Commanders–Giants rivalry explained

Commanders–Giants rivalry
Team1:	Washington Commanders
Team2:	New York Giants
Team1logo:	WashingtonCommanders wordmark.svg
Team2logo:	New York Giants wordmark.svg
City Or Region:	Washington, D.C., New York City
First Contested:	October 9, 1932 Braves 14, Giants 6
Mostrecent:	November 19, 2023 Giants 31, Commanders 19
Nextmeeting:	September 15, 2024
Total:	183 meetings^[1]
Largestvictory:	Commanders: 49–13 Giants: 53–0
Longeststreak:	Commanders: 11 (1971–1976) Giants: 8 (1961–1964)
Currentstreak:	Giants, 3 (2022–present)
Series:	Giants, 108–71–5
Postseason:	Tie, 1–1 Most recent: January 11, 1987 Giants 17, Redskins 0
Section Header:	Championship success
Section Info:	NFL Championships (6) Commanders (2) – 1937, 1942 Giants (4) –, 1934, 1938, 1956 Super Bowl Championships (7) Commanders (3) – 1982, 1987, 1991 Giants (4) – 1986, 1990, 2007, 2011 Super Bowl Appearances (10)^[2] Commanders (5) – 1972, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1991 Giants (5) – 1986, 1990, 2000, 2007, 2011 NFL Eastern Championships (6) Commanders (0) – None Giants (6) –,,,,, NFC Championships (10) Commanders^[3] (5) – 1972, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1991 Giants (5) – 1986, 1990, 2000, 2007, 2011 NFC Championship Game Appearances (11) Commanders (6) –,,,,, Giants (5) –,,,, NFL Eastern Division Championships (14) Commanders (6) – 1936, 1937, 1940, 1942, 1943, 1945 Giants (8) – 1933, 1934, 1935, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1944, 1946 NFC East Division Championships (18) Commanders (10) –,,,,,,,,, Giants (8) –,,,,,,, NFL Wild Card Berths (22) Commanders (6) –,,,,, Giants (16) –,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, NFC Wild Card Berths (18) Commanders (9) –,,,,,,,, Giants (9) –,,,,,,,,

The Commanders–Giants rivalry between the Washington Commanders, formerly known as the Redskins, and the New York Giants of the National Football League began in 1932 with the founding of Washington's predecessors, the Boston Braves, and is the oldest rivalry in the NFC East Division. This rivalry has seen periods of great competition such as the Giants and Redskins' competition for conference and division titles in the late 1930s, early 1940s and 1980s. Experts deem the 1980s as the most hotly contested period between these teams, as the Redskins under Joe Gibbs and the Giants under Bill Parcells competed for division titles and Super Bowls.^[4] During this span the two teams combined to win 7 NFC East Divisional Titles, 5 Super Bowls and competed in the 1986 NFC Championship Game with the Giants winning 17–0. This rivalry is storied and Wellington Mara, long time owner of the Giants, always said that he believed the Redskins were the Giants' truest rival.^[5]

Currently, the Giants have 108 regular season wins against Washington, the most wins any team has against another team.^{[6] [7]}

