Week 5
New York Giants at Washington Commanders
October 11, 2026
Northwest Stadium
NFC East Rivalry
Giants–Commanders
The NFC East's oldest grudge
The longest-running rivalry in the NFC East, dating to 1932 and pitting the New York Giants against the Washington franchise. It peaked in the 1980s, when both teams were Super Bowl powers under iconic head coaches.
The Rivalry
This series began in 1932 against Washington's earliest predecessor and has run continuously as a divisional matchup, making it the oldest rivalry in the NFC East. The Giants hold a commanding edge in the all-time series. The feud reached its height in the 1980s, when Joe Gibbs's Washington teams and Bill Parcells's Giants traded division titles and combined for multiple Super Bowl championships during the decade. Giants founder-era owner Wellington Mara is reported to have considered Washington his club's truest rival. The matchup has produced both record-setting shootouts and grinding defensive struggles.
What's at Stake
Every meeting carries NFC East implications, with division standings, head-to-head tiebreakers and playoff positioning frequently on the line. The rivalry connects two major East Coast markets roughly 230 miles apart along the I-95 corridor. With Washington's recent resurgence, the matchup again carries weight, and a sweep can shape who controls one of the league's most storied divisions.
Famous Moments
- 1966 — Washington won 72-41 in a game whose 113 combined points stand among the highest-scoring in NFL history.
- 1985 — Lawrence Taylor's sack of Joe Theismann produced the leg injury that ended the quarterback's career.
- 1986 — The Giants shut out Washington 17-0 in the NFC Championship Game on the way to their first Super Bowl title.
- 1943 — Washington beat the Giants 28-0 in an Eastern Division playoff, the teams' earliest postseason meeting.
- 2024 — Washington edged the Giants 21-18 in a game where New York scored three touchdowns, allowed none and still lost.
The Giants–Commanders Games in 2026
The Two Teams
NFC East
New York Giants
MetLife Stadium · East Rutherford
One of the NFL’s oldest teams, founded in 1925, the Giants have won four Super Bowls and eight NFL championships overall.
NFC East
Washington Commanders
Northwest Stadium · Landover
Founded in 1932, the franchise has won five NFL championships, including three Super Bowls.
Plan the Trip
A Giants-Commanders road trip belongs on a bucket list for its sheer history — this is the NFC East's original rivalry. The Giants host at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the NFL's biggest stadium by capacity. Washington plays at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, in the Washington, D.C. suburbs. The roughly 230-mile drive makes a two-game season pilgrimage realistic.
Frequently Asked Questions: Giants–Commanders
The two teams first met in 1932. The longest-running rivalry in the NFC East, dating to 1932 and pitting the New York Giants against the Washington franchise. It peaked in the 1980s, when both teams were Super Bowl powers under iconic head coaches.
Every meeting carries NFC East implications, with division standings, head-to-head tiebreakers and playoff positioning frequently on the line. The rivalry connects two major East Coast markets roughly 230 miles apart along the I-95 corridor. With Washington's recent resurgence, the matchup again carries weight, and a sweep can shape who controls one of the league's most storied divisions.
Yes — they meet 2 times in the 2026 NFL season. The game pages, each with a fan-travel guide, are linked on this page.
New York Giants host at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford; Washington Commanders play at Northwest Stadium in Landover.
