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Colts, Jaguars trying to avoid 0-3 start

By WTOP Staff

MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars are taking part in their third consecutive home opener.

They’d really like to win this one.

The Jaguars return home after road debacles at Philadelphia and Washington and host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, a game in which the loser drops to 0-3.

Since the NFL expanded its playoff format in 1990, only three teams — San Diego in 1992, Detroit in 1995 and Buffalo in 1998 — started 0-3 and made the postseason.

Between Indy and Jacksonville, only one of them (hint: it’s not the Jaguars) looks like it would be able to claw its way out of such a deep hole. Regardless, the Colts would rather not be in that position.

“Obviously you don’t envision yourself going 0-2,” Colts quarterback Andrew Luck said. “I’m not surprised that if you make mistakes, you’re not going to win football games. I know that. I’ve learned that in my couple years in the NFL. I guess the fact that we’ve lost and made mistakes doesn’t surprise me.

“If you’d asked me before the season what we would be, like everybody, I’d probably say 2-0. Everybody wants their team to be 2-0, but they’re not and that’s the reality and that’s all that matters. We know we have to get back in the win column.”

The Jaguars seemed about as far from winning as possible in their first two games.

They blew a 17-0 halftime lead at Philadelphia in the season opener, looking like two completely different teams before and after the break. Things got worse in Washington, where Jacksonville gave up a franchise-record 10 sacks, managed a whopping 148 yards and allowed 449 in a 41-10 loss. Coach Gus Bradley benched four starters during the drubbing and parted ways with one of them for good two days later.

Now, he’s trying to get his players to forget about that and play considerably better against the AFC South rival Colts.

“To go in front of our team and show panic and go completely away from our philosophy, I think that would show panic,” Bradley said. “We compete and we’re competing to be our best, and when we’re not at our best, everybody is challenged. That’s not panic. That’s who we are.”

Bradley responded by making two personnel changes Wednesday, but opted to stick with quarterback Chad Henne over rookie Blake Bortles.

Henne has completed 54 percent of his passes for 459 yards, with three touchdowns and an interception. The 13 sacks have raised eyebrows, but the coaches believe Henne provides the most stable environment for an offense that will start two rookies on the line, one at receiver and maybe a fourth at tight end.

“At times, I’m doing as much as I can,” Henne said. “I’m not saying that I’m playing overly great out there. I would say I’m playing better than I have in the past and doing some really good things, and audibling and getting in the right plays and making plays out there. But there’s always room for improvement like I always say.

“I put more pressure on myself than anybody else as I’ve said before, and the biggest thing is we need to win.”

Here are some things to know about the Colts and Jaguars heading into Sunday’s game:

STADIUM UPGRADES: Although the Jaguars played two preseason games at home, this will mark the regular-season debut of $63 million in upgrades to EverBank Field. Billionaire owner Shad Khan, with significant financial help from the city, funded the world’s largest scoreboards, two pools that overlook the field and several high-priced cabanas. Khan is hoping to improve the game-day experience and make the stadium more unique to the Sunshine State.

SEARCHING FOR D: The Colts and Jaguars share this after two games: neither is pleased with its defense. Indy allowed 24 points over the final 20 minutes against Philadelphia on Monday night and still hasn’t found a replacement for the suspended/injured pass rusher Robert Mathis. Jacksonville’s defense, meanwhile, has given up 68 points in the last six quarters and can’t get off the field on third down.

WAYNE’S WORLD: Reggie Wayne’s last eight games in Jacksonville equate to what many receivers would consider a good season. Wayne has 65 receptions for 946 yards and three touchdowns, beating just about anyone the Jaguars put in front of him.

WR WOES: The Jaguars already have ruled out WR Marqise Lee (hamstring), adding to the team’s woes at the position. Ace Sanders is suspended two more games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Starter Cecil Shorts III (hamstring) missed the first two games, and rookie Allen Hurns (ankle) hasn’t practiced all week.

STREAKING: The Colts have won three in a row in the series, all by at least 17 points. Jacksonville was feeling pretty good about itself after winning four of five down the stretch last season, and then lost 30-10 at home to Indy. Now, after the terrible start, the Jaguars have dropped 20 of their last 34 games by double digits.

___

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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