Rivera singles out WFT linebackers

Coach says unit must be more aggressive, definitive with reads

Washington’s defense kept the team afloat early in the season when the offense was struggling to produce.

Last week, though, it didn’t rise to the occasion when a

WASHINGTON AT LIONS Sunday: 1 p.m. TV: Fox

victory was within the Football Team’s grasp.

Washington coach Ron Rivera singled out the linebackers this week as needing to provide a lift. The New

York Giants ran for 166 yards on Sunday, including three drives that took a combined 16 minutes during the second half, while Washington was trying to rally from behind.

“The biggest thing is to get them to understand where their role is and how to play their role,” Rivera said. “I think our linebackers are still kind of feeling their way around. Personally, I think that they’ve

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Washington Football Team defense outperformed the offense on multiple occasions early in the season, but didn’t hold up its end of the bargain in Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the New York Giants.