After the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster were involved in a postgame fight with opposing defensive back Brian Branch.
The altercation began after Mahomes attempted to shake hands with Branch. The Lions DB ignored the Chiefs QB, however, walking straight past him in the direction of Smith-Schuster. That’s when the postgame beef turned into a skirmish.
NFL insider Ari Meirov shared a video clip of Branch’s interaction with Smith-Schuster, which was quickly broken up by running back Isiah Pacheco after the Lions defender slapped the Chiefs wide receiver in the facemask.
Then Branch slapped JuJu Smith Schuster to the ground.
And it got ugly from there. Whoa.
From there, Smith-Schuster chased down Branch and tackled him to the ground as he was being warded off by Pacheco. A mini brawl ensued.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Sends Message on Postgame Fight Started by Lions DB Brian Branch
While speaking with the NBC Sunday Night Football crew after the victory, Mahomes sent a short but definitive message on the postgame altercation.
“We play the game between the whistles,” Mahomes told NBC reporter Melissa Stark.
The Chiefs superstar pretty much left it at that, choosing to take the high road in the interview by reiterating that message one more time and moving on.
JuJu Smith-Schuster was not here for Branch’s disrespect, only for Branch to slap punch him in the face (while Juju had his helmet on), and ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE!!! 😂😂
🎥 @TWDTV1
As you can see in the video above, Mahomes simply smiles and pats Branch on the back after the Lions defender snubbed his postgame embrace. Branch then takes his anger out on Smith-Schuster.
No matter what was said by Smith-Schuster during or after the game, Branch threw the first punch, and that’s always frowned upon by the powers that be. Even Lions head coach Dan Campbell admitted that his player was in the wrong following the loss.
During his postgame press conference, Campbell noted that he “loves” Branch before calling his part in the skirmish “inexcusable” (per Detroit News reporter Nolan Bianchi).
We’ll have to wait and see if the NFL chooses to either fine or suspend Branch for his postgame actions in Week 6.
Chiefs Spread the Ball Around vs. Lions’ Banged-Up Secondary
Mahomes was fantastic against the Lions on live television, completing 22 out of his 30 passing attempts. He racked up 257 yards and 3 touchdowns, achieving an 81.4 QBR out of 100 and a 132.2 passer rating.
On top of that passing performance, Mahomes also scrambled for 32 yards and a touchdown.
Through the air, the Chiefs QB spread the ball around, attacking the open spaces of a banged-up Lions secondary.
Superstar Travis Kelce led the way with 6 receptions, but Hollywood Brown also had 4, and Smith-Schuster and running back Brashard Smith each caught 3 passes. From there, backup tight end Noah Gray and wide receiver Xavier Worthy logged 2 catches, and veteran running backs Kareem Hunt and Pacheco each got on the board with 1 reception.
When Mahomes spreads the ball around like that, it’s never a surprise that Kansas City comes out on top.
The one recent key piece held without a catch was deep threat Tyquan Thornton, and this Chiefs offense should only get better in the weeks ahead as star playmaker Rashee Rice is set to return from his suspension in Week 7.
Rice posted a strong message on the Chiefs’ deep group of pass-catchers ahead of Week 6.
Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes Has 7 Words for Lions After Postgame Skirmish