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Rare Super Bowl rematch as Seattle hosts Denver

By WTOP Staff

TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer

SEATTLE (AP) — In Denver, the offseason was spent with “35” being shouted through the halls of the Broncos’ facility as a constant reminder.

In Seattle, the offseason was spent acknowledging a championship, while deconstructing the emotional high of last season to refocus on the challenge of being defending champs.

Different views, different approaches, all the result of a 43-8 blowout more than seven months ago.

“You don’t forget what happened, and also you set the standard by playing against the Super Bowl (champions),” Denver defensive tackle Terrance Knighton said. “They’ve earned the right to talk how they talk and we’ll just speak with our pads and show up on Sunday.”

Sunday’s rematch between the Broncos (2-0) and Seahawks (1-1) is the first opportunity for Denver to erase the embarrassment from February. From the first snap, Super Bowl 48 was forgettable for the guys in orange. The most prolific offense in NFL history was made pedestrian, bullied for four quarters by the Seahawks and their swagger.

That night led to changes in Denver. Seventeen new starters on offense, defense and special teams will be on the field for the Broncos from those who took the field for the Super Bowl. Von Miller is back. So is Ryan Clady, along with the additions of Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward, Demarcus Ware and Emmanuel Sanders.

This is an opportunity for the Broncos to see if the changes worked.

“We’re looking forward to that challenge. We’re not thinking about (the Super Bowl),” Denver coach John Fox said. “When you looking in that mirror, you’re not looking through the windshield and you wreck. So we’re looking through the windshield.”

Meanwhile, Seattle is in a salty mood after melting in the heat of San Diego last week in a 30-21 loss. The Seahawks took their first loss by more than seven points since the middle of the 2011 season, a span of 41 straight regular-season games.

“We have to go out there and prove to ourselves we can bounce back from a loss,” Seattle linebacker K.J. Wright said. “We know how good we are. We’re one of the best defenses in the NFL and we have an opportunity to show it.”

Here’s what to watch as the previous Super Bowl participants meet in the following regular season for just the sixth time:

PRESSURE PEYTON: Seattle’s front four influenced the Super Bowl despite sacking Peyton Manning only once. The Seahawks disrupted the timing of the Broncos’ passing game by pressuring Manning and forcing him to move within the pocket.

Denver’s protection should be improved with Clady healthy and the resulting changes on the offensive line. And Seattle’s pass rush is still trying to find the right combination.

“It’s very important to disrupt him as much as possible,” Seattle’s Cliff Avril said. “It’s all about timing and if we can throw it off a little bit it gives us a better chance of getting after him.”

OFF THE EDGE: Seattle QB Russell Wilson has two concerns he didn’t have to worry about in the Super Bowl: Miller and Ware. Miller was out with an injury, while Ware was a spectator after his season in Dallas ended. Now the duo will be coming off the edge trying to harass Wilson without letting him scramble — and they’ll be going against an offensive line that was leaky against the Chargers.

WELCOME BACK, WES: The Broncos were supposed to go a couple of more weeks before getting Wes Welker back in the offense. Welker was reinstated this week after the NFL agreed to a new performance enhancing drug policy, cutting his suspension in half.

Welker was slowed in the preseason by a concussion and how he’s worked back into the offense will be watched after Denver relied on many two tight end sets the first two weeks.

“When he’s out we all have to do little bit more to make up for his absence,” Denver tight end Julius Thomas said. “But now with him there we know we have one of the best slot receivers in the game back out there doing what he does best.”

BOOM OR BUST: Seattle’s vaunted secondary knows it has to keep Denver’s wide receivers from taking short passes and turning them into big plays. But equally concerning is Thomas, especially after last week when San Diego found ways to get tight end Antonio Gates in favorable matchups. The result: Gates had seven receptions and caught three touchdown passes.

“They know exactly what they have in (Thomas) and they use the heck out of him and he’s a big force,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.

HISTORY SAYS: Of the five previous Super Bowl rematches, the team that won the title won the return meeting three times. That includes Green Bay beating New England in 1997, a season after knocking off the Patriots in the Super Bowl. And if Denver is going to even the all-time score, it’ll need to solve Seattle’s home-field advantage that’s seen the Seahawks win 18 of past 19 home games. Seattle’s last home loss to an AFC team was Week 8 of 2011 to Cincinnati.

___

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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