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Ryan delighted that Falcons off to 2-1 start

By WTOP Staff

GEORGE HENRY
Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons have played well twice at home and looked terrible in one road game.

But following Thursday’s 56-14 victory over Tampa Bay, Ryan was delighted to head into a long weekend without having to worry about starting the season poorly for a second straight year.

The Falcons, coming off a 4-12 record that caused Ryan to question his entire offseason training regimen, are off to a 2-1 start.

“We talked about all week that we wanted to start fast and rebound from last week,” Ryan said. “With that being said, even as good as tonight was, I think there are areas where we can improve and get better.”

The Buccaneers were flat in their first two games, but still only lost at home by a combined eight points to Derek Anderson-led Carolina and Austin Davis-led St. Louis.

Even with important playmakers like Gerald McCoy, Mason Foster and Doug Martin injured and unable to suit up, nobody among the Bucs thought this kind of performance was possible.

“I thought I had our football team ready to play, and obviously we weren’t ready to play,” Tampa Bay coach Lovie Smith said. “Again, it was all phases. We couldn’t stop them on defense, couldn’t score any points on offense. On special teams, you know, we couldn’t get anything going there.”

Some things to consider for both teams:

HARD TO STOP: Ryan has seen receiver Julio Jones make some remarkable plays in their four years together.

Jones made an acrobatic, 40-yard catch midway through the third, looking first over his left shoulder for Ryan’s deep pass and then adjusting to catch the ball over his right shoulder to beat cornerback Alterraun Verner and make it 42-0.

Jones had nine catches for a career-high 161 yards.

“He’s a special talent, and we talk about it all the time,” Ryan said. “When we get him in that situation, we just feel like we can put the ball up and he’s going to come down with it.”

BANGED UP BUC: Bucs quarterback Josh McCown left the game in the second quarter with a thumb injury and did not return. McCown didn’t know an immediate diagnosis.

“I either got it hit by a helmet or when the defender landed on me as my thumb was under me when I hit the ground,” McCown said. “I tried to grab the ball on the sidelines, but just wasn’t able to grip it.”

The 35-year-old McCown’s career record dropped to 20-45.

GIMME SOME LOVIN’: Devin Hester thought it might be a special night when he spoke to Lovie Smith’s wife before the game.

MaryAnne Smith hugged Hester on the field and wished him good luck. It was the first time that Lovie Smith, Hester’s former coach in Chicago, was facing off against the star return specialist.

It was just the kind of night Hester envisioned — a victory for his new team as he broke the NFL record for career touchdown returns with 20.

The big moment came on his 62-yard punt return that made it 35-0 in the second quarter. Hester also scored a 20-yard TD on a reverse and recovered a fumble.

“I know I’m one of coach Lovie’s favorites,” Hester said. “Just the years we’ve grown together — I love that guy a lot, man. I told him before the game. Unfortunately, you know, we’re on opposite teams, but I told him if I break this record tonight, you’ll be here to see it.”

UP NEXT: The Falcons visit Minnesota in Week 4. Tampa Bay is on the road against Pittsburgh.

BY THE NUMBERS: The Bucs trailed 35-0 before their offense managed a first down. … The victory was the second-largest win in Falcons history and the team’s most lopsided since they beat the New Orleans 62-7 in 1973. … Tampa Bay committed five turnovers, losing four fumbles and having a McCown interception returned by obscure Falcons safety Kemal Ishmael that made it 21-0 in the first quarter. … Ryan had as many touchdown passes (three) as he had incompletions. … The Falcons are 2-0 against NFC South opponents, Tampa Bay 0-2.

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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