# Commanders–Giants rivalry

The Commanders–Giants rivalry, formerly known as the Giants–Redskins rivalry, is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Washington Commanders and New York Giants.
It 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. 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.
The Giants lead the overall series, 108–73–5. The two teams have met twice in the playoffs, winning one each.

## 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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. The Redskins defeated the Giants at MetLife Stadium in Week 15, their first season sweep of the Giants since 1999.
* 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.
* 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 cost 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.
* On September 15, 2024, the Giants became the first team in NFL history to score three touchdowns, allow no touchdowns and lose in regulation, by a score of 21–18 to the Commanders.

## Season-by-season results

New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins/Football Team/Commanders Season-by-Season Results :
1930s (Giants, 9–5–2)
SeasonSeason seriesat New York Giantsat Boston Braves Boston/Washington RedskinsOverall seriesNotes
1932
Braves 1–0–1
Tie 0–0
Braves 14–6
Braves 1–0–1
Braves join the NFL as an expansion team. Braves' win against the Giants was the franchise's first win. Braves record their first tie result.
1933
Tie 1–1
Giants 7–0
Redskins 21–20
Redskins 2–1–1
Braves change their name to "Redskins". Both teams are placed in the NFL Eastern division as the league splits into two divisions. Giants lose 1933 NFL Championship.
1934
Giants 2–0
Giants 3–0
Giants 16–3
Giants 3–2–1
Giants win 1934 NFL Championship.
1935
Giants 2–0
Giants 17–6
Giants 20–12
Giants 5–2–1
Giants lose 1935 NFL Championship.
1936
Tie 1–1
Redskins 14–0
Giants 7–0
Giants 6–3–1
Last season Reskins played as a Boston-based team. Redskins lose 1936 NFL Championship.
1937
Redskins 2–0
Redskins 49–14
Redskins 13–3
Giants 6–5–1
Redskins relocate to Washington D.C. In New York, Redskins clinch the Eastern Division and eliminate the Giants from playoff contention with their win. Redskins win 1937 NFL Championship.
1938
Giants 2–0
Giants 36–0
Giants 10–7
Giants 8–5–1
Giants win 1938 NFL Championship.
1939
Giants 1–0–1
Giants 9–7
Tie 0–0
Giants 9–5–2
Giants clinch the Eastern Division and eliminate the Redskins from playoff contention with their win. Giants lose 1939 NFL Championship. :
1940s (Giants, 12–9)
SeasonSeason seriesat New York Giantsat Washington RedskinsOverall seriesNotes
1940
Tie 1–1
Giants 21–7
Redskins 21–7
Giants 10–6–2
Redskins lose 1940 NFL Championship.
1941
Giants 2–0
Giants 20–13
Giants 17–0
Giants 12–6–2
Giants lose 1941 NFL Championship.
1942
Tie 1–1
Redskins 14–7
Giants 14–7
Giants 13–7–2
Redskins win 1942 NFL Championship.
1943
Giants 2–0
Giants 14–10
Giants 31–7
Giants 15–7–2
Both teams finished with 6–3–1 records, setting up a tiebreaker playoff game.
1943 Playoffs
Redskins 1–0
Redskins 28–0
Giants 15–8–2
First postseason meeting. NFL Eastern Division. Redskins go on to lose 1943 NFL Championship.
1944
Giants 2–0
Giants 16–13
Giants 31–0
Giants 17–8–2
Giants lose 1944 NFL Championship.
1945
Redskins 2–0
Redskins 24–14
Redskins 17–0
Giants 17–10–2
Redskins lose 1945 NFL Championship.
1946
Tie 1–1
Giants 31–0
Redskins 24–14
Giants 18–11–2
Giants lose 1946 NFL Championship. From 1933–1946, either the Giants or Redskins won the NFL Eastern Division.
1947
Tie 1–1
Giants 35–10
Redskins 28–20
Giants 19–12–2
1948
Redskins 2–0
Redskins 28–21
Redskins 41–10
Giants 19–14–2
1949
Giants 2–0
Giants 23–7
Giants 45–35
Giants 21–14–2 :
1950s (Giants, 15–5)
SeasonSeason seriesat New York Giantsat Washington RedskinsOverall seriesNotes
1950
Giants 2–0
Giants 24–21
Giants 21–17
Giants 23–14–2
As a result of the AAFC–NFL merger, the Giants and Redskins are placed in the NFL American Conference (later renamed the NFL Eastern Conference in the 1953 season.
