Don't worry about the polls; don't worry about Nate Silver's predictions; don't worry about the candidates themselves. To know who's going to win Tuesday's presidential election, all you need to do is keep an eye on today's Redskins-Panthers game.

In every one of the last 18 elections, the winner of the presidency has corresponded with the outcome of the most recent Redskins home game in this way: if the Redskins win, then the party that won the previous election's popular vote — in this case, the Democrats and President Obama — wins; if the Redskins lose, then the party that lost the previous election's popular vote — the Republicans and Mitt Romney — wins. For example, in 2008, the Redskins lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 23-6, predicting an Obama win over Senator John McCain, since the Republican party won the popular vote in 2004.

The Redskins are a three-point favorite against the struggling Carolina Panthers today, meaning that President Obama should feel pretty comfortable; however, at the end of the first quarter, the Panthers lead 7-3. I'll update once we have a result in that game so you can begin preparing for the next four years as soon as possible.

UPDATE: The Panthers won 21-13, but the game wasn't even that close — Carolina controlled for most of the contest. Everyone should probably get used to the phrase "President Mitt Romney."

Seriously, though: if Obama wins, it'll be the first time the rule was wrong in SEVENTY-TWO YEARS. Which is interesting, if nothing else.