FORD FIELD (Detroit) – Sitting in his locker, Penei Sewell offered a simple answer when asked what Brian Branch’s return means for the Lions — not just the defense, but the team as a whole.
The All-Pro offensive tackle pointed to the start of Sunday’s fourth quarter when the Packers faced a third-and-21 deep in their own territory. The Lions were up 17-14 and Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love fired a deep shot to target Christian Watson. Branch, the 2024 Pro Bowl safety in his first game back from a torn Achilles last December, came flying up the middle of the field for a leaping interception.
It was a massive play late in a closely contested affair, the Lions’ first division game of the season, and Detroit’s sideline score exploded. The roar from the Ford Field crowd was deafening.
“I mean, you guys listened to that crowd,” Sewell said of Branch. “You’ve seen the team when he got that pick. I feel like that’s self-explanatory.”
Let’s take Sewell’s words a big step further: The return of Brian Branch makes these Lions a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Let’s also be clear: The Lions are still missing former All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph, who they expect to return at some point this season from a knee injury. Meanwhile, Branch can stabilize the secondary, which makes Detroit’s defense competent. And all these Lions need is competence on that side of the ball, considering they have arguably the NFL’s premier offense.
The interception by Branch, who spent the first six games of the season on the physically unable to perform list, highlighted the effort of a Lions defense that made timely stops against the Packers’ potent passing attack in Detroit’s 20-17 victory.
“We all played a hell of a game and I’m proud to be a part of the secondary,” Branch said. “We’ve been through a lot, and now it’s time to hit the ground running.
Detroit still has the NFL’s worst pass defense, and the Lions’ inability to generate turnovers — they’re tied for 26th with just six — has exacerbated their problems on the tight end. But the presence of Branch immediately changes the calculation. He is one big player. In his first 44 NFL games, he has eight interceptions, 39 passes defensed, 20 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.
Branch tore his right Achilles in Week 14 last season against the Cowboys. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
In a pitch count Sunday, Branch offered a glimpse of what he can give the Lions moving forward. In addition to the pick, he recorded four hits.
“I thought he was running on a turbo. He was running really fast in his gap and it confused me, but that’s who he is,” Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes said. “Obviously, I was taught to know that the WB will do this run in his ditch. He’s a phenomenal person to have back for this team, this defense.
“When the ball is in the air, going deep, and I look up and see the number 32, I’m almost 99.9 percent sure it’s going to be his ball,” Barnes continued. “I’ve witnessed it many times. … He’s a ball hawk.”
The 4-2 Lions, who host the undefeated Minnesota Vikings on Sunday (1 p.m. ET on FOX), have added confidence on defense with Branch on the field.
“He just understands football so well,” veteran cornerback DJ Reed said. “He’s overall a great player. I don’t think he has any weaknesses.”
Pro Bowl defensive end Aidan Hutchinson calls Branch “setting the tone” of Detroit’s defense.
“That’s his X-factor right there,” Hutchinson explained. “He can change a game by making a punt, forcing a punt, making a big play like (the interception).”
And Branch’s return comes as Detroit is starting to figure it out as a collective defense. Of course, it wasn’t all pretty against the Packers on Sunday. The Lions allowed punts of 22, 27 and 28 yards on fourth-down attempts. They gave up an open punt on a third-and-9.
But Detroit forced a turnover on downs with Green Bay at the 7-yard line. Dega’s interception in the fourth quarter saved the Lions’ offense, which had turned the ball over on downs inside the 10-yard line. The pick was preceded by an impressive pass breakup by cornerback Khalil Dorsey.
Detroit also held Green Bay to a field goal on its penultimate possession, and defensive end DJ Wonnum got a hand on a 35-yard FG attempt on the Packers’ final drive.
The Lions have now held opponents under 25 points in three of their last four games. And slowing down a dangerous Packers offense is a massive step in the right direction.
“I thought our defense really, really stepped up, and they were the big story of this game,” coach Dan Campbell said after Sunday’s game. “I can see there’s a belief, there’s a belief that’s building with some of these guys.
“The front has been doing a really good job. The backs have been playing really well, too, and the back end with momentum. But these last two games, we’ve really stepped up. … We’re challenging some of these throws down the field. We’re making it tough and there’s nothing cheap, man. We’re trying to protect every blade of grass, what’s good, the grass.”
An improving defense that now has Branch back, a defense backed by an elite offense?
Watch out, NFL.
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