Smith-Schuster
Smith-Schuster (All-Pro Reels / Wikipedia.org - CC BY-SA 2.0)

Branch Sparks Brawl as Lions Lose in Kansas

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Kim

The Kansas City Chiefs sought to steady their stuttering season on Sunday evening. Fresh from a 31-28 loss in Jacksonville, Patrick Mahomes and company hosted the 4-1 Detroit Lions.

During a typically hard-hitting but fair clash, the hosts and their quarterback got the job done. Mahomes threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns, and ran in for another, as the Chiefs won 31-17 to move to 3-3 for the season.

Mahomes looked set to grab the headlines on the back of that display, but the narrative changed soon after time expired. What began with a spurned handshake ended in a multiplayer melee and a ban for one of the Lions’ defensive stars.

Branch Bloodies Smith-Schuster

Seemingly incensed at the end of the game, Lions safety Brian Branch declined the handshake offered by Mahomes before striding over to JuJu Smith-Schuster. The Chiefs’ wide receiver also appeared to offer a handshake. In return, he received an open-handed blow to the helmet from Branch.

Understandably, Smith-Schuster didn’t appreciate this gesture and chased Branch down. This pursuit ended in a brawl, with Smith-Schuster’s helmet ripped off as players from both sides piled onto the field. Following the incident, Smith-Schuster was left with a bloodied nose but did not require medical assistance.

Branch Regretful in Aftermath

Brian Branch
Branch (Tennessee Titans / Wikipedia.org – CC BY 3.0)

With tempers having cooled slightly, Brian Branch expressed some regret at his indiscretion, stating, “I did a little childish thing, but I’m tired of people doing stuff in between the play and refs don’t catch it. They be trying to bully me out there, and I don’t – I shouldn’t have did it. It was childish.”

When questioned about the incident, Lions head coach Dan Campbell offered no excuses for his defensive star, saying, “I love Brian Branch, but what he did is inexcusable and it’s not gonna be accepted here.”

JuJu Smith-Schuster appeared to bear no ill-will towards Branch, with the Chiefs man telling reporters, “I know he’s a better player than that, a better person. He’ll learn from his mistakes.”

What Triggered Branch?

Smith-Schuster
Smith-Schuster (Collision Conf / Flickr.com – CC BY 2.0)

Though hard fought, there had been few signs of animosity between the sides during the game. Branch had enjoyed a solid outing from a personal standpoint, with a season-high seven tackles, taking his tally to 33 through six games.

However, it appears that an incident late in the fourth quarter may have caused Branch to snap. Attempting to rush around the outside, Branch was floored by Smith-Schuster in what appeared to be an illegal blindside block. Pouring fuel on the fire, Smith-Schuster stepped over the floored Branch following the collision.

That apparent indiscretion went unpenalized in a game where the Chiefs gave up zero accepted penalties – a testament to the discipline Andy Reid has instilled in his troops. Despite that clean slate, there were a couple of questionable calls which may have fuelled Branch’s fire.

The first came in the first quarter when Jared Goff’s catch from running back David Montgomery looked to have handed the Lions a 7-0 lead. However, despite no flag being thrown on the play, the score was chalked off for illegal motion, leaving the Lions to settle for a field goal.

Then, deep in the second quarter, there is a suggestion that Mahomes aimed a taunt in Branch’s direction, having run in his fourth rushing touchdown of the season.

Branch Banned Following Investigation


Following an investigation into the post-match brawl, Brian Branch received a one-game suspension from the NFL. In a statement, Vice President of Football Operations Joe Runyan called Branch’s actions “entirely unwarranted” and said they “posed a serious risk of injury” and “reflected poorly on the NFL”.

This incident marks the latest in a line of missteps by Branch. The 2023 second-round draft pick has already received $34,000 in fines this season, including a $23,186 fine for face-masking and unsportsmanlike conduct during the Week 1 loss in Green Bay. Since the start of last season, he has been fined thirteen times by the league – but this is his first suspension.

Branch is entitled to appeal the decision, but as things stand, he’ll miss the home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. With Terrion Arnold and DJ Reed already sidelined, losing Branch is the last thing the Lions need as they prepare to face Baker Mayfield and the high-powered Buccaneers offense.