The Detroit Lions had a fantastic defensive performance in Week 7 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and even though it appeared on the surface the franchise didn't miss suspended safety Brian Branch, it's clear they did.
Detroit's backups gained valuable experience playing against a top NFC foe, and Branch was forced to watch from home after a postgame incident with JuJu Smith-Schuster. One problem? The safety couldn't even bring himself to watch because it would have been too depressing.
Branch didn't like being sidelined for his mistake, and didn't want to see his team playing without him. It did allow him some time to reflect on the rest of the season and the key role he plays for the team. It also provided him some excitement for a key Week 9 game against the Minnesota Vikings.
"(It gives me) a lot of motivation (to return). I feel like it's another chip on my shoulder that they just added. I also want to apologize for that, but I did that. That's something I don't condone, and it'll never happen again, but that definitely added another chip to my shoulder."
Branch's teammates as well as his coaches have stood up for him since, with some even wearing his jersey following the Tampa Bay win. It's something that he is very grateful for.
"It means a lot. I feel like I shot our team in the foot with what I did. For them to have my back, I love them for that. Like I said, I'd go to war for them any day of the week and it's going to be like that until it's all over."
In order to prove to everyone that he understands the measure of his actions, Branch will now get the chance to prove it on the field against a divisional foe.
Branch wants to properly harness his emotions for the stretch run
Just because Branch's teammates and coaches have stood behind him doesn't mean there hasn't been any reflection on his own actions. In order to make a big difference, it's clear that Branch has to stay on the field and not allow his emotions to get the better of him.
This season, Branch has not only been suspended, but flagged and fined for extra curricular plays. He has a wide ledger of incidents, which have given him a reputation. Branch knows that he needs to harness the emotion that he plays with, and find a way to channel it in positive ways. It's something coaches have been talking with him about.
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"I feel like I get caught playing with too much emotion and that brings me to that. I (can) still play with fire, but just in between the whistle. Now we're going on the playoff run, so ain't none of that. (I've) just got to be smarter in certain situations. Coach tells me all the time they're going to pick at me during the play or just try to get me out of my shell and to retaliate. He said (to) still play with fire, (but) just learn how to not retaliate when they do that and just play between the whistle."
This week, it will be important for Branch to show that he has learned how to properly walk this tightrope. While he didn't like being suspended for Week 7, it's clear there could be an advantage in the lessons he learned while away.