Commanders lose Daron Payne ahead of NFC Championship Game—Bad News Gets Worse

Stopping Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts was already going to be a nightmare for the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game. Losing Daron Payne just turned that nightmare into a full-blown horror show.

Daron Payne OUT for the NFC Championship Game

DT Daron Payne (knee/finger) has been downgraded to out https://t.co/Z3lgHgBwAY

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 25, 2025

Payne, a cornerstone of Washington’s defensive line and one of the league’s best run-stoppers, will miss Sunday’s game against the Eagles, snapping an ironman streak of 88 consecutive starts. Without him, the Commanders face the daunting task of slowing down an Eagles rushing attack that has been tearing through defenses all postseason.

Daron Payne’s Absence is a Crushing Blow

Daron Payne isn’t just another name on the depth chart—he’s a game-wrecker in the trenches. Whether it’s eating up double teams or stuffing running lanes, his presence has been pivotal for a Washington defense that’s already had trouble stopping the run.

Against an Eagles team averaging 227 rushing yards per game in the playoffs, losing Payne couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Saquon Barkley alone has been a one-man wrecking crew against Washington this season, racking up nearly 300 rushing yards in two meetings. Add in Jalen Hurts’ dual-threat ability, and the Commanders’ job gets exponentially harder without their defensive anchor.

Big loss for the Commanders.

On first-and-10 runs this year with Payne on the field, the Commanders had a 64.4% Success Rate on defense, which was about average.

Over 97 first-and-10 carries without Payne, that dropped to 51.6%, which was last in the league. https://t.co/IA8g2tvx6c

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 25, 2025

Johnny Newton Steps Into the Fire

Rookie Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton will take Daron Payne’s spot in the lineup. Newton, a second-round pick out of Illinois, showed promise against the Eagles in Week 16 with six tackles and three tackles for loss.

But this isn’t Week 16—it’s the NFC Championship Game. Newton’s ability to handle Barkley, Hurts, and a dominant Eagles offensive line will likely determine whether Washington has any chance to keep this game close.

Commanders rookie DT Johnny Newton with a big ole smile “s***, we get to play the Eagles again.” pic.twitter.com/hkHtFSXt4M

— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 23, 2025

The Bigger Picture

Washington’s defensive front has been its identity for years, but injuries and inconsistency have exposed cracks in that foundation. Jonathan Allen and Montez Sweat will need to elevate their games, but even their best efforts may not be enough to overcome Payne’s absence.

The Eagles are relentless on the ground. If Newton and the rest of the Commanders’ line can’t hold the fort, it’ll open the floodgates for Barkley and Hurts to dominate, leaving Washington chasing points in a hostile environment.

The Commanders were already in for a tough day trying to slow down one of the most dangerous rushing offenses in football. Losing Daron Payne feels like the final nail in the coffin.

While rookie Johnny Newton has flashed potential, asking him to anchor a defense in the NFC Championship Game is a tall order—especially against a team as dominant on the ground as the Eagles.

If Washington can’t find a way to contain Barkley and Hurts, this one could get ugly fast.

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