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Bengals try to keep Dalton untouched vs Titans

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Walking off the field after another win, offensive tackles Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith started lobbing their quarterback for a little love.

Given how few times Andy Dalton has hit the ground this season, he had to listen.

“Andre and I were just kidding him that we need him to throw us a little bone or something,” Whitworth said. “I was just having fun with him. He means a lot to us. We go out every week with the goal of not letting anyone touch him.”

The Bengals (2-0) are off to their best start since 2006 in large part because Dalton has been able to stay on his feet and avoid the game-turning mistake. The Bengals are the only team in the NFL without a turnover or a sack. Dalton has gone two games without an interception or a sack for the first time in his career.

It’s the first time in Cincinnati’s 47-season history it hasn’t turned over the ball or given up a sack in the first two games.

“We’re going for three this week,” Dalton said. “Hopefully we can get that record.”

Tennessee (1-1) knows the need to end that trend. The Titans are tied for second in the NFL with eight sacks. They’re playing one of seven unbeaten teams left in the NFL in a stadium where the Bengals have won their last 10 regular-season games.

In order to have a chance, they’ve got to get to Dalton.

“For us, it’s more so like a playoff game,” defensive lineman Jurrell Casey said. “They’re a playoff-contending team, and we want to be a playoff-contending team. So we’ve got to go out there and show we’re able to compete with those guys.

“Like I said, they’re a great team and they have everything on that side of the ball. I feel like we have the guys on our side of the ball to go out and stop it.”

The Bengals beat the Falcons 24-10 last week despite losing Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green to an injured right toe, tight end Alex Smith to an injured biceps, Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict to another concussion, and guard Kevin Zeitler to an injured right calf.

They’ve showed their depth by continuing to win. A victory Sunday would leave them 3-0 for the first time since 2006 with a chance to heal during their bye week.

“I’m pleased,” coach Marvin Lewis said. “We’re as good as we can be. But again, we can’t take a step back. We can’t take a breath or relax.”

Some things to watch on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium:

PERFECT DALTON: Dalton and Houston’s Ryan Fitzpatrick are the only quarterbacks who haven’t been sacked or thrown an interception. The Bengals are the only team without a turnover or sack allowed. Dalton has been quicker to get rid of the ball instead of taking a sack, and he hasn’t forced passes as much as in the past.

“Taking care of the ball and protecting the quarterback are maybe the two things we preach above everything else,” Lewis said.

BEAT-UP BENGALS: Cincinnati wants to get through this game without more injuries, of course, then take the bye week to regroup and heal. Receiver Marvin Jones is expected back soon from a broken foot. Tight end Tyler Eifert will miss half the season with an injured elbow. It’s unclear how long Zeitler and Burfict will be limited. And Green is hoping to get past the injured big toe on his right foot that forced him out of the game during the opening series last Sunday.

GIO ON THE RUN: The Titans have given up the fewest yards passing in the NFL, but that’s partly because teams can run on them. The Cowboys ran for 220 yards during a 26-10 win in Tennessee, holding the ball for more than 41 minutes. With their passing game limited by injuries against the Falcons, the Bengals let Giovani Bernard and rookie Jeremy Hill play a big role. They combined for 164 yards on the ground and seven catches for 101 yards.

SACK TIME: The Titans’ eight sacks are their most through two games since the start of the 2010 season. Casey, who had 10 ½ sacks last season, already has two. Defensive coordinator Ray Horton knows the Bengals’ weak spots from his time as the Browns’ defensive coordinator.

ESTONIA DAY: Titans left tackle Michael Roos is believed to be the first Estonian to play in the NFL, drafted by the Titans in the second round in 2005. The Bengals drafted Estonian defensive end Margus Hunt in the second round in 2013. They’ve gotten to know each other. Roos said Estonians are trying to learn more about the game of football.

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AP Pro Football Writer Teresa Walker in Nashville, Tenn., contributed to this report.

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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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