The Detroit Lions walked away with a dramatic 34-27 overtime win against the New York Giants in Week 12, but the victory came with a costly setback. The NFL issued three separate fines to Lions players for violations during the matchup, marking a significant disciplinary update for Detroit.
Brian Branch Leads Lions’ Fines With Second Straight Penalty
Safety Brian Branch received the largest fine of the week, with the league docking him $23,186 for unnecessary roughness after a hit on a defenseless player.
This marks Branch’s second consecutive week being penalized. In Week 11, he was fined $11,599 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Philadelphia Eagles receiver Jahan Dotson.
According to Mike Payton of A to Z Sports, Branch’s latest punishment brings his career fines to $164,744, despite being in just his third NFL season. He has not yet reached 50 career games.
Jack Campbell and Dan Skipper Also Disciplined
Two other Lions players were fined in the NFL’s Week 12 gameday accountability report:
Jack Campbell — $17,389 for unnecessary roughness related to a hip-drop tackle.
Dan Skipper — $6,917 for taunting, ruled as unsportsmanlike conduct.
The trio of penalties highlight the league’s continued crackdown on dangerous and unsportsmanlike play.
Lions’ Offense Shines Despite Penalties
While the fines overshadow part of the performance, Detroit still delivered offensively:
Jared Goff threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns on 28-of-42 passing.
Jahmyr Gibbs scored three total touchdowns — two rushing and one receiving.
The Lions improved to 7-5, though they followed the Giants win with a 31-24 Thanksgiving Day loss to the Green Bay Packers.
What’s Next for Detroit
It remains unclear whether Branch, Campbell, or Skipper will appeal their fines, but repeated violations mean higher penalties moving forward — something the Lions must monitor closely.
Detroit now prepares for a crucial Week 13 showdown at home against the Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1). Kickoff is set for Thursday at 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video.
