Total Meltdown: Commanders Lose Cool — and Game — in Chaotic Clash With Lions

A night of frustration and flags

If there’s a phrase that sums up the Washington Commanders’ Sunday, it’s “total meltdown.”
What began as just another tough matchup against the Detroit Lions turned into an on-field soap opera — complete with slaps, shoves, and even a referee catching stray hands.

After giving up a touchdown run to Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs, Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne simply lost it. Cameras caught him smacking Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown right in the face — unprovoked. That single act of frustration sparked an all-out brawl between both teams.

One slap, one shove, and a whole lot of trouble

As players scrambled and tempers rose, umpire Brandon Cruse tried to play peacekeeper, holding back defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw to prevent more chaos.
But instead of calming things down, it only made things worse. When Cruse lightly pushed Kinlaw back, the Commanders lineman retaliated — extending his arm and hitting the official’s hat.

That moment sealed it: Payne was ejected for his slap, while Kinlaw was handed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. What followed was predictable — the Lions extended their lead to 22–3 and never looked back, cruising to a 44–22 win.

Kinlaw’s defense: “I was protecting the team”

After the game, Kinlaw didn’t seem too remorseful.

“Yeah for sure, and they [officials] did too,” he said when asked if he saw St. Brown hit Payne first. “S*** was some bulls***, one-hundred percent.”

Not exactly the apology the league might’ve hoped for.

Trump’s flyover, boos, and a team unraveling

Adding another surreal layer to the night, President Donald Trump made a grand entrance — flying over the stadium in Air Force One before taking his seat next to Commanders owner Josh Harris.
The crowd’s response? A mix of loud boos and disbelief, as their team collapsed before their eyes.

Now sitting at 3–7, Washington’s season feels like it’s slipping into chaos both on and off the field. Next up: a long flight to Madrid, Spain, where they’ll face the Miami Dolphins — and hopefully leave the drama stateside.