This is what the Detroit Lions have been missing.
This is who they have been missing. Well, at least one of the parts.
Safety Brian Branch jumped up and did Brian Branch things on Sunday, Oct. 25, making a big-time play to snag an interception in the fourth quarter of a 20-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers
in Ford Field. It was Branch’s first game since tearingthe Achilles tendon in his right leg in a win over the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 4.So that pick, it meant everything for him. It meant everything for the Lions. And when Branch came down with the ball – when the crowd in Ford Field realized who had the ball – the reaction was so loud the decibel meter started to melt down.
[ LET'S TALK! Watch the "Freep Sports Show" on our Detroit Free Press
stream on YouTube for a breakdown of Sunday's win over the Packers. It'll also be available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple or Spotify). ]
“That pick – that's the most lit I've ever seen Fort Field,” Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson said. “That was special for him, man. I can understand a long offseason rehab and coming back and having a big play like that really changed the game. I'm so happy for BB.”
Think about what Branch has been through over the last 11 months.
The lonely days of rehab.
The frustration. All the ups and downs we will never hear about.
So, yes, he was jacked up to get in this game.
“I was more anxious than nervous,” Branch said. “It's been 11 months, and you can't take this game for granted. And you know, just to get back here and play this game, I don't think anybody loves this game like I do. I just thank God for me being able to come back out here and just play this game.”
No, he did more than play the game. He made an impact.
“It felt good, just to grab a pick the first game out,” he said. “You know that's nothing but God.”
He finished with four tackles (one solo) and his eighth career interception.
“Yeah, man, he’s done a lot,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “You go through an injury like that, the amount of rehab and things that go into all of that to get back to where you're ready to play at a high level in the NFL, top-tier talent and to get back to some of what you are.”
Lions make enough plays
The struggles of the Lions' defense have been well documented. But you know what cures a struggling defense? Adding some playmakers.
And that’s what Branch gives this defense. He is a stabilizing force – not just his presence but his instincts, even if he was on a snap count, trying to limit his participation.
“I kind of didn't like it, but they were smart for doing it,” Branch said.
So, yes, he was lobbying to get on the field even more.
“When I get out there, my adrenaline is going, so I'm ready to go,” he said.
“How much do you feel like you have in the tank right now?” he was asked.
“A lot,” he said. “Fresh legs, man. Fresh legs.”
Yes, that’s one way to look at it.
“He's not even fully back yet, as far as, just the rust,” Campbell said. “He's healthy. Every time, every rep he'll take, he's going to get better and better. But it's not an easy road, especially when – I mean, he loves the game, man. He's highly competitive. He wants to go. Really, the hard thing was managing him in the first half. He was all over me early and I said, 'Listen, we just got to be smart, see where you're at.'
“Everybody loves BB because he's a great teammate and he's a productive football player, man. He just can find the ball. He's got a nose for it. And not only that, he knocked out some of those runs. He's just a heck of a football player.”
Still room to improve
There was a crazy element to this game.
The Lions made all kinds of mistakes but won. In fact, the Packers converted three straight fourth downs, all whuile making it look ridiculously easy to slice up the Lions' defense. So, that's an obvious negative – something that has to be improved.
But on the Packers' fourth fourth-down attempt?
The Lions held.
And Branch gave credit to defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard for keeping this unit together.
“Shep called a hell of a game plan,” branch said. “He put everybody in the right spot.”
The Lions were able to hold Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love to 274 yards and two touchdowns. Remember, this is a guy who threw for 387 yards against Minnesota and 367 against Chicago in the past month.
“I asked for God, just to have a clean game, and we all had a clean game,” Branch said. “We executed. We still left a lot of plays out there again, that comes with it. But we all played a hell of a game.”
It should be noted that the Lions held Green Bay receiver Christian Watson to five catches for 57 yards and Mathew Golden to six catches for 39 yards.
“We had to try to eliminate or limit what those two receivers [Watson and Golden] could do and try not to let them behind us,” Campbell said. “Then I thought our back end, it wasn't perfect, but I thought they played really good back there, man. I thought we played sticky. I thought we were challenging. Some of our guys – I thought [Khalil] Dorsey, man, stepped in and did some big things. There was no panic, made some big plays downfield. That's something that has hurt most teams.”
The Lions have a ridiculously talented offense. That’s obvious.
But this defense?
If it can just get a few stops, if it can just not be horrible (like it has been this season), this team can beat anybody.
That’s what Branch gives this team. A reason to believe anything is possible. Because this defense improves with him on the field.
“We shouldn't expect the offense to score 31 points every game,” Branch said. “I think we are [a] very good defense when we all lock in. And tonight we showed a little bit of that, but I feel like we can we can do better.”
Yes, that’s the other great part of this.
That defense can certainly get even better.
“We all believe in each other,” branch said. “And shoot, it’s without a doubt right now.”
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff.
Next up: Vikings
Matchup: Lions (4-2) vs. Minnesota (6-0).
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1; Ford Field, Detroit.
TV/radio: Fox; WXYT-FM (97.1).
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Return of Brian Branch gives Detroit Lions reason to believe
