Looking to snap a two-game losing streak, Washington traveled home two days before the 2012 Presidential Election to take on the Carolina Panthers in a game that was dubbed a homecoming game for them, with past superstars being honored and wearing throwback jerseys from their 1937 season. The Redskins got on the board first with a Kai Forbath 47-yard field goal, but Carolina countered with a DeAngelo Williams 30-yard score that was aided by an inadvertent whistle by the referee. Upon review, the call stood, and Carolina led 7-3. On Washington's ensuing possession, Washington got down to Carolina's 2, but were stuffed on fourth-and-goal, and Carolina took over on downs. Carolina was able to move the ball efficiently on Washington's much-maligned and porous defense, culminating in a Cam Newton 19-yard TD pass to Steve Smith, giving Carolina a 14-3 halftime advantage. In the second half, Washington continued to stay within striking distance, but was unable to make enough plays to get over the hump. Forbath chipped in a 25-yard field goal to cut the score to 14-6. In the fourth, Carolina pulled away. Pinned inside their 10, Newton found a wide-open Armanti Edwards for an 82-yard completion, and capped off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to take a 21-6 lead. Washington would respond later in the game by way of an Evan Royster 2-yard touchdown run, but with only 1:28 left in the game, and only two timeouts, Washington did not recover the onside kick. Following a Carolina three-and-out, Washington got the ball back with 18 seconds to go, but Brandon Banks was tackled in bounds at his own 9-yard line, and with no time outs, the clock ran out. With the loss, Washington fell to 3-6, 1-3 at home, and the Redskins Rule stated that Mitt Romney would win the election. This proved, however, not to be the case, and only the second time the Rule did not apply.

What did the Redskins Rule state?
Mitt Romney would win