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Kansas City Chiefs’ 30-17 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday night should have been a statement win for the defending AFC champions. Instead, the spotlight quickly shifted from Patrick Mahomes’ dominance to an ugly on-field brawl involving Lions safety Brian Branch and Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster that marred the conclusion of the game.
NFL reviewing postgame brawl between branch and Smith-Schuster
According to reports, the NFL is currently reviewing the altercation, with “determinations on discipline (will be) made from there,” as per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The fight erupted moments after the final whistle, when Brian Branch appeared to strike Smith-Schuster in the face during the postgame handshake line.
The incident left fans stunned, overshadowing Kansas City’s crucial win that brought them back to a 3-3 record. The league’s review will determine whether both players face fines or further punishment for their roles in the postgame melee.
Brian Branch faces steep fine for his actions
As per the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, the first-offense fine for fighting stands at $40,686. Given Branch’s actions, he is expected to be fined a substantial amount. However, this is not the first time the Lions safety has faced league discipline. If sanctioned again, it would mark his fourth fine this season, making him the most frequently fined player in the NFL through six weeks.
Following the game, Brian Branch admitted that emotions got the better of him.
“I got blocked in the back illegally. It was in front of the ref and the ref didn’t do anything. And stuff like that. I could have got hurt off of that play,” Branch said. “I still shouldn’t have done that,” he added, acknowledging his mistake.
Smith-Schuster may also face consequences
While Branch’s swing drew the most attention, JuJu Smith-Schuster could also be in trouble. Branch alleged that his reaction stemmed from an illegal block in the back earlier in the game—a play that was not flagged by officials.
The NFL Operations Office clarified that league discipline does not depend solely on in-game penalties:
“The league may respond to an official’s call during a game or to a specific play that a team submits for review. The NFL Officiating Department also reviews every play from every game and refers potential violations to the Football Operations compliance team.”
If officials determine that JuJu Smith-Schuster’s block was indeed illegal, the veteran wide receiver could be fined $17,389, the standard penalty for such infractions. However, this could rise to $23,186, considering he has already been fined earlier this season for a similar violation in Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Officiating under scrutiny after Chiefs go flag-free
Another point of contention from the night was the officiating. The Chiefs were not penalized once throughout the entire game, while the Lions were flagged four times for 38 yards. Fans and analysts alike have questioned the imbalance, particularly after Brian Branch’s claims of missed calls.
Despite the controversy, the Chiefs walked away with a much-needed win, improving to 3-3. However, the postgame chaos ensures that this matchup will be remembered more for its fight than its football.
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