Notable rivalry moments

• In 1937, their first season in Washington, D.C., the Washington Redskins were set to meet the New York Giants in the season finale in New York City at the Polo Grounds with the winner earning the right to play in the NFL Championship. The owner of the Washington Redskins, George Preston Marshall, loaded 12,000 fans and a 150 piece marching band onto trains and had them march an impromptu parade through New York City, all the while belting out "Hail to the Redskins". The tactic appeared to work as the Redskins went on to beat the Giants 49–14, going on to defeat the Chicago Bears in the 1937 NFL Championship.^[5]
• The Giants paid the Redskins back in 1938 with a 36–0 victory of their own, a win which propelled them to their own victory in the 1938 NFL Championship.^[5]
• In 1939 the Giants and Redskins again met in the last game of the season. Having tied in their first meeting 0–0 and having identical records (8–1–1) the two teams were playing for a spot in the NFL Championship game. The game was very competitive and the Redskins trailed 9–7 in the final moments. The Redskins attempted a field goal in the last seconds, seemingly giving them a victory. However, the field goal was called no good allowing the Giants to escape with a victory. The Redskins were irate, with one player even punching referee Bill Haloran. The outcome was so controversial that rumor has it George Preston Marshall, the Redskins owner, tried to pull strings to get Haloran fired from his day job as post master of Providence R.I., unsuccessfully. The Giants went on to lose the NFL Championship to the Green Bay Packers 27–0.^[5]
• On November 27, 1966 the Giants and Redskins participated in the highest combined scoring game in NFL history. The two teams combined for 16 touchdowns, 9 of which were of 30 yards or more. While the game was an offensive frenzy, the most memorable score was a Redskins field goal attempted with a few seconds remaining and the Giants trailing 69–41. Otto Graham, the Redskins head coach, claimed it was called merely to allow his kicker practice, but some claim that the field goal was ordered by Redskins middle linebacker and former Giant Sam Huff out of spite. In either case the final score was 72–41 and with 113 combined points the matchup remains the highest scoring game in league history.^[5]
• On November 18, 1985 in a Monday Night Football contest, the Redskins defeated the Giants 23–21. However, the win did not come without a loss as on one play the Redskins ran a flea-flicker, the Giants defense was not fooled by the play and Lawrence Taylor came from the outside and sacked quarterback Joe Theismann. The play is famous as that the sack injured Theismann's leg and effectively ended his career in the NFL. The Redskins missed the playoffs that season.
• The Giants and Redskins met in the playoffs for only second time in the 1986 NFC Championship game. The Giants were coming off a convincing victory over the 49ers in the previous round while the Redskins beat the Bears in the previous week. On a cold and windy day at Giants Stadium, the Giants scored 10 points in the first 10 minutes of the game and never were threatened. The Giants won 17-0, the first time a Joe Gibbs team had been shut out.
• On September 11, 2011 was opening day for the Giants' Super Bowl XLVI championship season of 2011. It also coincided with tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks; hence the NFL scheduled the Giants and the Redskins to meet that day, as the cities they represent were two metropolitan areas attacked on that day. FedExField was a patriotically and emotionally charged atmosphere as the two rivals took the field. Led by Eli Manning, the Giants took an early 7–0 lead in the first quarter. Washington responded on a Tim Hightower touchdown run in the second. The two teams took a 14–14 tie into halftime. Washington took the lead in the third after Ryan Kerrigan intercepted a pass from Manning and scored. Washington's defense prevented New York from scoring in the second half and the Redskins ended a six-game losing streak to the Giants.^[8] The Redskins defeated the Giants at MetLife Stadium in Week 15, their first season sweep of the Giants since 1999.^[9]
• In 2012 the rivalry intensified significantly after a special NFL commission headed by Giants owner John Mara imposed a $36 million salary cap penalty on the Redskins (and a smaller one on the Dallas Cowboys) for the organization's approach to structuring contracts in the 2010 NFL season. After beating the Giants, Redskins owner Daniel Snyder within earshot of numerous media personnel, told a team employee that "I hate those motherf***ers" in the victorious locker room after the game. ^[10]
• On September 25, 2016, the winless Redskins visited the undefeated Giants. This game was significant due to the ongoing feud between star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and cornerback Josh Norman. In the previous season, Norman and Beckham had many on-field scrums during a game when Norman played for the Carolina Panthers. The Redskins won by a score of 29–27, sealing the win on an interception by Su'a Cravens. Beckham had an impressive 7 receptions and 121 yards, but was noticeably frustrated by Norman, and was especially apparent when he took his helmet and hit the kicker's practice net on the sidelines, causing it to fall on him. Giants center Weston Richburg was the first to ever be ejected by the new rule of being ejected after two unsportsmanlike penalties, one of which costed Beckham and the Giants a significant play.
• On November 23, 2017, the Redskins hosted the Giants in their first home Thanksgiving game in franchise history. The game was very defensive throughout, with both teams struggling to get anything going offensively in the first half. In the 3rd quarter, with the game tied 3–3, Kirk Cousins threw a 15-yard touchdown to Jamison Crowder to give the Redskins a 10–3 lead. The Giants tied the game later in the quarter after Janoris Jenkins returned a Cousins' interception 53-yards for a touchdown. The Redskins pulled away late in the fourth quarter with 10 straight points to win 20–10.
• The Giants got their 100th regular season victory over the Redskins on December 9, 2018, winning 40-16 at FedExField.^[11]

