The Detroit Lions dropped their second game of the season in a tough battle with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6 on Sunday Night Football.
In a game where the Chiefs were not penalized at all, the Lions suffered a penalty on their first drive that felt like a precursor for how the rest of their game would go. In any case, the officiating didn’t cost the Lions this game.
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Obviously, it was the play of the Chiefs, who looked like their former selves.
However, the Chiefs looked to be back on top, and for Lions safety Brian Branch, it may have been a little too much to handle.
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Brian Branch started the fight in the field. Brian Branch threw a punch and knocked JuJu Smith-Schuster down. Brian Branch should be suspended. THERE IS NO PLACE IN SPORTS FOR THAT. pic.twitter.com/C8DtVukdlF
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) October 13, 2025
A Near Brawl
Branch gave Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster quite the “love tap” after the game. However, the tap nearly caused an all-out brawl. Honestly, that would have been cool considering my team was on the losing end.
But if we have to be professional for a moment, it was a bad move by Branch. A move that will now cost him time on the field.
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NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan: “Your aggressive, non-football act was entirely unwarranted, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players. Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and… https://t.co/HBLmSmuRib
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 13, 2025
NFL insider Ian Rapoport reports that Branch has been suspended for one game after his actions on Sunday Night Football.
“Your aggressive, non-football act was entirely unwarranted, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players. Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game,” said NFL VP of Operations Jon Runyan on Branch’s suspension.
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Losing Branch could be a severe blow for a team whose secondary has a laundry list of injuries.
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