Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch stirred the crowd at Lambeau Field after his ejection on Sunday, reacting with a bold message directed at the Green Bay Packers.
Branch’s ejection led to a total 30-yard penalty for the Lions when he raised both middle fingers toward the crowd as he exited the field. His ejection occurred in the second quarter of the divisional game following a helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers wide receiver Bo Milton.
After the Packers were awarded 15 yards for the foul, officials in New York reviewed the play, recommending Branch’s disqualification.
The timing of Branch’s ejection was crucial, as the Packers were down 7-3 and close to gaining a lead. His absence could have been damaging for Detroit, but the Lions still secured a 24-14 victory.
Branch’s reaction as he left the field drew a second penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, though he received support from his teammates, with Brandon Joseph and Terrion Arnold sharing images of Branch’s actions on social media after the game.
The game aired on FOX Sports, where Tom Brady, who recently bought a stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, questioned the ejection, which he felt was excessive. “I don’t love that call at all,” Brady said. “It’s a penalty, but there has to be serious intent.”
While Brady felt the stakes warranted more context, Lions coach Dan Campbell saw things differently. After the game, Campbell cautioned his players to be aware of heightened scrutiny in prime-time games, saying, “He’s got to get used to that…New York’s gonna look at all these prime-time games.”
Despite Branch’s ejection, the Lions maintained control and nearly kept the Packers from scoring a touchdown until the fourth quarter when Emmanuel Wilson ran in from two yards. Although the Packers had 150 more yards, they only scored two field goals before Wilson’s consolation touchdown.
Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown and Kerby Joseph helped break open the game in the second quarter, with Joseph’s 27-yard pick-six. Jahmyr Gibbs extended the lead with a 15-yard touchdown in the third quarter, bringing the Lions to a 7-1 record. The Packers, now 6-3, enter their bye week looking to address injuries, especially for quarterback Jordan Love.
