The Washington Commanders and Buffalo Bills face critical challenges heading into their playoff games. Washington will be without star defensive tackle Daron Payne in their NFC Championship clash against the Philadelphia Eagles, while the Bills are missing key defensive players, including safety Taylor Rapp, ahead of their AFC Championship showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Commanders, whose run defense ranked 30th in the regular season, will struggle to contain MVP candidate Saquon Barkley without Payne, their cornerstone in run defense. Payne’s absence marks only the second game he has missed since 2018, leaving Washington to rely on players like Jonathan Allen and Jer’Zhan Newton to step up.
Meanwhile, the Bills are dealing with injuries to safety Taylor Rapp, sidelined with a hip issue, and cornerback Christian Benford, who is questionable after a concussion. Rookie safety Cole Bishop is expected to fill in, raising concerns about how he will perform against Patrick Mahomes and the high-powered Chiefs offense. Linebacker Baylon Spector, recovering from a calf injury, is also listed as questionable.
For the Bills, quarterback Josh Allen faces mounting pressure to overcome these setbacks and lead his team to the Super Bowl. However, Mahomes, undefeated in playoff games against Allen, will be aiming to secure a third consecutive Super Bowl appearance for the Chiefs.
The NFC Championship Game kicks off at 3:00 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, while the AFC Championship Game begins at 6:30 p.m. ET at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
