The Kansas City Chiefs walked away from the Detroit Lions game with a 30-17 win, but the postgame focus shifted toward the short-lived brawl involving JuJu Smith-Schuster and Brian Branch. The two players had been exchanging hits throughout the game, and tensions finally boiled over after the final whistle. Smith-Schuster spoke about the incident afterward, offering a mix of respect and disappointment.
According to The Athletic’s Jesse Newell, JuJu Smith-Schuster said, “He’s a great player, right? He’s huge for the team. I think after the game, I expect to shake his hand and say, ‘Good game’ and move Pat’s way. But he threw a punch, and at the end of the day, it’s a team sport, right? We came out here. We did our job, and we won. And that’s all that matters.” His calm response stood out, showing professionalism in the middle of chaos.
The Chiefs receiver had been targeted several times by Brian Branch during the game, including moments that appeared to test the boundaries of physical play. But Smith-Schuster refused to escalate the situation further. Instead, he chose to focus on the Chiefs’ victory and the team effort that secured it. The discipline shown by the veteran wideout echoed the mentality that the Chiefs has built under Andy Reid, staying composed even when emotions flare.
As for the Lions, Branch later apologized for his part in the confrontation, admitting frustration with what he felt were missed penalties earlier in the game. The apology may not erase what happened, but it adds perspective to a heated matchup that highlighted both teams’ intensity.
In the end, JuJu Smith-Schuster’s reaction summed up the Chiefs’ approach, handle business, stay united, and move forward. The Chiefs know emotions can run high in games like these, but victories matter more than scuffles. The question now is whether the next Chiefs-Lions meeting will bring more fireworks and another brawl or renewed respect.
