There’s an intriguing phenomenon surrounding the Washington Commanders that dates back to the 1940 election. It suggests that the outcome of the Commanders’ last home game before a presidential election can actually forecast the election results.
The team, originally known as the Redskins, relocated from Boston to Washington, D.C. in 1937. In 2000, a sports-data firm spotted a quirky pattern now termed “The Redskins Rule.” According to this rule, if the Commanders won their final home game, the incumbent party would typically hold onto the White House; if they lost, the opposing party would take over.
This pattern held true through 2000 but seemed to falter in 2004 when President George W. Bush won reelection despite a loss to the Green Bay Packers. Interestingly, Barack Obama secured victory in 2008 after a Commanders defeat, lending some credibility back to the rule.
Steve Hirdt from the Elias Sports Bureau suggested that a new layer, referred to as “Redskins Rule 2.0,” emerged which focused on the popular vote. According to Hirdt’s explanation, the correlation flips if the popular vote winner doesn’t clinch the presidency.
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By this logic, all elections since 1940 would match up, excluding the 2012 and 2016 races. With President Joe Biden having won both the popular and electoral votes, a Commanders victory this Sunday could signal a win for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the upcoming November election, while a Chicago Bears win might suggest a return for former President Donald Trump.
In a recent twist, Biden has stepped back from the race and endorsed Harris as his successor. Supporters of this quirky rule may feel buoyed by the rookie sensation, quarterback Jayden Daniels, who’ll be playing on Sunday after concerns about an injury from last week’s decisive 40-7 win over the Carolina Panthers.
The Commanders have kicked off the season with a robust 5-2 record, showcasing high-scoring outings against teams like the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. Their only setbacks came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens.
Daniels, drafted second overall in the 2024 draft, has made NFL history by becoming the first player to achieve over 1000 passing yards and 250 rushing yards in his first five games.
On the other side, the Bears have also enjoyed a solid start, winning several tightly contested matches. Notably, they recently dominated the Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars, scoring over 35 points in each game. With quarterback Caleb Williams, drafted first overall in 2024, the stage is set for an exciting showdown between these two rising stars.