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Lions, Vikings face off with NFC North tight again

By WTOP Staff

DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Pro Football Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Like so much of the NFL, the NFC North is bunched together at the one-third mark of the season.

The three-time defending division champion Green Bay Packers found a groove the past two weeks with victories over the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings by a combined 80-27 margin, but the Detroit Lions are still tied with them for first place.

The Packers have plenty of challenging opponents left on the schedule, and they’ve shown some vulnerability.

So for all the flaws of the Lions, Bears and Vikings, there are many reasons to believe this will remain a multiple-team race throughout the fall and into the winter.

In 2012 and 2013, the Packers finished with just one more win than the third-place club, so why not again? Entering the sixth week of the 2014 season, 22 of the 32 teams in the league had either two or three victories, including the entire NFC North.

This Lions-Vikings game Sunday, then, will serve as a well-timed litmus test of half of the competition.

“It’s a perfect place for us right now. We’re one game back,” Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said.

He also noted: “Could be worse. Could be 0-5. But we’re 2-3. We’re not where we want to be yet. Still got a lot of football left. Got 11 more games, man, to go out here and make an impact and get ready to make this fun.”

The Vikings were blown out 42-10 last week at Green Bay. The Lions were beaten 17-14 at home by Buffalo. Two vastly different games. Two losses that count the same.

“I think everybody’s division is still pretty wide open, but yeah, ours is definitely bunched up there and every one of these count,” Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “A division game counts as two. You get a win, and you force your division foe into a loss.”

Here are some key things to know about the game:

BRIDGEWATER’S BACK

Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater sprained his left ankle in the fourth quarter of his first NFL start, a 41-28 victory by the Vikings over Atlanta spoiled only by the injury to the rookie. His absence was felt against the Packers, but he has returned to practice this week and declared himself 100 percent healthy.

The Lions have a strong pass rush, the backbone of a defense ranked first in the league in yards allowed and second in points, so Bridgewater and the rest of the Vikings will likely face more resistance than the last time they took their home field and totaled 558 yards, the fourth-most in franchise history.

“When you have a quarterback as mobile as Bridgewater is he’s going to create some problems for you,” Lions coach Jim Caldwell said.

“Our guys have done a real fine job of collapsing the pocket, but when you have a guy who can escape and make plays outside of the pocket, not only moving outside of the pocket and keeping his eyes downfield and making big throws but also a guy who can get out there on the perimeter, if he’s given the space you know he can really run with it.”

LEG UP?

Matt Prater will be the third kicker this season for the Lions, who signed the veteran who was cut by Denver after alcohol trouble that prompted a four-game suspension by the NFL and steered him toward a 12-step recovery program. Rookie Nate Freese lasted three weeks and Alex Henery was around for two games, and they combined to miss eight of 12 field-goal attempts. Henery was wide on all three of his tries last week.

Blair Walsh is 10 for 12 this season for the Vikings on field goals, making both of his attempts from 50-plus yards.

SHORT-HANDED

Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson has been banged up again this season, and a sprained right ankle that forced him out of the previous game could prompt Caldwell to hold him out Sunday so he can get healthy. Running back Reggie Bush is iffy, too, with an ankle injury.

KALIL CONFIDENT

Vikings left tackle Matt Kalil, likely to be lined up against Lions defensive end Ziggy Ansah, has struggled through the start of this season and allowed a lot more pass pressure than he or the Vikings would prefer. But Kalil was upbeat this week in discussing his performance. He acknowledged getting down on himself at times, affecting his focus, but said he has rebuilt his confidence.

“Definitely a tough job we have. But you know that’s why I play left tackle. … I like going out there and competing. I wouldn’t let one bad game ruin my whole season,” he said. “It’s just stuff I’ve got to improve on.”

LOSING IN THE LAND OF LAKES

This will be the first time the Lions play at TCF Bank Stadium, home for the Vikings until their new stadium opens in 2016. The Lions have lost 15 of their past 16 games at Minnesota and finished 7-23 at the Metrodome.

___

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