New York Giants Rivalry
The oldest rivalry in the NFC East, spanning from the Boston Braves to the Washington Commanders.
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.
- First Appears
- 1932 (Boston Braves era)
Lore & Background
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, 108–75–5. The two teams have met three times in the playoffs (1943, 1986, 2022), with the Giants winning two and the Redskins/Commanders winning one.
In Their Own Story
The air inside RFK Stadium was thick with humidity and tension as the fourth quarter wound down. A Washington drive stalled at midfield, but the crowd roared when a defensive stand forced a Giants punt. The ball landed in the end zone, pinned deep. With minutes left on the clock, the Commanders' quarterback scanned the field, eyes locked on the secondary. He dropped back, stepped up, and launched a spiral toward the corner of the end zone. As the receiver leaped over a diving linebacker, the stadium erupted—a moment that echoed every previous battle between these two titans.
Reader's Guide
Notable rivalry moments include: In 1937, the Redskins beat the Giants 49–14 to clinch a spot in the NFL Championship, which they won. In 1938, the Giants won 36–0 and went on to win the NFL Championship. In 1939, the Giants won 9–7 on a controversial no-good field goal call. On November 27, 1966, the Redskins beat the Giants 72–41 in the highest scoring game in NFL history. On November 18, 1985, the Redskins won 23–21, but Lawrence Taylor's sack ended Joe Theismann's career. In the 1986 NFC Championship, the Giants shut out the Redskins 17–0. On September 11, 2011, the Redskins beat the Giants 28–14. In 2012, after a $36 million salary cap penalty on the Redskins, owner Daniel Snyder said 'I hate those motherf***ers' in the locker room. On September 25, 2016, the Redskins won 29–27 amid the Odell Beckham Jr.–Josh Norman feud. On November 23, 2017, the Redskins won 20–10 in their first home Thanksgiving game. On December 9, 2018, the Giants got their 100th regular season win over the Redskins, 40–16. On September 15, 2024, the Commanders beat the Giants 21–18, making the Giants the first team in NFL history to score three touchdowns, allow no touchdowns and lose in regulation.
Did You Know?
- The rivalry began in 1932 with the founding of Washington's predecessors, the Boston Braves.
- The Giants lead the overall series 108–75–5.
- The two teams have met three times in the playoffs (1943, 1986, 2022), with the Giants winning two and the Redskins/Commanders winning one.
- The 1966 game (72–41) remains the highest scoring game in league history.
- The 1985 sack by Lawrence Taylor ended Joe Theismann's career.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Washington Commanders and New York Giants rivalry begin?
The two franchises first met on the gridiron in 1936, back when Washington was still known as the Boston Braves. Their shared placement in the Eastern Conference turned that early contest into a recurring battle that has stretched across nearly nine decades of NFL history.
Why do fans consider the Commanders-Giants rivalry one of the NFL's biggest?
The matchup carries playoff stakes and regional bragging rights that go far beyond a single game result. Decades of back-and-forth competition, legendary coaching duels, and marquee player performances have layered the series with history that most other conference rivalries simply don't match.
Which players and coaches are most associated with the Commanders-Giants rivalry?
Names like Sammy Baugh, Ronde Barber, and Lawrence Taylor come up constantly when fans discuss the series' all-time greats. On the sideline, coaches such as Vince Lombardi and George Allen shaped memorable stretches of this Eastern Conference war.
What period is considered the golden era of the Commanders-Giants rivalry?
From the mid-20th century through the 1980s, the two teams met with the frequency and intensity that made the rivalry a fixture of every NFL season. That stretch produced some of the most talked-about games and coaching matchups in league history.
Is the Commanders-Giants rivalry still going today?
Yes, the two clubs remain active Eastern Conference opponents and continue to meet on the schedule each season. While the competitive balance has shifted over the years, the historical weight of the series keeps it one of the most consequential regular-season matchups in the NFL.
More in Stadium & Culture
Elsewhere in the Washington Commanders universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record