The Washington Redskins lost to the Carolina Panthers 21-13 on Sunday — meaning, if the past is any guide, that Mitt Romney will win the presidential election on Tuesday.
The so-called “Redskins Rule” predicts that, if the visiting team defeats the Redskins in their last home game before Election Day, the incumbent party will lose the White House. If the Redskins win the game, according to the legend, the incumbent party will prevail.
The rule has held true since 1940, though it was amended in 2004 to define the “incumbent party” as the party that won the popular vote in the previous presidential election. In 2004, the incumbent president, George W. Bush, triumphed over John Kerry, even though the Redskins lost a close game at home to the Green Bay Packers shortly before Election Day.
The Redskins were favored by three points over the Panthers on Sunday. The Redskins’ record now stands at a disappointing 3-6.