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Bills charged up to host Rivers-led Chargers

By WTOP Staff

JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Don’t bother asking Buffalo Bills linebacker Brandon Spikes if he was impressed by how Philip Rivers spent last weekend picking apart the Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom” defense.

Spikes has been a big fan of the San Diego Chargers’ quarterback since he was a 13-year-old and first met Rivers at North Carolina State.

“No surprise at all, because I know what he can do,” said Spikes, who was introduced to Rivers by a cousin who played for the Wolfpack. “People say he’s getting old or he’s slow and this and that. It don’t matter. It’s all about winning games. … With a little bit of space, he can burn you.”

The Chargers (1-1) are coming off a 30-21 win over the defending Super Bowl champions in which Rivers went 28 of 37 for 284 yards and three touchdowns. That certainly caught the Bills’ attention for Sunday’s game.

“It definitely showed a little moxie,” cornerback Corey Graham said of how Rivers didn’t hesitate in attacking the Seahawks’ respected secondary. “They don’t shy away from anybody.”

The Bills (2-0), for once, are making some noise, too. They followed a season-opening 23-20 overtime win at Chicago with a 29-10 home victory over Miami.

“Those are two quality opponents they beat,” Rivers said. “I know it’s tough to go to Buffalo and win, but the fact that they are 2-0 certainly makes every guy see it right away.”

In beating the Seahawks, the Chargers passed their first test of adversity by bouncing back a week after squandering an 11-point fourth-quarter lead in an 18-17 loss at Arizona.

“Yeah, it certainly feels better this Wednesday than it did last Wednesday to say the least,” Rivers said. “That was big to not fall to 0-2. But at the same time, we still know we’ve got a long way to go.”

Here are some other things to look out for in a meeting between two original American Football League teams:

REPLACING MATHEWS: There will be more emphasis on Rivers to produce with starting running back Ryan Mathews sidelined by a sprained right knee. Danny Woodhead and Donald Brown will get larger roles, with undrafted rookie Branden Oliver likely to suit up for the first time.

Even with Mathews, San Diego was having difficulty running, averaging a meagre 2.5 yards per carry.

“We’re not going to abandon it,” Rivers said. “We’re going to stick with it, because when we’re balanced, that’s when we’re at our best. But we all know we’ve got to run it better.”

The Bills have been stout against the run. They’ve yet to allow more than 90 yards rushing a year after giving up 150-plus yards seven times.

NO NO-HUDDLE: Buffalo coach Doug Marrone has yet to test his no-huddle offense because the Bills have stuck to a ball-control attack while holding leads.

After averaging nearly 70 plays per game last year, the Bills have yet to top 60.

“We’ve had our no-huddle packages in both games. It’s just a matter of picking and choosing strategically when we want to use it,” Marrone said. “We’ll do whatever it takes to win.”

The Bills have trailed for a combined span of 4:43 this season, all in the first quarter against Chicago.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The Bills are getting a big lift from their revamped special team units. Against Miami, running back C.J. Spiller scored on a 102-yard kickoff return; backup running back Anthony Dixon blocked a punt; backup linebacker Randell Johnson recovered a muffed punt; and Dan Carpenter hit five of six field-goal attempts.

And don’t forget rookie punter Colton Schmidt, who has dropped seven of nine kicks inside opponents’ 20 this season.

GOLDEN GATES: So much for the contention that Chargers tight end Antonio Gates is getting old.

The 34-year-old had seven catches for 96 yards and three touchdowns against Seattle. With 90 career touchdowns, Gates is tied with Isaac Bruce for 11th on the NFL list.

“I didn’t know that people had written him off,” Rivers said. “I think it’s fair to say he’s probably not exactly what he was physically six, seven years ago. But he makes up for that with his smarts.”

HOMECOMING: It’s homecoming week for numerous Chargers, starting with general manager Tom Telesco. He grew up in Buffalo and attended high school with Jaguars pro personnel director Chris Polian, the son of former Bills GM Bill Polian.

Chargers offensive coordinator Frank Reich and tight ends coach Pete Metzelaars played for the Bills. And Branden Oliver played at the University at Buffalo, where he broke a number of Green Bay Packers running back James Stark’s rushing records.

___

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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