1951
Giants 2–0
Giants 28–14
Giants 35–14
Giants 25–14–2
1952
Tie 1–1
Redskins 27–17
Giants 14–10
Giants 26–15–2
1953
Redskins 2–0
Redskins 24–21
Redskins 13–9
Giants 26–17–2
1954
Giants 2–0
Giants 24–7
Giants 51–21
Giants 28–17–2
1955
Giants 2–0
Giants 35–7
Giants 27–20
Giants 30–17–2
1956
Tie 1–1
Giants 28–14
Redskins 33–7
Giants 31–18–2
Giants move to Yankee Stadium. Giants win 1956 NFL Championship.
1957
Tie 1–1
Redskins 31–14
Giants 24–20
Giants 32–19–2
1958
Giants 2–0
Giants 30–0
Giants 28–14
Giants 34–19–2
Giants lose 1958 NFL Championship.
1959
Giants 2–0
Giants 45–14
Giants 24–10
Giants 36–19–2
Giants lose 1959 NFL Championship. :
1960s (Giants, 12–5–1)
SeasonSeason seriesat New York Giantsat Washington RedskinsOverall seriesNotes
1960
Giants 1–0–1
Tie 24–24
Giants 17–3
Giants 37–19–3
1961
Giants 2–0
Giants 53–0
Giants 24–21
Giants 39–19–3
Redskins open D.C. Stadium (now known as Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium). In New York, Giants record their largest victory over the Redskins with a 53–point differential and score their most points in a game against the Redskins. Giants lose 1961 NFL Championship.
1962
Giants 2–0
Giants 49–34
Giants 42–24
Giants 41–19–3
In New York, Giants accumulated 602 yards, setting a franchise record for most yards in a game (broken in 2012). Giants lose 1962 NFL Championship.
1963
Giants 2–0
Giants 44–14
Giants 24–14
Giants 43–19–3
Giants lose 1963 NFL Championship.
1964
Tie 1–1
Giants 13–10
Redskins 36–21
Giants 44–20–3
Giants win eight straight meetings (1960–1964).
1965
Tie 1–1
Redskins 23–7
Giants 27–10
Giants 45–21–3
1966
Tie 1–1
Giants 13–10
Redskins 72–41
Giants 46–22–3
In Washington, Redskins set an NFL record for most points scored by one team and the game's final score is the highest-scoring game in NFL history (113 points). Giants win was their only win in their 1966 season.
1967
Redskins 1–0
no game
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 resulted in only a single meeting between the Giants and Redskins in 1967 and 1969.
1968
Giants 2–0
Giants 48–21
Giants 13–10
Giants 48–23–3
1969
Redskins 1–0
no game
Redskins 20–14
Giants 48–24–3 :
1970s (Redskins, 13–7)
SeasonSeason seriesat New York Giantsat Washington RedskinsOverall seriesNotes
1970
Giants 2–0
Giants 35–33
Giants 27–24
Giants 50–24–3
As a result of the AFL–NFL merger, the Giants and Redskins are placed in the National Football Conference (NFC) and the NFC East, once again becoming divisional rivals.
1971
Redskins 2–0
Redskins 30–3
Redskins 23–7
Giants 50–26–3
Redskins' first season series sweep against the Giants since the 1953 season.
1972
Redskins 2–0
Redskins 23–16
Redskins 27–13
Giants 50–28–3
Redskins lose Super Bowl VII.
1973
Redskins 2–0
Redskins 21–3
Redskins 27–24
Giants 50–30–3
Due to renovations at Yankee Stadium, Giants temporarily play at Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut
1974
Redskins 2–0
Redskins 13–10
Redskins 24–3
Giants 50–32–3
Giants home was played at Yale Bowl.
1975
Redskins 2–0
Redskins 21–13
Redskins 49–13
Giants 50–34–3
Giants home game was played at Shea Stadium in New York. In Washington, Redskins record their largest victory over the Giants with a 36–point differential.
1976
Tie 1–1
Giants 12–9
Redskins 19–17
Giants 51–35–3
Giants open Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Redskins win 11 straight meetings (1971–1976).
1977
Giants 2–0
Giants 20–17
Giants 17–6
Giants 53–35–3
1978
Tie 1–1
Giants 17–6
Redskins 16–13(OT)
Giants 54–36–3
1979
Tie 1–1
Giants 14–6
Redskins 27–0
Giants 55–37–3 :
1980s (Redskins, 11–10)
SeasonSeason seriesat New York Giantsat Washington RedskinsOverall seriesNotes
1980
Redskins 2–0
Redskins 23–21
Redskins 16–13
Giants 55–39–3
1981
Tie 1–1
Redskins 30–27(OT)
Giants 17–7
Giants 56–40–3
1982
Redskins 2–0
Redskins 27–17
Redskins 15–14
Giants 56–42–3
Both games played despite players strike reducing the season to 9 games. Redskins win Super Bowl XVII.
