12. “They scored 30-plus points, and the two games we won we scored 50 and they scored 30. We didn’t shut Andrew down. … We just outscored them.”

The Eagles (1-0) may have to take a similar tack in Indianapolis.

A week ago, the Colts’ defense couldn’t get off the field in the first two quarters and allowed Denver to take a 24-0 lead before halftime, then held the Broncos to just one second-half touchdown. But as the Broncos found out, leads aren’t safe with Luck around.

The Colts’ quarterback already has 11 game-winning drives in 33 career starts and helped the 2013 AFC South champs produce the second-largest comeback in playoff history in January.

Last week, Luck nearly did it again, getting Indianapolis within a touchdown of forcing overtime and into position for a potential tying score in the closing minutes before the drive stalled and Peyton Manning closed it out.

Kelly isn’t surprised.

“I think I saw the stat, he has the most fourth-quarter comebacks in the first two years in the league of any quarterback,” Kelly said. “I think there’s a confidence in that team. I think Chuck’s (Pagano) done such a good job of providing and creating an environment for those guys that they feel like they’re in every game.”

While the Stanford grad may be the new master of the comeback and appreciates the compliments coming from Kelly’s camp, Luck knows that if he’s going to get even with his old college nemesis, it will take more than good fortune.

The Colts (0-1) need to execute from start to finish.

“Our job is to put points on the board regardless of what the other team is averaging,” Luck said when asked whether there’s more pressure on an offense in a potential shootout. “Otherwise, I think you could go down a slippery slope in terms of what we’re trying to do.”

Here are a few more things to watch Monday night.

LINE DANCE I: Without Robert Mathis, Indy struggled to put pressure on Peyton Manning. And while Manning does get rid of the ball quickly, Philadelphia’s will stress Indy’s defense even more. The Colts have been creatively working on getting lined up on time all week. Finding a way to rattle Nick Foles would help, too.

LINE DANCE II: Philadelphia’s challenge this week is plugging holes along the offensive line. Two of last week’s starters, left guard Evan Mathis (knee) and right tackle (ankle), have already been ruled out. So the Eagles spent the early part of this week looking for replacements. The injuries caused problems early last week, forcing Foles into three turnovers, but the Eagles settled down and rallied for a 34-17 win. They’re hoping a week’s worth of adjustments will eliminate the problems.

PERFECT 10: The Colts’ best trait is their resilience. They don’t worry when they get behind, don’t flinch at the sight of turnovers and don’t look back when injuries hit. It’s the primary reason Indy is 10-0 in regular-season games following a loss since Pagano arrived in 2012. A win Monday would also assure Pagano of breaking the franchise record for most games coached without consecutive losses. He stands at 33. Ted Marchibroda did it in 34 straight.

TWO-BACK TANDEM: A week ago, LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles combined for 145 yards rushing. This week, they face an Indy defense that has traditionally struggled in stopping the run. If the two backs duplicate that feat, it could be a long night for Colts fans.

CROWD NOISE: Indianapolis fans may not be the loudest in the league, but if the roof is closed Monday night, the decibel level could help slow down the Eagles’ fast-paced offense. Philadelphia will probably attempt to negate any potential home-field advantage by using hand signals to keep the offense moving. The Eagles have won five straight road openers and eight of their past 11, but Kelly’s Eagles had mixed results indoors last season — losing 48-30 at Minnesota and beating the Cowboys 24-22 in the season finale.

___

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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