Players from the Washington Commanders and New York Giants were ordered off the field at MetLife Stadium because of severe weather ahead of their Thursday night NFC East matchup. Fans in the stadium’s lower bowl were also asked to leave the area and take shelter, just over an hour before the scheduled 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.
The weather precautions disrupted early warmups, and the timing of kickoff remained uncertain. Players must have mandatory warmup time, while the length of the field closure and any potential schedule changes were still unclear.
## Heavy Rain Expected Before Kickoff
Persistent, heavy rain affected MetLife Stadium before the game. The forecast called for a 68% chance of rain, with steady winds around 9 mph and gusts reaching up to 20 mph.
Wet conditions could make the field slippery and increase the importance of ball security and receiver footing. Stronger gusts could also affect long passes and kicking.
## Commanders’ Running Game Could Be a Factor
Washington was without its leading rusher from the previous season, second-year running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who was placed on injured reserve with a groin injury on October 19.
The Commanders still had several options on the ground. Quarterback Jayden Daniels led the team with 252 rushing yards and two touchdowns, averaging 8.1 yards per carry. Veteran running backs Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler could also receive significant work, giving Washington multiple ways to challenge the Giants’ defense in wet conditions.
The Commanders had not won a road game that season, while the Giants had gone 3-0 in home games played in the rain.