Game results

|-| | style="| | Tie
0–0| style="| Braves
14–6| Braves
1–0–1| Redskins join NFL as the Boston Braves. |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
7–0| style="| Redskins
21–20| Redskins
2–1–1| Braves change their name to "Redskins." Both teams placed in the NFL Eastern division as the league splits into two divisions. Giants lose 1933 NFL Championship.|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
3–0| style="| Giants
16–3| Giants
3–2–1| Giants win 1934 NFL Championship.|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
17–6| style="| Giants
20–12| Giants
5–2–1| Giants lose 1935 NFL Championship.|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Redskins
14–0| style="| Giants
7–0| Redskins
6–3–1| Redskins lose 1936 NFL Championship.|-| | style="| | style="| Redskins
49–14| style="| Redskins
13–3| Giants
6–5–1| Redskins move from Boston to Washington. Redskins win final game of regular season in New York (a de facto Eastern Division title game), win 1937 NFL Championship.|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
36–0| style="| Giants
10–7| Giants
8–5–1| Giants win 1938 NFL Championship.|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
9–7| Tie
0–0| Giants
9–5–2| Giants win final game of regular season in Washington (a de facto Eastern Division title game), lose 1939 NFL Championship.|-|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
21–7| style="| Redskins
21–7| Giants
10–6–2| Redskins lose 1940 NFL Championship.|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
20–13| style="| Giants
17–0| Giants
12–6–2| Giants lose 1941 NFL Championship.|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Redskins
14–7| style="| Giants
14–7| Giants
13–7–2| Redskins win 1942 NFL Championship.|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
14–10| style="| Giants
31–7| Giants
15–7–2| Redskins lose 1943 NFL Championship.|- style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;"| 1943 Playoffs| style="| | style="| Redskins
28–0| | Giants
15–8–2| Eastern Division Playoff game required because the two teams finished tied atop the standings. First postseason meeting in the series.|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
16–13| style="| Giants
31–0| Giants
17–8–2| Giants lose 1944 NFL Championship.|-| | style="| | style="| Redskins
24–14| style="| Redskins
17–0| Giants
17–10–2| Redskins lose 1945 NFL Championship.|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
31–0| style="| Redskins
24–14| Giants
18–11–2| Giants lose 1946 NFL Championship. Either the Giants or Redskins won the NFL Eastern Division for 14 straight seasons (1933–46).|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
35–10| style="| Redskins
28–20| Giants
19–12–2| |-| | style="| | style="| Redskins
28–21| style="| Redskins
41–10| Giants
19–14–2| |-| | style="| | style="| Giants
23–7| style="| Giants
45–35| Giants
21–14–2| |-|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
24–21| style="| Giants
21–17| Giants
23–14–2| |-| | style="| | style="| Giants
28–14| style="| Giants
35–14| Giants
25–14–2| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Redskins
27–17| style="| Giants
14–10| Giants
26–15–2| Giants win 7 straight meetings (1949–52).|-| | style="| | style="| Redskins
24–21| style="| Redskins
13–9| Giants
26–17–2| |-| | style="| | style="| Giants
24–7| style="| Giants
51–21| Giants
28–17–2 | |-| | style="| | style="| Giants
35–7| style="| Giants
27–20| Giants
30–17–2 | |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
28–14| style="| Redskins
33–7| Giants
31–18–2 | Giants move to Yankee Stadium, win 1956 NFL Championship.|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Redskins
31–14| style="| Giants
24–20| Giants
32–19–2 | |-| | style="| | style="| Giants
30–0| style="| Giants
28–14| Giants
34–19–2 | Giants lose 1958 NFL Championship.|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
45–14| style="| Giants
24–10| Giants
36–19–2 | Giants lose 1959 NFL Championship.|-|-| | style="| | Tie
24–24| style="| Giants
17–3| Giants
37–19–3 | |-| | style="| | style="| Giants
53–0| style="| Giants
24–21| Giants
39–19–3 | Redskins open Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium (then known as District of Columbia Stadium). Giants' 53–0 win in New York is the largest margin of victory in the series. Giants lose 1961 NFL Championship.|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
49–34| style="| Giants
42–24| Giants
41–19–3 | Giants lose 1962 NFL Championship.|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
44–14| style="| Giants
24–14| Giants
43–19–3 | Giants lose 1963 NFL Championship.|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
13–10| style="| Redskins
36–21| Giants
44–20–3 | Giants win 8 straight meetings (1960–64).|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Redskins
23–7| style="| Giants
27–10| Giants
45–21–3 | |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
13–10| style="| Redskins
72–41| Giants
46–22–3 | The Redskins' 72–41 win is the highest-scoring game in NFL history by total points (113).|-| | style="| | no game| style="| Redskins
38–34| Giants
46–23–3 | NFL expansion results in a split of each conference into two divisions. The Redskins are placed in the Capitol Division, while the Giants and New Orleans Saints alternate between the Capitol and Century Divisions each year. This results in only a single meeting between the Giants and Redskins in 1967 and 1969.|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
48–21| style="| Giants
13–10| Giants
48–23–3 | |-| | style="| | no game| style="| Redskins
20–14| Giants
48–24–3 | |-|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
35–33| style="| Giants
27–24| Giants
50–24–3 | Both teams placed in the NFC East after AFL-NFL merger.|-| | style="| | style="| Redskins
30–3| style="| Redskins
23–7| Giants
50–26–3| |-| | style="| | style="| Redskins
23–16| style="| Redskins
27–13| Giants
50–28–3| Redskins lose Super Bowl VII.|-| | style="| | style="| Redskins
21–3| style="| Redskins
27–24| Giants
50–30–3| Giants move to the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut.|-| | style="| | style="| Redskins
13–10| style="| Redskins
24–3| Giants
50–32–3| |-| | style="| | style="| Redskins
21–13| style="| Redskins
49–13| Giants
50–34–3| Giants home game played at Shea Stadium.|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
12–9| style="| Redskins
19–17| Giants
51–35–3| Giants open Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Redskins win 11 straight meetings (1971–76).|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