1983
Redskins 2–0
Redskins 33–17
Redskins 31-22
Giants 56–44–3
Redskins lose Super Bowl XVIII.
1984
Tie 1–1
Giants 37–13
Redskins 30–14
Giants 57–45–3
1985
Tie 1–1
Giants 17–3
Redskins 23–21
Giants 58–46–3
Both teams finished with 10–6 records, but the Giants clinched a playoff berth based on a better conference record, thereby eliminating the Redskins from playoff contention.
1986
Giants 2–0
Giants 27–10
Giants 24–14
Giants 60–46–3
Giants win Super Bowl XXI.
1986 Playoffs
Giants 1–0
Giants 17–0
Giants 61–46–3
Second postseason meeting. NFC Championship Game. Giants go on to win Super Bowl XXI.
1987
Redskins 2–0
Redskins 38–12
Redskins 23–19
Giants 61–48–3
Redskins win Super Bowl XXII.
1988
Giants 2–0
Giants 27–20
Giants 24–23
Giants 63–48–3
1989
Giants 2–0
Giants 20–17
Giants 27–24
Giants 65–48–3 :
1990s (Giants, 11–8–1)
SeasonSeason seriesat New York Giantsat Washington RedskinsOverall seriesNotes
1990
Giants 2–0
Giants 21–10
Giants 24–20
Giants 67–48–3
Giants win Super Bowl XXV.
1991
Redskins 2–0
Redskins 17–13
Redskins 34–17
Giants 67–50–3
Redskins win Super Bowl XXVI.
1992
Tie 1–1
Redskins 28–10
Giants 24–7
Giants 68–51–3
1993
Giants 2–0
Giants 20–6
Giants 41–7
Giants 70–51–3
1994
Giants 2–0
Giants 31–23
Giants 21–19
Giants 72–51–3
1995
Giants 2–0
Giants 20–13
Giants 24–15
Giants 74–51–3
1996
Redskins 2–0
Redskins 31–10
Redskins 31–21
Giants 74–53–3
1997
Giants 1–0–1
Giants 30–10
Tie 7–7(OT)
Giants 75–53–4
Redskins open Jack Kent Cooke Stadium (now known as Northwest Stadium). First tie game in the series since the 1974 introduction of overtime. Giants clinch the NFC East with their win.
1998
Tie 1–1
Giants 31–24
Redskins 21–14
Giants 76–54–4
1999
Redskins 2–0
Redskins 50–21
Redskins 23–13
Giants 76–56–4 :
2000s (Giants, 14–6)
SeasonSeason seriesat New York Giantsat Washington RedskinsOverall seriesNotes
2000
Tie 1–1
Redskins 16–6
Giants 9–7
Giants 77–57–4
Giants lose Super Bowl XXXV.
2001
Tie 1–1
Giants 23–9
Redskins 35–21
Giants 78–58–4
2002
Giants 2–0
Giants 19–17
Giants 27–21
Giants 80–58–4
2003
Tie 1–1
Redskins 20–7
Giants 24–21(OT)
Giants 81–59–4
2004
Tie 1–1
Giants 20–14
Redskins 31–7
Giants 82–60–4
Giants draft QB Eli Manning.
2005
Tie 1–1
Giants 36–0
Redskins 35–20
Giants 83–61–4
2006
Giants 2–0
Giants 19–3
Giants 34–28
Giants 85–61–4
2007
Tie 1–1
Redskins 23–10
Giants 24–17
Giants 86–62–4
Giants win Super Bowl XLII.
2008
Giants 2–0
Giants 16–7
Giants 23–7
Giants 88–62–4
Game in New York was the NFL Kickoff Game.
2009
Giants 2–0
Giants 23–17
Giants 45–12
Giants 90–62–4 :
2010s (Giants, 13–7)
SeasonSeason seriesat New York Giantsat Washington RedskinsOverall seriesNotes
2010
Giants 2–0
Giants 31–7
Giants 17–14
Giants 92–62–4
Giants open New Meadowlands Stadium (now known as MetLife Stadium).
2011
Redskins 2–0
Redskins 23–10
Redskins 28–14
Giants 92–64–4
Redskins sweep the season series against the Giants for the first time since the 1999 season. Giants win Super Bowl XLVI.
