At the end of the Chiefs–Lions game, things got heated. The game continued off the field, with players hitting each other instead of the ball. As both teams walked onto the field to shake hands, Lions safety Brian Branch had other plans. Ignoring the QB Mahomes, he went straight towards the Chiefs’ wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Brian hit JuJu Smith-Schuster in the facemask. The receiver fell but quickly got up and ran after Branch. That’s all it took for the teams to jump in. Players from both sides joined the fight. Coaches and officials rushed in and spent a few minutes separating the players. The scuffle finally ended, and both teams left the field without more trouble. Post-game, it looked like JuJu suffered big time.

After the fight, Smith-Schuster walked off holding a towel to his face. Chiefs coach Andy Reid said the hit caused “pretty good damage” to his nose. As the league is expected to give fines in the next few days, Branch admitted he acted wrongly.

JuJu Smith-Schuster got smacked by Brian Branch after the game was over #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/iZmhZ9y6Ok

“I should’ve never done it. It was childish.” He knew he had made a mistake, and he spoke openly about it after the game. But he also reasoned his punch. The 23-year-old candidly said that JuJu blocked him in the back earlier in the game without a penalty, which frustrated him. What Brian did was clearly not justified. The same was voiced out by the Lions coach.

“What he did is not okay. It’s not what we do here. I apologized to Coach Reid, the Chiefs, and Smith-Schuster. He knows it, and our team knows it,” Dan Campbell said. His statement makes one thing clear: the team does not accept that kind of behavior, even if it comes from one of their own players. As Branch accepts the mistake, some would ask if this is his first time doing it.

Since joining the league, the NFL has fined him 13 times for a total of $129,989. Because of this history, the league may suspend him for the next game against the Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. This could put the Lions in a tough spot. The hit did not help the team at all and could cost them an important player. The NFL is strict about bad behavior this season. They want to set examples when players act out, and Branch’s action fits that category.

Besides Branch’s conduct, the Lions need to mourn about one more thing: their loss against the Chiefs.

Brian Branch’s team gets handed 2nd defeat

The Lions’ outcome might have been different if Brian had used his energy more productively. The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Detroit Lions 30–17. The game was close in the first half, with the Chiefs leading 17–14 at halftime. But Kansas City took control in the second half and pulled away.

Patrick Mahomes had a strong game for the Chiefs. He completed 22 of 30 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran for another score. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster caught three passes for 57 yards, and Travis Kelce had six catches for 78 yards. Running back Isaiah Pacheco ran 12 times for 51 yards. Hollywood Brown scored two touchdowns in the second half to help Kansas City take full control. Though Brian’s team started well, but struggled after halftime.

Quarterback Jared Goff completed 23 of 29 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs ran 17 times for 65 yards, and wide receiver Jameson Williams had six catches for 66 yards and one touchdown. The Chiefs’ offense stayed consistent, scoring when they needed to and moving the ball well in both the air and on the ground.

Their defense made key stops to prevent the Lions from coming back. Detroit showed effort early, but could not match Kansas City in the second half.