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No NFL lead safe a cliche that works

By WTOP Staff

BARRY WILNER
AP Pro Football Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — The Associated Press awards a Comeback Player of the Year in February. Maybe this season the AP should hand out comeback team honors, too.

The leaders after two weeks: the Philadelphia Eagles.

Include the Packers, Bears, Cardinals, Dolphins and Falcons in that group of never-say-die teams who made impressive rallies. Any team in front had better not look behind it, because someone might be gaining rapidly.

Especially if it’s the Eagles, whose frenetic pace and superb conditioning already have paid off in the second half against Jacksonville (down 17-0 to winning 34-17) and Indianapolis (down 20-6 to winning 30-27).

Maybe Philadelphia never should have been down to the weak Jaguars in the first place, but nothing has been more impressive early this season than the way the Eagles stormed back in Indy on Monday night.

And also how they wore down the Colts.

As ESPN announcers Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden nailed it, the Colts looked gassed trying to keep pace.

“We’re still calling the same plays that we called in the first quarter,” said Eagles coach Chip Kelly, who brought his hyper-paced style from college ball at Oregon and heard lots of doubters saying it wouldn’t work in the pros.

“It’s just sometimes I think maybe they work a little bit better at the end when the other team is fatigued.”

You think?

“It’s what we’ve trained to do and how we play is what we expect our guys to play like,” Kelly added. “I think they have a good sense of and understanding of what we’re trying to get accomplished. They don’t panic in those situations because we’ve tried to as a staff to put them in those situations from a training standpoint so they’ve been through that before. No one rises to the occasion. You always sink to your level of training. That’s how we trained them.”

Not since 1987 has there been such a comeback mode through two weeks. Seven teams have rallied from 10-point holes to win, with Philly the only team to ever go down twice by 14 points and wind up with a victory.

The Packers made the biggest charge back, from 21-3 down to the Jets for a 31-24 win. Chicago trailed San Francisco 17-0 — in the debut of the Niners’ new home stadium, no less — yet won 28-20.

Atlanta twice was behind by 13 points against archrival New Orleans in Week 1, but squeezed by 37-34 in overtime.

Arizona trailed San Diego in the opener by 11 and won 18-17. Miami fell behind by 10 while hosting New England in Week 1 and came back for a 33-20 victory.

Should more than two teams rally from a 14-point deficit in Week 3, it would bring the total to seven, the most over such a span. Don’t be surprised if it happens.

Here’s why:

–The de-emphasis on running backs. Many teams simply aren’t that effective trying to run down the clock on the ground. Indianapolis was particularly damaged by its lack of prowess in that area.

–The rules. Anyone who doesn’t think current NFL rules favor the passing game simply isn’t watching. Better opportunities through the air lead to more points. Teams seeking to make comebacks need points quickly.

–Backing off. Teams with relatively big leads tend to play more conservatively, perhaps even not using top personnel as much as they would in a closer game. That usually proves counterproductive.

That also combines with:

–Prevent offenses and defenses. Does anything irk fans more than their teams taking the foot off the gas?

One place we won’t likely see that is Philly. Kelly believes what his players and coaches are experiencing in games is precisely what they’ve gone through in the frenzied atmosphere of practices.

“You heard our guys talk about it after the game,” Kelly said. “This is no different than period 22 on a Wednesday or Thursday for us.”

Except that people are keeping score. And so far, the scoreboard shows that no lead is safe, especially when Kelly’s crew is doing the chasing.

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AP Sports Writer Paul Montella contributed to this story.

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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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