20–17| style="| Giants
17–6| Giants
53–35–3 | |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
17–6| style="| Redskins
16–13(OT)| Giants
54–36–3| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
14–6| style="| Redskins
27–0| Giants
55–37–3| |-|-| | style="| | style="| Redskins
23–21| style="| Redskins
16–13| Giants
55–39–3| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Redskins
30–27(OT)| style="| Giants
17–7| Giants
56–40–3||-| | style="| | style="| Redskins
27–17| style="| Redskins
15–14| Giants
56–42–3| Both games played despite players strike reducing the season to 9 games, Redskins win Super Bowl XVII.|-| | style="| | style="| Redskins
33–17| style="| Redskins
31-22| Giants
56–44–3| Redskins lose Super Bowl XVIII.|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
37–13| style="| Redskins
30–14| Giants
57–45–3| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
17–3| style="| Redskins
23–21| Giants
58–46–3| Game in Washington was Joe Theismann's final game.|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
27–10| style="| Giants
24–14| Giants
60–46–3 | Giants win Super Bowl XXI.|- style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;"| 1986 Playoffs| style="| | style="| Giants
17–0| | Giants
61–46–3 | NFC Championship Game. |-| | style="| | style="| Redskins
38–12| style="| Redskins
23–19| Giants
61–48–3| Redskins win Super Bowl XXII.|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
27–20| style="| Giants
24–23| Giants
63–48–3 | |-| | style="| | style="| Giants
20–17| style="| Giants
27–24| Giants
65–48–3 | |-|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
21–10| style="| Giants
24–20| Giants
67–48–3 | Giants win Super Bowl XXV.|-| | style="| | style="| Redskins
17–13| style="| Redskins
34–17| Giants
67–50–3| Redskins win Super Bowl XXVI.|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Redskins
28–10| style="| Giants
24–7| Giants
68–51–3| |-| | style="| | style="| Giants
20–6| style="| Giants
41–7| Giants
70–51–3| |-| | style="| | style="| Giants
31–23| style="| Giants
21–19| Giants
72–51–3| |-| | style="| | style="| Giants
20–13| style="| Giants
24–15| Giants
74–51–3| |-| | style="| | style="| Redskins
31–10| style="| Redskins
31–21| Giants
74–53–3| |-| | style="| | style="| Giants
30–10| Tie
7–7(OT)| Giants
75–53–4| Redskins open FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland (then known as Jack Kent Cooke Stadium). First tie game in the series since the 1974 introduction of overtime. Giants clinched the NFC East in their home meeting over the Redskins in the penultimate week of the regular season.|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
31–24| style="| Redskins
21–14| Giants
76–54–4| |-| | style="| | style="| Redskins
50–21| style="| Redskins
23–13| Giants
76–56–4| |-|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Redskins
16–6| style="| Giants
9–7| Giants
77–57–4| Giants lose Super Bowl XXXV.|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
23–9| style="| Redskins
35–21| Giants
78–58–4| |-| | style="| | style="| Giants
19–17| style="| Giants
27–21| Giants
80–58–4| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Redskins
20–7| style="| Giants
24–21(OT)| Giants
81–59–4| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
20–14| style="| Redskins
31–7| Giants
82–60–4| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
36–0| style="| Redskins
35–20| Giants
83–61–4||-| | style="| | style="| Giants
19–3| style="| Giants
34–28| Giants
85–61–4||-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Redskins
23–10| style="| Giants
24–17| Giants
86–62–4| Giants win Super Bowl XLII.|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
16–7| style="| Giants
23–7| Giants
88–62–4| Game in the Meadowlands was the NFL Kickoff Game.|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
23–17| style="| Giants
45–12| Giants
90–62–4| |-|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
31–7| style="| Giants
17–14| Giants
92–62–4| Giants and Jets open MetLife Stadium (then known as New Meadowlands Stadium).|-| | style="| | style="| Redskins
23–10| style="| Redskins
28–14| Giants
92–64–4| Redskins' first season sweep since 1999. Giants win Super Bowl XLVI.|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
27–23| style="| Redskins
17–16| Giants
93–65–4| |-| | style="| | style="| Giants
20–6| style="| Giants
24–17| Giants
95–65–4| |-| | style="| | style="| Giants
24–13| style="| Giants
45–14| Giants
97–65–4| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
32–21| style="| Redskins
20–14| Giants
98–66–4| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Redskins
29–27| style="| Giants
19–10| Giants
99–67–4| Giants play spoiler with their playoff position locked in and eliminate the Redskins from playoff contention.|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Giants
18–10| style="| Redskins
20–10| Giants
100–68–4| Game in Landover played on Thanksgiving. Giants record their 100th win over the Redskins, becoming only the second team in NFL history to record 100 wins over a single opponent (joining the Green Bay Packers, who defeated the Detroit Lions for the 100th time the previous season).|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Redskins
20–13| style="| Giants
40–16| Giants
101–69–4| |-| | style="| | style="| Giants
24–3| style="| Giants
41–35(OT)| Giants
103–69–4| Eli Manning's final season.|-|-| | style="| | style="| Giants
20–19| style="| Giants
23–20| Giants
105–69–4| Washington retires "Redskins" name after decades of controversy, adopts temporary "Washington Football Team" moniker. No fans in attendance for the game in New York due to the COVID-19 pandemic.|-| | style="| | style="| Washington
22–7| style="| Washington
30–29| Giants
105–71–4| Washington sweep season series for first time since 2011. Washington's home victory came on a game-winning field goal as time expired after the Giants jumped offside one snap earlier when the initial field goal attempt was missed.|-| | style="| | Tie
20–20(OT)| style="| Giants
20–12| Giants
106–71–5| Washington Football Team adopts the "Commanders" name.|- | | style="| | style="| Giants
14–7| style="| Giants
31–19| Giants
108–71–5| |- |-| Regular season| style="|Giants 107–70–5| Giants 57–30–3| Giants 50–40–2||-| Postseason| Tie 1–1| Tie 1–1| no games| NFL Eastern Division playoff: 1943. NFC Championship Game: 1986.|-| Regular and postseason | style="|Giants 108–71–5| Giants 58–31–3| Giants 50–40–2| |-

