WASHINGTON — The Washington Commanders are entering a bye week after playing the New York Giants on the road. But they'll come out of the bye week hosting the Giants at FedEx Field at a different time than expected.
The game was previously marked as TBD for kickoff. But it is now known the game will be played starting at 8:20 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18.
On Sunday, walking off the field after a 20-all tie was a novel experience for most of the Commanders and Giants. None of them seemed to like it. Commanders coach Ron Rivera was at a loss for words -- a common feeling Sunday.
“I addressed them and I really wasn’t sure how to address them,” Rivera said. “We came up here and expected to win. We didn’t. We tied. It doesn’t hurt us. It doesn’t help us, because these are the guys we are competing with right now.”
Sunday’s tie was the first tie between Washington and New York since November 1997 and it was the first tie between both teams in New York since 1960.
According to the Washington Commanders' public relations department, the weekend after the bye week is the first time Washington will play consecutive games against the same opponent since playing two straight games against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1966
The Commanders have a 69% chance to make the playoffs, according to statistical analysis by FiveThirtyEight.com. If Washington defeats New York in their second matchup, their playoff chances increase to 88%.
"We need Commanders fans to really show up," defensive tackle Jon Allen said of the importance of the next matchup with the Giants. "I'm going to buy as many free tickets as I can get -- we need everybody there. This game could be the season. We need that support. We need the stadium rocking."
Washington has won their previous two evening games this season: a Thursday night win over the Chicago Bears in October and a Monday night win against the Philadelphia Eagles in November. The Eagles came into that Monday night matchup undefeated at 8-0.
Washington also won their last two evening games at FedEx Field. During the 2021 season, the Commanders defeated the Seattle Seahawks and New York Giants at home under the lights.
The last time the Commanders lost an evening game at home was against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wildcard playoff game.