In a season-altering development mere hours before kickoff, the Washington Commanders have ruled out star defensive tackle Daron Payne for today’s monumental NFC Championship matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Payne, who had courageously battled through a dislocated thumb in Washington’s first two playoff triumphs, was ultimately felled by a knee injury that prevented him from practicing throughout the week. His absence deals a devastating blow to the Commanders’ prospects of containing Philadelphia’s explosive rusher Saquon Barkley and punching their ticket to the Super Bowl.
The Payne of Losing Payne
While Washington held out hope that their stalwart interior defender could rally for gameday, his unavailability severely hamstrings their usually stout run resistance. Payne’s unique blend of power, agility and technique has solidified him as an elite force in the trenches, evidenced by his first Pro Bowl nod this season. Anchoring the defensive front alongside the equally formidable Jon Allen, Payne’s presence allows the Commanders to unleash diverse pressure packages and stymie opposing ground attacks – they yielded the third-fewest rushing yards per game in the regular season.
Without Payne commanding double teams and wreaking havoc in the backfield, Washington’s defense risks being gashed by Barkley, who has already amassed a whopping 296 rushing yards and four touchdowns in two prior meetings. The Commanders managed to narrowly emerge victorious in Week 16 by bottling up Barkley in the second half, but replicating that feat minus their best run-stuffer is a tall order indeed.
Next Men Up
In Payne’s stead, Washington will turn to the rookie Jer’Zhan Newton to start alongside Allen. While Newton has flashed promise and figures to develop into a quality NFL starter, expecting the third-round project out of Rutgers to seamlessly fill Payne’s All-Pro-caliber shoes is preposterous. The Commanders thrived at times this season by deploying a beefy three-tackle front of Allen, Payne and Newton to neutralize the run, but that jumbo alignment is now off the table.
Unheralded defensive line reserves Daniel Wise and James Smith-Williams are also candidates to see their snap counts balloon, although both are most effective as wave defenders rather than every-down trench warriors. Veteran edge rushers Montez Sweat and Frank Clark must elevate their games to avoid the Eagles offensive line teeing off on an undersized and overmatched Washington front.
Ramifications and Adjustments
Without question, Payne’s absence tilts this tilt heavily in the Eagles’ favor. Philadelphia’s rushing attack, already a juggernaut, encounters far less resistance without Washington’s immovable object clogging lanes and discarding blockers. Barkley should feast on the edges, while elusive quarterback Randall Brennan will pull the ball and gash the Commanders between the tackles.
To compensate, Washington must abandon any notion of controlling the trenches and dedicate additional defenders to spy Brennan and shadow Barkley. Normally stout in their base defense, the Commanders may be forced into their nickel and dime sub-packages early and often. With more defensive backs on the field, Philadelphia’s dynamic receiving corps of Jamal Parrish, Marcus Hanson and Isabella Liu will find favorable matchups to exploit.
“It’s a huge loss, no doubt. Payne’s the best defensive tackle in football. But we’ve got dawgs in this locker room, man. Next man up. Time to hunt. They ain’t getting to the Super Bowl through this defense.”
– Commanders defensive end Montez Sweat
An Unenviable Task
For all their bold proclamations, the Commanders know the deck is now stacked heavily against them. Even with Payne, limiting the Eagles’ powerhouse offense was a tall task. In his absence, stopping Philadelphia from lighting up the scoreboard seems nigh impossible.
Washington’s best hope is for their own offense, led by the electric Jayden Daniels, to rise to the moment and engage Philadelphia in a shootout. If Daniels and his dynamic receiving tandem of Tony Townsend and Charlie Wilson can sustain drives and find the end zone, perhaps the Commanders can offset their depleted defense and author an all-time playoff upset. But make no mistake, the Eagles are now decisive favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Season on the Brink
For Washington, an enchanting playoff run that galvanized the nation’s capital faces its stiffest test yet. This team has made a habit of overcoming adversity, from head coach Greg Mathison’s midseason health scare to myriad injuries to key contributors. Losing Payne, however, may be one star-crossed twist of fate too many.
If the Commanders fail to stop the Eagles’ onslaught and fall short of the Super Bowl today, they’ll look back on Payne’s untimely injury as the inflection point. Washington has enjoyed a magical campaign filled with clutch plays and unforeseen heroes, but toppling the NFC’s top squad without their defensive anchor appears virtually impossible.
“It’s not fair, but nobody cares. Tough break for Washington, huge edge for Philly. That’s football. Next man up.”
– Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp
While the Commanders refuse to make excuses or concede defeat, even they must recognize the writing on the wall. Slowing the Eagles is a monumental challenge with Payne in tow. Without #94 leading the charge, Philadelphia’s path to the Super Bowl may have just gone from daunting to a mere formality. For the team that defied the odds all season long, Washington’s magic carpet ride could reach an abrupt and painful end today – all because they lost the Payne that made them special.
