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Can Dolphins’ defense slow down Packers?

By WTOP Staff

STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins are confident they can keep up with a frantic scoring pace by Green Bay, although they’re not convinced that will be necessary.

The Packers (3-2) have won their past two games by a combined 80-27, and scored more than 30 points in all three of their victories.

Aaron Rodgers has an eye-popping ratio of 12 touchdown passes to one interception, and Eddie Lacy is coming off his first 100-yard rushing game of the season.

But while the Dolphins (2-2) gush about Rodgers, they also have faith in their defense, which is understandable. Miami has allowed 4.7 yards per play, the NFL’s stingiest average, and quarterback Ryan Tannehill said he doesn’t assume the offense will need 30 points to win Sunday.

“It’s our job to score more points than the other team, no matter how many points that is,” Tannehill said. “If the defense plays great and we have a shutout, then we’ve got to get 3. If the defense has a bad day and it takes 40, then that’s our job.”

Here are things to watch as Miami and Green Bay try to score whatever it takes to win:

CAN DOLPHINS PLAY KEEPAWAY?: The Packers have a problem anyone would envy — they score too quickly.

That’s one reason their opponents have an edge of eight minutes per game in time of possession.

“We’ve been on the field too much defensively, and I think you have to look at everything that contributes to that,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “Offensively we need to have some longer drives. And defensively we need to continue to work to get off the field.”

Miami would love to control the ball, and might be able to do so with its solid ground game. The Packers rank last in the NFL in run defense at 163 yards per game, and they’re giving up third down conversions 49 percent of the time, fourth-worst.

TURNOVER EDGE: The Packers have climbed into a tie for first place in the NFC North, thanks in part to a turnover differential of plus-6, which is tied for the best in the NFL. They rank second with seven interceptions — each by a different player — and have had two in each of the past three games.

Rodgers’ lone interception came in the season opener, and the Packers have lost only two fumbles.

Miami had four takeaways in its most recent game, but that success will be difficult to duplicate against Green Bay, coach Joe Philbin said.

“This is an efficient team that we are playing,” Philbin said. “We have to find a way to knock the ball loose. They are not flawless, but certainly we are going to have to work at it.”

BOLSTERED LINEUP: Coming off a bye week, the Dolphins are the healthiest they’ve been all season, and Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey has recovered from offseason hip surgery to lead a wave of reinforcements.

Pouncey might return at guard rather than center, because replacement Samson Satele has played well in his absence.

“It’s great to have Mike back, with his play-making ability on the field, the intensity, his natural ability as well as his demeanor in the huddle. He’s a great guy to have in the huddle,” Tannehill said. “He’s a guy that wants to be great. He brings intensity to the offensive line and drives that group.”

As many as six Miami starters are expected back after missed playing time, including safety Reshad Jones, returning from a four-game suspension.

FACING FORMER TEAM: Philbin will coach against the Packers for first time since he left McCarthy’s staff to take the Dolphins’ head coaching job in 2012.

Philbin was with Green Bay from 2003 to 2011, including five years as offensive coordinator.

“Obviously, I have great regard for a lot of the people there, but that will kind of happen again later,” he said. “I will have more regard for them Oct. 13 than I will on the 12th.”

HALFWAY MARK?: This has been a season of milestones for Rodgers, who plays in his 100th regular season game Sunday. He threw his 200th touchdown pass in his most recent start, and reached the 25,000-yard passing mark a week earlier.

“You realize you’re getting a little older in the league when you’re getting some achievement balls early in the season like this,” he said. “It means I’ve been able to play pretty consistently, and the guys around me made a lot of plays for me. This is my 10th season, and I like to think I’m halfway in — nine in and hopefully nine to go. It’s about being consistent from this point forward, keeping my body in great shape and playing at a high level, and making the guys around me raise the level of their game as well.”

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

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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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