Metro Will Force Redskins Fans to Watch the Clock Monday Night

If you're planning on going to FedEx Field to watch the Washington Redskins take on the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football, you'd probably need to find some transportation home other than Metro -- the last train is leaving at 11:27 p.m., and the game is unlikely to be over by then.

The game isn't scheduled to start until 8:30 p.m., and the average NFL game takes well over three hours, which means that train is likely to be leaving the station before the final snap, potentially leaving tens of thousands of Redskins fans stranded if they haven't made alternative arrangements.

Although technically the Metro system shuts down at midnight on weekday nights, Prince George's County Fire Department spokesman Mark Brady tweeted that Redskins fans won't actually be able to wait that long to catch a train, as the last train will depart at 11:27 p.m.

Going to @Redskins game tonight?? @ESPNNFL @FedExField - Hail Responsibly, Dress warmly in layers & if taking @wmata - last train at 1127 pm
— Mark Brady (@PGFDPIO) December 19, 2016

The early shutdown of the Metro system has been causing problems for sports fans lately. Nationals fans chanted "Metro sucks" during Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers back in October after an announcement came over the loudspeakers in the seventh inning that the last train was leaving. Bryce Harper expressed frustration about the situation on CSN Mid-Atlantic, noting that the situation forces people to leave before the game is over.

You don't have a whole lot of options as far as transportation goes after the game if you don't drive. There's Uber, which may work for people in D.C. and Prince George's County, but people who took the Metro in from Reston and other points west in Northern Virginia will have to pony up at least $50 to get home, and possibly more depending on demand and the traffic. Also, there's likely to be long wait times for Uber as many people will be depending on it to get home.

If you decide to go to the game, even if you're driving, read up on our guide to Monday night's game here.

Image: Patch staff