2012
Tie 1–1
Giants 27–23
Redskins 17–16
Giants 93–65–4
2013
Giants 2–0
Giants 20–6
Giants 24–17
Giants 95–65–4
2014
Giants 2–0
Giants 24–13
Giants 45–14
Giants 97–65–4
2015
Tie 1–1
Giants 32–21
Redskins 20–14
Giants 98–66–4
2016
Tie 1–1
Redskins 29–27
Giants 19–10
Giants 99–67–4
Giants eliminate the Redskins from playoff contention with their win.
2017
Tie 1–1
Giants 18–10
Redskins 20–10
Giants 100–68–4
Game in Washington was 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 100 times).
2018
Tie 1–1
Redskins 20–13
Giants 40–16
Giants 101–69–4
2019
Giants 2–0
Giants 24–3
Giants 41–35(OT)
Giants 103–69–4
Final season for Giants' QB Eli Manning. :
2020s (Giants, 5–4–1)
SeasonSeason seriesat New York Giantsat Washington Football Team/CommandersOverall seriesNotes
2020
Giants 2–0
Giants 20–19
Giants 23–20
Giants 105–69–4
After decades of controversy, Washington retired the "Redskins" name and temporarily adopted the title "Washington Football Team".
2021
Washington 2–0
Washington 22–7
Washington 30–29
Giants 105–71–4
In Washington, Washington's K Dustin Hopkins missed the game-winning field goal, but a Giants offside gave him another chance, which he successfully made. Washington's first season series sweep against the Giants since the 2011 season.
2022
Giants 1–0–1
Tie 20–20(OT)
Giants 20–12
Giants 106–71–5
Washington Football Team adopts the "Commanders" name. First tie result since the 1997 season.
2023
Giants 2–0
Giants 14–7
Giants 31–19
Giants 108–71–5
2024
Commanders 2–0
Commanders 27–22
Commanders 21–18
Giants 108–73–5 :
Summary of Results
SeasonSeason seriesat New York Giantsat Boston Braves Boston/Washington Redskins Washington Football Team/CommandersNotes
Regular season
Giants 107–73–5
Giants 57–31–3
Giants 50–41–2
Postseason
Tie 1–1
Tie 1–1
no games
NFL Eastern Division: 1943 NFC Championship: 1986
Regular and postseason
Giants 108–72–5
Giants 58–31–3
Giants 50–41–3
Giants have a 3–2 record in Boston. Redskins/Commanders have a 2–0 record at Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut (1973), (1974), both accounted for as Giants' home games. :

## Players who played for both teams

| Name | Position(s) | Time with Commanders | Time with Giants |
| Norm Snead | Quarterback | 1961–1963 | 1972–1974 |
| Sam Huff | Linebacker | 1964–1969 | 1956–1963 |
| Nick Gates | Center | 2023 | 2018–2022 |
| Jessie Armstead | Linebacker | 2002–2003 | 1993–2001 |
| Greg Stroman | Cornerback | 2018–2020 | 2024–present |
| Joe Walton | End/Defensive end | 1957–1960 | 1961–1964 |
| Fabian Moreau | Cornerback | 2017–2020 | 2022 |
| Renaldo Wynn | Defensive end | 2002–2006, 2009 | 2008 |
| Ryan Clark | Safety | 2004–2005 | 2002–2003 |
| Ken MacAfee | End | 1959 | 1954–1958 |
| Ereck Flowers | Offensive tackle/Guard | 2019, 2021 | 2015–2018 |
| Barry Cofield | Defensive tackle | 2011–2014 | 2006–2010, 2015 |
| Kent Graham | Quarterback | 2001 | 1992–1994, 1998–1999 |
| Colt McCoy | Quarterback | 2014–2019 | 2020 |
| Antonio Pierce | Linebacker | 2001–2004 | 2005–2009 |
| Graham Gano | Placekicker | 2009–2011 | 2020–present |
| Alfred Morris | Running back | 2012–2015 | 2020 |
| David Mayo | Linebacker | 2021–2023 | 2019–2020 |
| Jeff Rutledge | Quarterback | 1990–1992 | 1983–1989 |
| Brian Mitchell | Running back | 1990–1999 | 2003 |
| Landon Collins | Safety/linebacker | 2019–2021 | 2015–2018 |
| Devin Thomas | Wide receiver | 2008–2010 | 2010–2011 |
| Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie | Cornerback | 2019 | 2014–2017 |