See also

• Capitals–Rangers rivalry
• Capitals–Islanders rivalry
• N.Y. Red Bulls–D.C. United rivalry

Notes and References

1. Web site: All-Time Team vs. Team Results. NFL Enterprises, LLC. 2022 Official National Football League Record & Fact Book. June 24, 2024.
2. All Super Bowls from I through LIV (1966–2019)
3. All Super Bowl appearances and titles were as the Washington Redskins
4. Web site: DeArdo . Bryan . July 1, 2020 . NFL Throwback Thursday: Browns-Broncos among the classic rivalries during the 1980s . 2022-08-30 . CBSSports.com . en.
5. News: Top 10 Moments in the Giants-Redskins Rivalry . The New York Times . Greg . Hanlon . November 30, 2008.
6. Web site: 2022-12-19 . Giants own Washington . Twitter.
7. Web site: Doug Farrar . Dan Snyder's profane joy in Redskins win based on salary cap penalties . Sports.yahoo.com . 2012-12-04 . 2016-08-09.
8. Web site: For Openers, Redskins Defeat Giants 28–14. September 11, 2011. Gary. Fitzgerald. Redskins.com. October 2, 2011. April 4, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120404113006/http://www.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/For-Openers-Redskins-Defeat-Giants-28-14/1f181445-a09f-46be-aad9-59a2a43b20a0. dead.
9. News: Redskins/NFL . The Washington Post . Mike . Jones . December 19, 2011.
10. Web site: Doug Farrar . Dan Snyder's profane joy in Redskins win based on salary cap penalties . Sports.yahoo.com . 2012-12-04 . 2016-08-09.
11. News: Giants blow out Redskins 40-16: Studs, duds, and studly duds . Giants Wire . Dan . Benton . December 9, 2018.