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Bills seek to end role of playing Patriots’ patsy

By WTOP Staff

JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Forget the individual motivation. In the eight months since departing New England and signing with Buffalo, linebacker Brandon Spikes can appreciate what it would mean for the Bills to beat the Patriots on Sunday.

“I’m not going to say it’s personal. But it’s big for this organization. It’s big for Buffalo. And we all need this,” Spikes said. “Buffalo needs this. This franchise needs this. Everybody. This is bigger than the players. Way bigger.”

It’s even bigger than Spikes, the run-stuffing, high-energy, imposing 6-foot-2, 255-pound middle linebacker preparing to face his former team for the first time.

The game between the Patriots (3-2) and Bills (3-2) represents a showdown for the early-season edge in the AFC East in what has become a one-sided rivalry. The Patriots have won 20 of the past 21 meetings and 24 of 26 since 2001.

And yet, the Bills suddenly believe they can begin reversing that trend.

Buffalo is off to a better-than-expected start, and riding momentum following a come-from-behind 17-14 win at Detroit. The Bills are also opening a new era under Terry and Kim Pegula, the NHL Sabres’ owners who received NFL approval this week to complete their $1.4 billion purchase of the franchise.

“Yeah, it would be big for them being their first game as new owners, but it would be better for us,” running back Fred Jackson said. “If we don’t handle business, we’ll all feel rather sour.”

The Patriots have issues of their own to address.

They’re already 0-1 in the division after a season-opening loss at Miami. Questions are also being raised over whether New England’s decade-plus run of divisional dominance is showing signs of decay.

The Patriots were blown out 41-14 at Kansas City two weeks ago before rebounding with a 43-17 win over Cincinnati. Which are the real Patriots?

“Well, you know, it was good to win. But we’re really past that now,” coach Bill Belichick said. “I don’t think that has anything to do with this week. We’re just focused on Buffalo.”

Here are some things to look out for as the Patriots attempt to win their sixth straight against the Bills:

HAIR APPARENT: Spikes wasn’t pleased with how his four-year career ended in New England after being placed on injured reserve before the playoffs in January. Without going into detail, Spikes said he left with bitter feelings.

His former coach, however, paid Spikes a compliment this week.

“I don’t think he’s changed much. His hair might be a little longer,” Belichick said, referring to Spikes’ long braids that flow out of his helmet. “The strengths he had when he played here for us, I think, are the same strengths that he’s shown with Buffalo.”

“Really?” Spikes said, when informed of Belichick’s remarks. “What a pleasant surprise.”

RUN-STUFFERS: Spikes has solidified Buffalo’s once-porous run defense, which has yet to give up 90 yards rushing this season. That marks Buffalo’s best streak to start a season and fourth longest in team history, according to STATS. The Bills held opponents to under 90 yards rushing just three times last year.

Buffalo has yet to give up a touchdown rushing this season. The five-game streak matches the team’s best since 1981, according to STATS.

GRONK HOMECOMING: Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is from Buffalo, and has combined for 30 catches for 449 yards and nine touchdowns in six games against the Bills. That includes three games topping 100 yards.

Following a slow start after offseason knee surgery, Gronkowski had a season-best six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown against Cincinnati.

LONG MEMORY: Tom Brady might be 22-2 against the Bills, including a 10-2 record at Orchard Park, but don’t try to suggest the trips to Buffalo have been a breeze.

“Yeah, but we lost pretty bad, though, both times,” Brady said. “Those stick out with me.”

Brady threw four interceptions in both losses, a 2003 season-opening 31-0 decision, and a 34-31 loss on Sept. 25, 2011.

ORTON OK: Buffalo’s switch to Kyle Orton at quarterback has paid dividends after the 10-year journeyman went 30 of 40 for 308 yards with a touchdown and interception in his Bills debut at Detroit. Orton had Buffalo’s first 300-yard passing game since Ryan Fitzpatrick had 337 in a 37-31 loss at New England on Nov. 11, 2012. Orton’s 195 yards passing in the second half were the most by a Bills player since Fitzpatrick had 215 in the second half of a 30-23 loss against Miami on Dec. 18, 2011.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://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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